138 



THE SEA. 



THE " MONITOR PASSING THE VICKSBURG BATTERIES. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE HISTOIIY OF SHIPS AND SHIPPING INTERESTS (continued}. 



The Ironclad Question One of the Topics of the Day What is to be their Value in Warfare?- Story of the Dummy 

 Ironclad- -Two Real Ironclads vanquished by it Experience on board an American Monitor Visit of the Mian 

 tonoma to St. John's Her Tour round the World Her Turrets and Interior Arrangements Firing off the Big Guns 

 Inside the Turret " Prepare ! "Effects of the Firing A Boatswain's-mate's Opinion The Monitor goes 

 round the World safely Few of the Original American Ironclads left English Ironclads The Warrioi Various 

 Types Iron-built Wood-built Wood-covered The Greatest Result yet attained, the Inflexible Circular Ironclads 

 The "Garde C6tes"Cost of Ironclads The Torpedo Question The Marquis of Worcester's Inventions Bishop 

 Wilkins' Subaqueous Ark Fulton's Experiments A Frightened Audience A Hulk Blown Up Government Aid to 

 Fulton The A rgus and her "Crinoline" Torpedoes successfully foiled Their use during the American War Brave 

 Lieut. Gushing The Albemarle Destroyed -Modern Torpedoes: the "Lay;" the " Whitehead "Probable Manner of 

 using in an Engagement The Ram and its Power. 



EARLY in these chapters, allusion was made to one of the most important of all vital topics 

 connected with shipping interests the ironclad question and as it concerns the well- 

 being of the Royal Navy, it concerns that of the nation itself, and no excuse can be 

 needed for its discussion here. Day by day we hear of new types of armoured vessels, 

 single specimens costing the price of a small fleet of former days. That, under certain 

 conditions, they must prove very formidable, there can be no doubt. But, it must be asked, 

 are the bulk of them seaworthy ships ? How far is torpedo warfare to interfere with their 

 employment? Are they worth their price to the nation? 



Their history so far has been one as much, and indeed far more, of failure than success. 

 " Our submarine fleet " has become a byword, while none of their exploits have excelled 

 those of the Merrimac and Monitor, two of the very earliest examples constructed. Indeed, 

 the writer knows no more successful results attained than by an improvised " dummy }} 

 ironclad during the American war. The ridiculous often merges into or mingles with 



