The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-17 00:00:00

NAVY.

The Secretary suggests that there should be two squadrons
in the Pacific instead of one. The rapid increase of our corn..
coerce there, the importance of Central America and the islands
scattered in that sea, and the extent of Oregon and California
are given as reasons. Lieut. Berryman's survey of the bottom
of the sea between Newfoundland and Ireland, with a view to
telegraph communication with Europe, is referred to at length.
Tho route is 1,600 miles long; the greatest depth two and a
half miles. The practicability of laying the wires is established.
He urges the importance of ordnance and practical gunnery.
The British service has gunnery practice ships. We heretofore
have relied, in making selections for captains of guns, on
men from the crew found best fitted for the station. 'An
effort is now making to establish a system for training men
especially for Ns duty. The sloop of war Plymouth, now
lying at the Washington Navy Yard, is being fitted out as a
gunnery practice ship, with an experimental battery of a few
light and heavy guns. It is confidently hoped that this prac ice
ship will annually turn out a number of seamen thoroughly
trained to the mannement of heavy ordnance, in storm and
cairn, and that our'men of war will no supprise
officers and men familiarised with all the appliances of these
great engines of destruction. He gives reasons for the recent
changes in the armament of national ships. The former
success of the American navy has been owing much to the
superiority of the calibre of our guns; and the Secretary
recommends that we not only keep paee with, but if possible
bo in advance of, others in the character of our engines
of war. Our new s!eam frigates are all afloat, sad the
most sanguine exportations of the Department relative to them
have been realised. The speed of those tested is greater than
usual in auxiliary steamers, in which steam is by no means the
chief motive power. The Niagara will carry twelve eleven-
inch guns, each throwing shells of one hundred and thirty-five
pounds. There is no reason for withholding the former recom-
mendations for the building and equipment of additional sloops
of war, carrying a battery of fifteen or twenty guns of light
draft, so that they can enter the harbours of Charleston,
Savannah, and New Orleans, as well as New York and Boston.
The arguments for a steady and gradual increase of the
navy have lost none of their force. Even the construc-
tion of the sloops recommended would add little actual
increase, as many of the old vess,:ls are unworthy
of repair. The establishments for building and repairing
machinery at New York and Norfolk will be completed next
year. The foundry at Boston will bo delayed on account of
the difficulty of obtaining a safe foundation. When these
establishments are completed, Government can build and
repair its own machinery. The entire machinery of the
Minnesota was built at the Washington yard, and gives entire
satisfaction. It is important that such a policy should be
adopted towards seamen as will insure a full supply, and pro-
mote the enlistment of Americans. Increased pay, honorable
discharges, a superior quality of clothin,4 and provision, a
superior quality of medicines, care bestowed by careful surgeons
upon the sick, and improvements in berthing the men, are' all
incentives held out but to invite enlistments. To hold out
further encouragement to enlist, and to prevent any cause of
complaint for being unnecessarily detained beyond three years,
the Department recommends that the length of the
cruise

should be two, instead of three years, and has directed that
hereafter it shall constitute a part of the sailing instructions
commanders of squadrons, that when the term of enlistment
of a majority of the crew of any vessel has expired, the vessel
shall be sent home. A fostering care of the apprentice system,
and its gradual enlargemeut, are the surest methods of making
a radical improvement, and securing a fair proportion of Ame-
ricans. Several hundred Ameridan boys are now enlisted, and
in active service in the various squadrons. There was no
difficulty in procuring their enlistment. While the great'
conside:ation in admitting apprentices is to secure American
sailors, it might encourage the youths if the President
were to authorise by law the appointment of ten as
midshipmen. Such a law is recommended. At ela-
tion is called to several vacancies in the same
grades of the navy, caused by deaths and resignations.,
some of which occurred more than a year ago, It is ucom-
mended that they be filled by regular promotions, or by
nominating for restoration to the active list any reserved or
dropped officer who may be adjudged by the president to be
entitled to such executive interposition. The denartment,
though opposed to an increase of bureaus and officers, cannot
refrain from recommending the creation of an additional office
—that of judge advocate. The careful enforcement of the
law authorising courts martial renders it necessary. It
is
recommended that the nautical almanac be placed under the•
charge of a naval professor of mathematics. The expressiore
in regard to the usefulness of the marine corps arc rani wed.
The secretary has so often recommended the appointment of
officers of military education, that he will now only refer to his
former reports. Notice has been given to E. K. Collins of a
discontinuance of 'his extra appropriation. The report recom-
mends an increase of the pay of a portion of the grades of
naval officers, but does not say which. The estimates for the
support cf the navy and marine corps for the next year amours.
to 8,912,975 doll.