The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-11

charm Of the snsmys naval invnobily. These ware In
deed great achisvssnts and stl have proud spirits
tia NAVY veod ss sou
accomplish But. without snlsrsiDg upon tie circum-
stances which helped to occasion success then or dwell
ing upon the disasters that then bsel our commerce
when call to mind the formidable growing and, In
numbers At lsat the strength Of the ma
ves Of the great nations with whom claim equal
rank may it not Be well to consider that it even be
possible to tax too severely the vslor and ak OF our
season Of profound peace with the ,eptOn Of
the with nation without Navy is perhaps, not
TO be regretted that have deferred enarging eurs
thus long, advantageousiy avail ourselves
of the vast improvements suggested BY the tests OF
rercs and the inventive genius OF the architects OF our
Steam is unquetionably the great agent to be used
the ocean, rs well for purposes OF war rs OF comm rec
wheels Is one Of the grand ddaa to render the uss OF
steam effective in naval wararsths one being exposed
to the shot of the epemyhe other submerged and com
psratively When the bayonet added to the
nufket the invs ntion applauded for placing In the
hands Of the soldier at tme two engines Of desruc
sima ly appreciated combining, without confusion,
two elements of progresthe sail and the steam engine
Side wheel steamers much impair I'd In their capacity
for sailing: and consume too much coal for distant
cruises. Those hand be made to well
for short cruises and despatch vessels The screw
peller being upon principle not so much interfering
with the sailing capacity, with the improved mode of
the present day. be constructed to sail well
the best clipper ships and reserve the use OF steam for
ergencies when greatest speed required when in
calm, desirable position DO the more promptly and
surely taken. The great necessary incident to
the expedition Japan could been materially, in.
deed half curaled had been in the Of the
department to have supplied the squadron with screw
| ing SO much from the consumption Of coal.
! recommend, therefore, that the department be
thozed to have at least six first class steam
frgate peers The opinion is entertained that that
number may be built in several yards addition to the
return Of vessels from long cruises is estimated that
they will cost four and Ave millions of dollars and
Of cency in the supply Of white oak and yellow
pine, which be withou. much difficulty procured,
have on hard at the various yards ample material &C
referring the estimates Of the Bureau Of Construction,
&c that estimate is made of the entire cost Of the
which would expended during the fiscal year
wth regard to great despatch This done In ORDER
s s
deemed desirable to mako this addition to naval
a a Of
net worth repairing and IS it important to retain
hand for emergency . Reasonable supply Of bulding
At early day. to enable the department
to bYid them with despatch, and purchase supply Of
There two frigatehe Santee, at Kttery, and the
Sabine, at New York-which have been on tae stocks
since 1879 they can Dc altered and made to CON
uietul substitutes for two frgates of the same
class Withdrawn IS worthless. ! recommend
mates Of the cost will be furnished should til geston
be opted. The old ship Of the ne the franklin, is
being repaired Kittery and her model much changed
with view Of converting her into Hrst class steam
frigate.
force will be ttreng by the addition Of two Hrst
class sailing fgates and Of first class fri
gates capable Of mounting fifty guns each, there being
steamer at present Of more than ten guns Ny epn
ion is that would be sound policy to dispose OF such
vessels deemed unfit for service vessels Of
cannot allow this occasion to pass without allusion
to the repeated failures in of to fulfil
the public expectation. doomed it my duty to order
BE drasers and appoiI ted board o, three engineers
and constructor to inquire and report to the depart
Their report d On Gle IN the dspsrtmen
which may profit fiom the facts which it dsclcses.
Although have endesvored to throw around recent
contracts safeguards BY reservng the payment Of
half Of the contract price until the completed and
and satisfactorily tested which, trust, may
ccmmendation heretofore made, Of the importance of
establishing machine shops 1T several Navy Yards on
for the construction and repair of machinery steam
ships Of Recent occurrences have multiplied cogent
arguments in favor Of that policy With the exception
the government Is entirely dependsn. upon private
tracts The yard At Now York is regarded large and
val construction yet when the steamer Prncston re-.
turned from her cruise the fishing grounds to be
paired merely te had to leave the Navy Yard for private
necessary of the skill Of privas esta bshn ents but
submitted whether Is not wise TO hayea few machine
shops in which the SUP eivsion and judgment OF its
supernts ndents may be exercised as to material work
mans hip and time
is snb ed Also that Is important that the de-
parnent be authorized when lent to increase the
enlistment, Of from the present number of 500 to
/ 1000.
The suggestions Of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
the propety Of increasing the number Of the medical
corps OF the Navy are commended to favorable con.
I tidei alton.
The recommendation in the report from the and
ant Ct the Karse corps, entitled to consideration
For the preservation Of discipline ship board and
tive te'ice in emergency on shore the importance Of
this corIs cannot be too highly appreciated. The i'm.
In the report the increase IN the corps the policy of
adopting plan ier securing the services OF officers
educated and disciplined, the officers of the Army and
Navy, are subjects deserving attention.
This corps has ever betn found faithful and useful
clearly Of opinion that should BE- enlarged for in its
present limited condition. that active service Of officers
aud is frequently demanded before is possible to
| qualify them properly with sufficient drilling
have thus frankly presented my views Of the policy
and importance OF enlargng our naval force.
REORGANIZATION OF THE NAVY
cannot withhold the expression Of my opaon that the
present organization Of the Navy, not only essentially
detective and unviss but is in It's practical operation,
working pslpable and serious mischief to the ecisncy
and chsr,cte Of that branch of the public service
am not iDsensbe to the fact that proposals for radi
cal REFORM however much suggested by the results Of
perenee Of observation, reflection often viewed
with distrus and doubt rash innovation upon familiar
sns lorg established systems elu1g to so%etmss with
From sense Of justice to the service and duty TO the CO.
vernment venture to TO view Of defects
and briefly recommend remedies by which, 1t Is hopsd
they be- extent removed. This subject has
long cied the attention Of those whose
ocation has brought them in contact with the Navy
and as it has recently the consideration Of
Congress and the public, great soicude is felt great
hope entertained that the much needed relief will be
no longer delayed.
The great evil in present system i tina. neither
merit nor sea service, gaantry capacity, but
pay The gallant, chivalrous Of the Navy feel sub
oued, dspiiitd, discouraged their ardor is chilled
the fire Of their young ambition and pride is well nigh
extinguished Many are leaving the service to which
they have SO long fondly chung Many remain, only BE-
Of the cherished expectation OF reform The officer
who encounters ali tbs perks Of the Deep wins the ad
mraton OF the world for his brilliant sci evsmens and
makes his countymen prouder than OF their
try returns to rest awhile from his tolls but to al
titled in seeing the indosDt the imbecile, who have
known tolls, and have met the enemy, daily
promoted over him. 1t Is tue that tho Executive has
power to extent, to interfere and exercise dis
erection to promotion, but fixed and well
! settled has been the almost uniform course,
| since the organization of the navy, Of promoting