New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-27
ERICSSON AND NAPAL PROGRESS

ERICSSON AND NApAL PROGRESS.
The unveing of the Ericsson statue, while
an interlude between the acts, was in harmony
with the naval drama of the week. The Swedish
inventor was identified with two revolutions in
the science of marine architecture. The first
was the introduction Of the screw propeller,
which converted the navieS of the world into
,team fleets. FutOns original invention was
not Immediately utilized in naval warfare be-
cause the paddle wheels were ont of water and
vulnerable. 1t was Mt until Ericsson succeeded
in sinking the plopeline machinery below the
water line that the doom OF the old ships OF
the lire and the three decllerS and sailing cor
vcttcS was sealed II was without effect that
he sought to interest the British Admiralty in
his invention. Dsmayed by the GOODNESS with
which his ideas were received in England he
came 10 the United states. where encourage
ment was not withheld. The American way
snip Princeton was built in e39 after his de-
signs with Il screw under water. II trans
folm,d the naye> OF maritime Europe from sail
to steam
Erc>sons Monitor wrought similar ievou-
ton. The idea of using non for the ptotec-
ton Of vessels was an old one. The Romans
introduced it in aiming the prowS of their
,rremes and the NoymanS a. early rs Ia"
twelfth century put belts OF iron around their
vessels France, England and spain in the
grea, sea fights Of the seventeenth and cigh-
tccnth centuries made 10 attempt 10 revive the
idea The main struggle was over the improve
mcnt Of ordnance and the multiplication OF
gun. deck above deck. with the deadly ear
l0naieS on top for shor-rang fire The metal
went Into the guns instead 81 the sides OF the
.hip. and battles were won b, the superior
weight Of brcadside fire. II was not until after
the Crmean War that the French built the
Glorie the Invincbe and other iioncad ships
or that the English followed their example i'll
the British Warrior ard the Black Prince. Even
then the types Of naval architecture were not
changed Iron was substituted for wood. but
the builders adhered 10 the old lines and
models IL was not until the American Civil
War; and thea largely in consequence OF the
Monitors fight with the Merlimac. that the
methods of naval architecture were revolution
lied. John Ericsson by his invention Of the
propellng screw and by his originality in de-
yising a new model for fighting ship, had
more 10 do than perhaps anybody else in ere
atng the modern navy. The honorS paid to
his memory While the squadron under many
flags was passing in stately procession to It's
anchorage wee well timed.
II is singular how little practical experience
with this Wanted modern navy there has been
since that historic engagement in Hampton
Roads. At Lisa in 1896 the efficiency Of an
iron ram was demonstrated when the Re- dltalie
was sunk In the bonbardment of Alexandra
r 4. IaI
Of concentrated fire in knocking to pieces
several Anticipated forts and in slcnclng earth
works armed with poor ordnance served by
ignorant gunners. In the west coast wars Of
South America the independence and the lluas-
car failed TO prove their marked superiority 70
wooden ships and the Blanco Encaada, taken
unawareS on dark night was blown ny by
pair Of torpedo boats. This practically sums
M the experience of the m)dcin fleets a. a
ichting service One nation has We'd with an
other in constructing floating foItreS>es like the
Nile and the Royal Sovereign; every year the
armor has increased in weight the batteries
have become more formidable, and the steam
mex hanism has been made more complex: and
each rev model and device has remained large
" experimental. The nations build their costly
comparative efficiency of types, guns, armor and
mechanism can be tested There is not naval
engineer 50 foolhardy as to venture a deliberate
opinion on the ability Of one Of the great
lcvathans to endure the sting of one of those
tiny wa>pS of the sca-a wcll-Scryed torpedo
boat.
If the offensive and defensive powers Of
IN Jdcm navies require that practical test wbich
made EricsSonS Monitor famous and revOl,i-
iiOnizcd methods Of warfare at sea they serve
nevertheless to promote the ends of peace |
Perhaps their prestige is increased by the fact
that il is hardly possible for any engineer or
constructor to forecast what would be the re-
suits of actual warfare at with coast
Notifications in determining the precise utility |
Of these floating batteries and naval ornaments |
Their destructive Potentially is unknown yet |
feared Maritime nations which have modern |
fleets for the defence of their seaboards and |
commerce possess the ornaments for keeping |
pence with their neighbors. When this view |
is taken Of the matter a great inventor like |
Ericsson who provided the means Of developing
the naval resources of the world looms up out |
of the past as man Of peace and the great |
spectacle which is offered to-day on the North |
River is nothing less than a symbolic tabeau |
world as more or less in dread of one another.
but in a state of profound tranquility and good |
will.
THE NEW OUTLOOK