The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-29


THE GUNS ON BOARD THE SHIPS.
OF course an important feature OF the
possibilities OF war with Germany is the
range OF the guns aboard the German IRON
clads. They are all breech loading Krupp
guns, ranging from 5 to l0.l inches in di-
ameter OF bore, and throw shells varying
between go pounds and 500 pounds, or-if
the l2-inch guns OF the harbor defense
craft is considered-S50 pounds. These
shells have bursting charges weighing from
pounds for the 5-inch to % pounds for
the l0-inch and 80 pounds for the l2-inch.
IL Will readily be comprehended that there
would be practical objections TO doing
business in New York if German IRON
cad should be engaged in dropping into
the city great conical headed cylinders of
steel feet long and 10 inches in diameter,
containing % pounds OF powder warranted
| to explode on striking. Would such re-
suit be possible with the guns of the Ger
man battle ships?
1t is well known that there is point Off
| Coney Island where five or six iathoms OF
water at low tide can be carried sufi-
GENTLY close to shore to enable vessel
drawing less than thirty feet TO approach
with safety TO within about eleven miles Of
New York City. This being conceded,
would the German guns reach the city
say as far even as Wall street?
Those who remember that formidable
Pinch Krupp gun at our Centennial Ex-
hibition in Philadelphia, with its ominous
placard Range, fifteen miles, will prob
ably imagine that the question is settled
in the affirmative. According to the re-
port of the United States Fertilization
Board, Germany is credited with only
three vessels carrying gun capable OF
range OF ten miles. These are the Sala-
mander, Natter and Hummel, all coast
defense craft, mounting one such gun
each. OF vessels carrying guns capable OF
q range OF between nine and ten miles Ger
many has twelve-namely, the Baden,
| BaieTn, Wurtemburg and Sachsen, OF four
such guns EACH and eight coast defense
vessels Of one such gun each. in other
words the four last named ships could
probably lay waste every part OF Brook
Ign, and even make Lower New York UNI
comfortable for people Of. unsettled
nerves. They could undo ubtedly reach
the best part OF Portland, Boston and
other smaller places without coming with
in range of any gun now mounted.
Manifestedly, while New York City
might possibly escape, there would be
enough other vulnerable points TO enable
Germany to collect heavy ransom, unless
we could meet her ships at sea or drive
them from our coasts.
It is unnecessary TO add 10 the foregoing
description Of the ships which we could
send TO meet the German fleet All our
force has been described and all the latest
additions 10 our navy have been illustrated
in the Herald They include, for mme-
date service, the Chicago, Boston, At
lanta, Vesuvius and Dolphin, and possibly
the Baltimore. Philadelphia, Yorktown,
Charleston, Puritan, Miantonomah. AM
phitrite, Monadnock and Terror. For
coast defense the old monitors might do
some service, and our wooden corvettes
would fairly offset the German cruisers Of
the same type. While we are sadly def
cient in fighting ships it is extremely
doubtful whether Germany is sufficiently
strong TO conduct an offensive war at so
great distance from her supplies.