New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10
TACTICS Of TIE GUN.
LECTURE AT THE WAR COLLEGE on MODERN
NAVAL DELUSIONs.

NAVAL DELCSIONs.
NEWPORT, Oct. 9.-Lieutenant John r.
Meigs delivered to-day lecture az the Naval War College
The Tactics OF the Gun" The three naval
weapons said he. usually recognized. are the gun
and torpedo. The attempt Is often made 10
them in order Of their importance. but 1t seems
that this hardly be done with any degree OF salts
faction TO ones SELF for their relative Importance or Use
fulnrss must depend upon numerous circumstances
which cannot foresee or predict The relative I'M
pOrtance OF her guns tOrDedOes and ram 70 particular
ship depend upon the class OF woik she Is called upon 10
perform In the attack forts her guns are ner most
useful weapons while many officers think that the ram
skilfuy handled will play the most important part in
fleet action. The question which Naval officers
have to decide when for assigned displacement and
cost they called upon TO lay down the general
OF ships decide how much weight and space
they will allOt to each weapon-is even more Olncult
one II the Atlanta. teing armed with guns, t0rreiO
aud a ram, meets the Innexible. her guns would be
almost Useless and she must have recourse 10 "ither
her torpedo or ram she undertakes the unequal night
With either OF weapons, she IS the equal OF her
supposed adversary and in that which she Is more
handy sue is her superior. Indeed the consideration
Of the function of the and locomotive torpedo lads
not unnatGrally to the thought that they may be
destined to do away with the heavy and costly ronclads
which are now the battle. ships OF all naves These
weapons are great Jewellers aud put it in the power OF
quickly but and expensive craft to sink and destroy
the largest and nominay most powerful ironclAds III the
world.
II II be granted that want some ships carrying
numerous guns ought settle on STANDARD gun for
them; and further. the must not be too heavy The
git OF prophecy a one but the Indications at
present be favor OF calibre or ABOUT 1Ve
inches and there be 40 doubt that the Installation
OF caihre lie greatly improved by causing II 10
apurOacn that the HOtchklss raj ld IRE guns has
not the reduction in The number OF tuns ana thelr
massins gone too FAR ! There are row SHIPS OF over
10000 tons displacement, costing millions OF dOuhr-'
occu yng years build and carrying only -FOUR guns III
a contra ted space. These gus may be shehced,
PERHAPS permanently. by couple Or shots Inc shl2s
are nearly Vulnerable 70 the attack OF TIE
RAIN or tori OF our old wooden era a. anu
..ssanai favorable circumstances with so few guns
These pouderOus vessels WIFI their great draugh the
small aun ammunition endurance, their Few guns,
and their vulnerablity To the ram AMI torpedo, are
Ia contest when has been going Tor years
between guns arn0r, the guns have Away been
little ahead. 1nat this T. still the case j. evident IRON
Abandonment Of the cnirayOr 10 arinor all or the
vital parts Of ships. The rapldir guns when nave
been Introduced IN the last years and which now
constitute considerable part of the offensive power OF
all men-oi-Yar, have put new face upon the armor
question