New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-11

HISTORY
NJ With technical revision by Lieutenant Roy G..
np. XVI 60 illustrated. d. Appleton & Co
The characteristic that has distinguished the
American Navy from the first IS Its resourcefu-
ness Courage and patriotism are not the ex-
elusive possession OF any nation. Blu. an excep-
tonal degree Of inventive skill and Of the capac
ity for Selling unexpected opportunities may be
found in one people when lacking In others. The
United States are proof Of this and the strong
est mark of unity in the annals of the Navy. az
related by Mr.. Maclay Is the genius for producing
efficient novelties in naval architecture. and for
turning to advantage the most untoward circum-
stances. But once. at least. 1t took even Ameri-
cans almost century to grasp an idea. and to
act upon It, Mr.. Maclay points out that the sug
gestion Of Farraguts achievement in passing the
forts at New-Orieans was due to Washington.
who urged the Comte de Grasse to attempt
similar feat under the batteries Of Lord Cornwall
lis at Yorktown. The American commander
backed up his request with the strong express
sion. II should have the greatest confidence In the
success of that important service" But the
French officer had never heard OF such thing
as passing line OF Notifications with ships Of
war except in time Of peace and he evaded the
risk For almost century II remained the
that Of Washington could be carried out with
the ships then known vessels with unprotected
hul,s Of wood. The Civil War marks the pass
ing away of wooden ships but belongs itself
largely to the earlier epoch. IT created the
armored vessel: but Its battles were fought
with appliances many of which are as anti
quated as a trreme or medaeval galley
Farragut had TO prove with ships essentially OF
the same character with those known to Wash
lngton that the latters suggestion was feasible.
One important aid he lad which was unknown
to Washington. namely, steam; the Comte de
Crasse would have had to choose with care the
moment when the wind favored such an enter
prise while Farragut had little occasion to con-
suit the wind. The plan for the capture or
New-Orleans IN this way originated with G. V.
Fox then Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Only
the imperative necessity of completing the work
which had already made progress between
Cairo and Vicksburg of regaining control Of the
Mississippi River could gain for the plan. even
with the support of Washingtons name. any
consideration 1t has been agreed from that day
to this that its success was due to the sagacity
which selected Farragut to carry 1t out. After
the lapse of more than thirty years. Mr.. Maciay
describes Fox's proposition as lone of the bold
est and seemingly most foolhardy that had ever
been seriously contemplated" To the last mo-
ment 1t met with strong opposition among the
officers Of Farraguts fleet Tradition was APP
pealed to- and the long-established rules of war.
at was demonstrated" says the author. with a
rare CLEAN Of humor with incontrovertible ac-
curacy that wooden ships could never pass
such batteries and remain afoat. Had not
French admiral and Captain Preedy, Of the
English frigate Mersey. just been up the river
as far as tie forts and reported that they were
Rut Ia known
prediction in regard to American naval proves
IN fail before this He saw clearly enough that
II New-Orleans was be captured by the fleet.
II was to be done only by the vessels running
past the forts And the thing was done al the
time when it was decided that 1t must be done.
Washngton's sagacty was justified in war
which 1t would have broken his heart to an
ticpate."
This is perhaps the only case on
record where it took Americans hundred
wears 10 "catch on" The rule has been
otherwise with them, both In navy build
ing and in naval warfare. At the opening Of
the War Of 1872 which Mr.. Maclay fecitousiy
calls the War for Independence on the High
Seas the United States had a navy consisting OF
only seventeen efficen, vessels with less than
40 guns while England had in round numbers
900 ships OF war and $4,000 guns. In spite OF a
blockade more stringent than any known 10
previous history-nearly 100 line-of- battle SHIPS
and frigates of the largest class being stationed
by England along the coast OF the United states
in 1S14-American ships of war continued TO De
bu,t IN mt to sea and to take prizes AS
hardly any Of these were lost. and as what losses
did occur were more than compensated by
captures, the United States emerged from the
contest with sixty-four vessels carrying l,ooo
guns. The ships were Of the best They revo-
Iutionized naval architecture and armament
"Refore the close of the War of 1S12,' says Mr..
Maclay 1.-THE Admiralty was compelled to Duild
cruisers exactly on the lines OF the famous Ameri-
can A-gun frigate" This. OF course. was lesson
learned in the harsh school Of war. But the
same proeress marked the work Of the Navy in
time of peace "In 1926 the appearance OF the
North Carolina in the Mediterranean, with her
100 guns In three tiers aroused great interest
and she was pronounced by European naval OH
GERS 10 be the most powerful war vessel afoat
When o4-pounders were put in the broadside OF
the Constitution in 1897 the votaries or tradinoh
predicted all sorts OF results except the one
which was realized. Instead Of being shaken 10
pieces by her cannon, she proved to be one or the
most successful battle-machines ever constructed
She was lucky in everything-in her speed, In her
gunnery in her appearance. and even in the
name which the sailors conferred upon her 'Old
Ironsides" was a jus: anticipation or the day
when ships Of war must be built OF steel The
United States led the way also in the use OF
steam on ships Of The change In naval
tactics which this involved was startling. Ships
were no longer at the mercy OF the wind II
dawned upon the minds Of the moderns that the
ancient warriors OF the Mediterranean had good
reason for preferring oars to sails on Their small
war vessels. That antique contrvance. the ram,
came into fashion again. and naval battle. In
stead of being a matter Of broadsides and board
ing parties began to be as dextrous and ami
mated as a fencing match. In a sense that had
not occurred 10 any one since the days OF oarea
~s,Ievs the battle was now between ships rather