The Washington critic., 1886-07-02
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oTuER NATIoNs LEApING |

OTHER NATIONS LEADING US.
Mr. Wheeler makes rather good
showing on its face for the United
States, but it lis below the surface where
the facts lie. While we have until re-
Gently stood still, all the other countries
have gone ahead. Our available list"
does not contain single ship that
could cope, with any chance of success
with even second rate modern vessel
of other naval powers. AS Admiral
Porter says: 1--WE have no vessel in
commission but so called 'vessels-of-
war; that can scarcely perform the
duties of peace establishment, and in
case of q conflict with any foreign
power the aforesaid war vessels would
have to go into retirement until peace
was declared, the largest of them hav-
ing neither speed nor battery to enable
her to contend successfully against a
two-gun modern French or English
gunboat."
Under the circumstances General
Wheeler seems to be warranted in get
ing little warm when he thinks Of
our naval past and present. But not
only are we deficient in ships, but
equally so In our armament. We have
mainly old smooth .bores, the largest of
which throw projectiles weighing 45O
pounds distance of from 1000 to
1900 yards 1t is true that we have
completed two S.inch breech loading
guns which will throw projectiles
weighing 250 pounds distance of
nearly eight statute miles, and six more
similar guns are being constructed.
a1c pnnptrIntipn ny
10.inch guns to carry projectiles
of 500 pounds and one 1Oa inch gun,
whose projectile will weigh $50 pounds,
The range of these guns will be about
The same as that of the 10.inch guns.
But even with these guns, finished and
mounted on wooden ships, we would
be hardly in sight, for there are al.
ready alloat upon vessels of foreign
navies--this includes only the larger
class of modern naval artillery-one
hundred and twenty nine guns which
will throw a projectile ten miles and
upward. The calibre of these. guns
varies from twelve to seventeen inches,
and they throw projectiles which
weigh as high as 1900 pounds There
are also ailoat in foreign navles sixty
seven guns which throw proiectile:
weighing from 900 to 1850 pounds q
distance of at least nine miles. The
charge of the largest named guns
those Of l7inch calibre, is nearly ,00t
pounds, and the projectile is charged
with eighty, three pounds of powder tc
explode this huge mass of metal at any
given moment.
OF foreign vessels carrying guns OF
the character described, ranging from
nine to ten miles and upward, England
has 13; France has 26; Italy, Z; Ger
many, Is; China, .; Russia, 3; Den
mark, /, and Chill /, 1t is therefore
evident that such vessels, lying way be
yond the range of any of our vessels
could destroy any ship in our navy
and as they are good steamers one OF
them could in all probability cruis,
among fleet of American alleged
men.of-war and destroy II at leisure
DANGER OF BoMBARDMENT.
But that is not the worst of it
They could float unmolested off on
coast at a sufficient distance to be out
of harm Of either Of our alleged fort
or fixed torpedoes and lombard nearly
all the seaport cities, They could ge
far enough up the Potomac to destroy
the Capital city of the Nation. They
would have little trouble in doing a'
they pleased with the following ports
New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Portland
New Bedford. Providence, New Haven
, Norfolk, Baltimore, Washington, Rich
mond, Charleston, Savannah, Pensacola
Mobile, New Orleans, Galveston, San Fran
CISCO, Port Townsend, Steilacoom, Seattl,
Hartor, Olympia, New Dungenness
Astoria, Kalama, Portland, Newport, Em