South Canterbury Times, FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2748, 13 January 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1882.

The “Wooden Walls of OldEnglaild” are now no more than a rational tradition. A few of the old warriors survive in a green and easy old age, and here and there we come across one of the fast-thinning band of veterans who manned them. But naval architecture is completely revolutionised. Every new vessel is but the development of some new principle of offence or defence. Warfare at sea is not a matter of heroism and endeavor, but of engineering, gunnery, and torpedoes. From his steel shell the warrior now spits forth his instruments of destruction, himself invisible. A fleet going into action would not now present the same imposing appearance as

in the days of Nile and Trafalgar. No Array of seamen, —officers alert and and anxious, men ready and willing, port-holes open and guns run out — all the preparations for action complete, as ship after ship of the line, silently obedient to signal, glided majestically, onward to her post in the battle. All these are passed away for ever, A fleet now would mean merely a succession of huge iron, shapeless, tnrretted monsters, no crew visible; each armed in its dark and silent recesses with weapons of deadly character and far-reaching power—such as prove to us that the actual achievements of science are far more astounding than the wildest dreams of fancy. There is nothing to kindle enthusiasm ; there is only, for the beholder, dreadful suspense and anxiety. For the issue of the conflict depends not upon gallantry, but upon the possession of the most powerful, farreaching, and effective engines.. , One Irioks to see the messenger of destruction issue from the mouth of a Wonderful gun within the turret before the monster comes within a mile or two of the enemy; or as she approaches one waits breathlessly to see : her gradually sink herself and stealthily creep upon the unsuspecting foe beneath the surface of the water, with fell purpose to cleave her through at one irresistable blow. Or there is silently, and by unseen agency, propelled into the water in the direction of the enemy, below the surface, aimed with deadly accuracy, a metal instrument resembling a flsb iri shape and appearance. Arrived exactly beneath the enemy’s vessel the harmless-looking little engine does its work. Quick as electricity, there is a terrific explosion; for a moment the air is full of debris, and the next the sea is strewn with wreckage. • Yet despite the completely changed condition of modern warfare, the great qualities of the people remain unaltered. The heroic valor of which Britons, have given every race under Heaven the most convincing proofs has suffered no , degeneracy in these latter days.. Our scientific sailors of ; to-day are not less full of courage and 'daring than their predecessors who boarded huge four-deckers; who dosed, in their gallant sloops, with mighty floating castles, or in little bands flung themselves with defiant cheers upon the crowded decks of the Spaniard and the Gaul. Every, now and then some tale of the sea shows us how the old spirit survives, and gives the lie to the oft-repeated assertion that the sailors of to-day have degenerated because their minds are a little more .cultivated, their habits little less objectionable, and; their language a trifle less profane. So. far, from a national standpoint, the state of things is quite reassuring.. There is no need for fear on England’s account. Her supremacy of the ocean is not.likely to be easily wrested from her. But it does strike most of us as a great pity that the energy, the inventive genius, administrative and executive talent which have been displayed iij the conduct of warlike operations, and the preparation of implements of war, should be wholly given up to the service of destruction, or the work of defence. Shall no greater power prevail to ' seize and chain for ever this wicked genius of demolition that has so long kept thousands of busy hands at work in its dreadful service ? Are we never to see all the great qualities that have been so long at his command transferred to a peaceful service ; are the armourer and gunner for ever to fill the air with their clanging ? It is not too much,sorely,to hope that the civilised world is, however slowly, advancing to a perception of its true interests. Every nation begins to see that .international disputes should not be .submitted to the arbitration of the sword, that rebellion is best averted by clemency and justice, and that it is the true mission of the civilized, not to stamp out the barbarian but to imbue him with their own spirit and admit Him to communion with themselves. ,s : Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war ” sang the poet, and we may venture to add ** Peace shall have her victories,much more renowned than war.’ The dream of poets and the Hope of philanthropists is not quite as far off as ever, as some people are fond of saying. We have confidence that political education, growing side by side with scientific attainment will, before very mnch longer, have brought about the disappearance of war from the face of the earth.