The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1846-03-13
THE w
Friday, March I3, 1916.
NatiOnaI Dc1ences.

OF the navy was written IN reply 10 inquiries
addessed TO him by Mr.F AIRFE1ID,the Chair
man of the Naval Committee in the United
States Senate. AS il relates to matters
which at this moment excite an exlraordin>
airy degree of public attention, it cannot fail
TO be read with general interest; and ii is in
itself sound and we'll considered:
Navy DEPARTMENT Jan. 8, 1916.
Sir: In reply TO the inquiries proposed in
yonr letter Of the 22d 1ltimo, have the hon.
or 10 enclose TO you a very full report from
1.-The heads of bureaux OF this Department.
/ Al,houh the naval preparations of COM
mercial nations which are struggling to mains
tain themselves in an unnatural position Of
greatness, is no criterian for country ike |
ours, which seeks only the occupation and
defence OF its own territory,the protection Of
Its citizens and their interest, land the devel>
opment Of its own resources; and although
1.-The existing naval establishment of the
United States appears sufficient in all but
: lsea-going steamers, for condition Of ascr-
: tanned and undesturbed peace; yet the press
ent aspect of our forcing relations makes it
: duty to suggest TO the Committee on Naval
Affairs the propieiy of greater preparations
than the ordinary annual appropriations con-
template.
These greater preparations should consist
as far as possible, of such expenditures as
will be but subscriptions of what, at an ear
ly day, would be required, even in case Of
J. the establishment of harmony with all nat
!. tons. They should consist first of an accum-
ulation ofnaVal materials and stores necessa-
~ for the rapid equipment Of the vessels
which are ahoat. for such of those on the
stocks as il may be desirable to employ, and
for such others as Congress may authorize
.e to be built.-If means are granted, immedi-
ate measures can be adopted for the collec-
ton of such materials and stores; and early
purchase of many of them would be but an
anticipation of what would soon be reqired
for ordinary expenditures,
The second branch of expense that should
at once be authorized at the discretion o
the President, should be the repair and e
: Quipment Of all the vessels in ordinary, anC
g Of the frigates and sloOps on the stocks
Were such authority and means granted the
= President could exercise more free iugd'
ment,in the selection of vessels for immed
=. ate preparation whilst the actual expenditur
coRld be limited to existing urgencies 70
the vessels, and Improbable OUTLAWS be ave
er, ided if peace should continue.
er, Il is also advisable that the Limitation here
Z: tofore imposed on enlistmenis in the navy,b
~ which the number is confined to z 500 sea
r, men, be suspended for definite period, an
r, that further enlistment authorized and pre-
DR. vided for.
'eI, 1t is futheT proper, even in the event {
W peace to increase our sea>going steamer
A. h., IN al hoV I'm
lb'r the Princeton and Mississippi, that can cru
Der, at sea. would recommend that authority
&, granted for the construction Of three steam
:. Ifrigates, FIVE steam sloops, and two steame
Der, of smaller class. Such an increase won
:, not be disprotionate TO our resources
nb'r wants in time of profound tranquility.
nSl Ii will also become necessary to increa!
ob,r the ordnance and ordnance stores. Th
Der, again would be but an anticipation Of expen
II. which at an early day must in any cont
II, gency be required
nb'r A system Of steamers for harbor defenC
!, pe to be thoroughly efectual, would invOl
Der. the necessity OF feet of steamers for eat
lber, harbor in the coutry. The enormous expen
Or, would be further increased by the annual I
II H., pairs which would require repetition Of I
mb,r whole outlay once in seven or eight yea
mb'r II is still further 10 be considered that The
Oct. steamers, being only for habors and Goa
er, would in time Of peace, prove costly b
OCT, then without an adequate.equivalent. In
n,S event Of war, the immediate employment
mb'r mercantile ships and steamers, for the /
,mb'r fence of ports, in cooperation with reside
Z Sep Icitizens, would be attended with less
: Sep gregaie cost, and the faculty of invent
SeP and activity of patriotism, would as dan
'nosst approached, be quickened 10 devise meth
Aug'st lOf defence, which, though somewhat ire
nbeL lar, would prove effective, till force coulC
'nnDF organized suitable to the emergency.
sep Inquiries are now making into the ca
us, city Of our mercantile steamers for being
,tmb,r empIoyd, and the result shall be commun
,tmb'r ted To you as soon as received.
, ! The Danger TO Be apprehended from
I. SSeP roads upon our territory By hostile fleets
- be greatly diminished BY the disasters co.
ny, ouent on storms, the necessity Of fregue
T. turns % port for supplies 81 provisions
wafer, the superaded want 70 steamship
fuel. the general unnecessarily OF the {
par from shallowness Of water. the certain
par. vigorous resistance on the part Of our cili
par in the more densely peopled regions,
Psr' The uselessness Of naval attacks on . spa
oar. settled coast Tor any permanent inducing
g the issue Of war. These cficumstancesl
8 ia all times past, made great naval ex
ltions almost irnitless ofresulis against re
psao0 settlement Oh land.
do. Inc measures fecomme huec,l y aoo
do. win notlnvolve useless expense, even 3
Do. continuance Of tranquility. and seem
.as sufficient as precautionary against any
$50 ,encencY that islikely to occur, and !.
im't6, % lliminary 10 more extended OTganizati
q of TX The event Ii should become necessary.
sd0lplacs The navy ina condition 10 inspi
9'dii $3.50 II render aid III projecting ouF