New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-08
MONITOR vs.. BATTLE SHIP.
An ADVOCATE or THE OLDER TYrE or VESSEL
ANY ASTaGrS

ITS ADVANTAGES.
To the Editor 81 The Tribune
Sir. a Washington dispatch IN The Tribune ~
yesterday made the very eratif Ing statement that
several members 81 tho Senate Naval Committee
after conference with the Assistant Secretary OF
tho Nav agreed that Il would be opportune 20
add 20 IN. naval Appropriation nh provision for
"ai least three vessels. each Of tho low fr"'board
lehi-drausht type. somewhat more Formidable
than the Miantonomoh "
! have been one Of many officers ~ The Navy 20
contend that the monitor system. pure and simple
makes the best ncht,ng craft eve: devised. and
this Wow has been supported by many = fh"
pro-tat'lc-ship mon since tho spanish excitement
began and now comes the practical iniorsemon;
OF the monitor advocates by the senate Com
m'toc.
There are many claims o, superiority % 'h"
monitor typo % warship M against ~" ha'i"-ship
type but Il would take moro space than YOU would
allow me 20 detail them. Tho battle-ship costs -
loas, double wha; monitor Il IKE formiiahlhiy
costs and tho latter is by for the moro 'n'c,!'"
nchrug weapon. n one point alone IS tho mon'-
'o- 50 superior 70 make - preferable" 70 -"
batilc-shlp- she presents minimum target 70 the
cnemy's guns. and this means q great deal 20 ~"
mon WHO have 10 30 he Ngh'lug = has been
sad that the monitor cannot lie 40 effective a
vessel IN n battle on tho oprn sea. VIII .afgc
battlo-shIp seek the ocean FOR "a naval comha- .
Il must be- remembered that Il w1rshlp IL Noaf-
!nr run platform. that tho ocean - never %
smooth that ship VIII remain perfectly quiet
hcrr. the ur0feciile may 60 Tar wld" oi 10" Naik
ly a change iu Ia. range or elevation of m" gun
hv r.ason az Oh. motion 81 tho ship. That tho .ir
~ n gun D. limited 20 certain number x f'
charg,s, each o. which costs round sum "i"
oI,is 10 ~, tonnage carried VIII a command
under srirn conditions care - waste singh Hh"'
A. 1, ihelr sragong qualities during our 'i'i
Uar the monitors rode ont the gtlc" while an
,i.,r,d OF Charleston f1r castor thnu Other SHIPS
AM during the "yoluiions of the N"ith AtIuuc
Sruadrop f. the 4pr.ns Of lH' the monitors
e,'0.r,t no Injury. Some ono may point 10 me
To- az the original Monitor. OF cape ilaii'faS on
49,. ,.'rff Of December 1862. AS q rcfutniiOn ~
vIaf h4vo said bat the real cause az thti
Disaster nas that her cap'1 ain hAi chu-.1 we DIS
~ fno f.rr.fs 90 Dee cIlik"l. 81 spite ~ tn" WIN"
INC ~ Ericsson. -0 that iu the storm the s.'-
forced oar the Oakum In patches. ia" water h""'''
inside and the vessel went down
m. nearer our naval constructors chn com" 20
tho monitor type - warshlp. ana comply WIN IN"
rr.e.uf conditions Of naval warfare. tir mo"
,fr.innt their ships viii be-. When TN" monte.
,.,.f1 no, fpbf her guns btcaus" ~ me Danger OF
e.. cons canning into her furrci ports. ~" nlFh
h,,,'cshfu could not even loosen her guns io, rear
,h.v wound take possession ~ the deck lh'h,
Zoo tho armoreI lTot.. ton given in me month";
4 co,n,i.fc ~ an points while protection 10 IN,
,,cr works % tho baftle-shp. except 10 a c'nii'
citadel E sacrificed 20 gain height above wal.i;;
Tf.vinr served on A monitor IN the 'lEI war hhu
sIfrc / am acquainted with thr fri thht th'y a., -,
not comfortable shirs FOR cruising Tor eith.r ON
',r, nj, cro,, bat Vs. must sacrifice com ofv II We
v.ant sucress IN lighting and recognize thht VIM
~ hatfiD--iip .e an imposing structure 'he "i"'''
,"~ g. fte Gladiator stripped for the hght .
Ncw-York, April T. 1898 -'"N J.