Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1892 — Armoring of Ships. [ARTICLE]

Armoring of Ships.

The limit in the heaviness of armor applied to ships may perhaps have been reached, and it seems natural that, its development having run a course much like that of the armor of men, may come eventually to a similar end. In the middle ages, when gunpower was first introduced, the armor of knights and men at arms was gradually increased in weight to meet the new weapons. As the quality of powder and the guns improved armor was added to until it reached a point where if a knight was unhorsed It required several squires to get him into the saddle again, or if a man fell he could not pick himself up unaided. The next step was to limit the armor to the more vital portions, retaining only the cuirass and helmet. Finally even these were thrown away. Somewhat similar may be the transition in modern navies. The guns having beaten the armor, ships may have to discard their coats of mail and rely upon offense as the best protection, just as intelligent pugilists defend themselves by the counter rather than by-the simple guard. '