New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-08
SYNOPSIS OF OFFICIAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF TIE NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT December 4, 1884

NAVY DEPARTMENT, December 4, 1854
SIR In the Annual Report from the Navy Depart
me ut, which now have the honor to present, have
taken the liberty in addition to the usual statement of
the operations of the squadrons and the general con
dition Of the service and the public property, to
commend still further gradual increase of the Navy,
and to )ress frankly my views of the great impoc
lance OF It's Reorganization, and the enactmeat Of nev
regulations for the discipline and improvement of
s.Amen. IL they are urged with seeming pertlnacity
ny only apology rs adeep interest in the magnitude of
he subject, and conviction OF the necessity OF legs
lative inerposltion.
sqUADRoss.
The vessels composing the Home Squadron are the
fripate Columbia the flag ship Commander 5. b.
Wilson; the sloopsof war Albany Commander j. l.
Gerry; Falmouth Commander L. ID. SHAW aud the
steamers Princeton, Commander Henry Eaglo; AMI
Fulton Lieutenant Commanding ). X. Mitchell
Commodore J. L. Newton still commands this squad
ron The (huisng VI the vessels OF the squadron has
been principally among the West ioda Islands, and
along the bordering on the Caribbean Sea and
the Gulf of Mexico.
The report details the operations OF the Home
squaoron, especially Lieut.. Strains survey of the
Isbmus, ana Capt. HOninss bomoardment VI Grey.
town.
The Falmouth, Commander Shaw, has been very
recently put in commission and will proceed to sea
in a few days.
The Brazil Squadron, Commodore W. Salter, has
attached to it the g-ship Savannsh, Commander
Samuel Mercer; the s!oop-oi.war Germantown. Com
uaIder W. +. Ly ncb; the brig cambridge, Lieut.
Commanding c. G Hunter; a0d ths store ship Re-
lief Lieut. Commanding s. c. Rowan. Inc store
ship Relief returned to NewYo on the goth of Jaly
for fesh supplies, ana having taken Ia her cargo,
sailed for Rio on the cath Of September.
The steamer Water Witch, Lieut. Commanding T.
j. Pa. is stl actively engaged in the surveys OF the
tiyers Uruguay and Parena.
Ibis squadron is efficiently engaged in taking care
of the interests OF country IN that region with
ii erraoV
Ing.
The African squadron, Commodore Isaac Mayo,
consists of his dag ship, the f1gate Saton, Com
uaDd.r j. Rudd the sloOps-ot war Nj .rion, Com
nander II. Y. PurviaIce, and Dale, Commander
VIM. G. White. The orig Perry, Lieut.. X. l. Page,
aft er having been on the station TWO Year,, arrived st
Norfolk ON the 18th Of July. The Constitution and
the Marion will DO relieved early ia the ensuing year,
at which time they will nave been two years On that
station.
The vessels of this squadron have been actively,
and in many instances successfully engaged in check.
ids the sagelrade, and some OF them nave been reg
ularly cruising on the coasts most ireqaented oy
slayes. The officers in command have also hat il IN
their power render assistance to merchant vessels
i'll distess and to our groSing commerce. exposed 70
many dangers on the African coast.
The Meoiterrsnean Squadron, Commodore ). H.
String CHAM consists OF hls dag ship the frgate Gum
berlanc Commander A. A. HarSood; The steam
friR ate ssransc Capt. j. c Long; the sloop.of'wr
ST. LOUIS COMMANDER ID. n. lngraham, and Leysat,
Commander 4. l.. Turner. lie Cuuioerlanl wa De
releyed early in the spring, and authority mas been
given for the return OF the Levant and 81 LOUIS early
in the ensuing year.
Th;, squscr ron, during the past year, has visited
many of the ports OF Italy Sicily, the Archipelago,
and Greece and also the coasts Of SPAN and Btfbsry
and has kept waehful eye over American Interests
in the Mediterranean
The East India squadron consists OF the soop-of-
war Macedonian, Capt Joel Abbot the senior officer
Oh the station; the sesmriget PoNh 4taa capt. w.
J. McCluney; and the sl0op-Of- var Eandalis, Com
handler John Pope. The steam frigst-s Mississippi
and Susquel sDnah, the slOop of-gsr Plymouth, aud
the store-ships Southampton, Supply and Lexington,
are I ov on their way home-the steamers returning
by the wsy Of San FraociscO. Commodore II. T..
P,rry rtcf nty commanding this squsdroo, Is by per-
mission of the Depermsnt, returning 20 the United
States By the way Of England.
The vessels OF the squadron owing 20 the civil war
existing in China, have had frequent cAs made upon
,bcm Tor the protection Of American citizens and
try q en- in tha. remote region.
The japan operation Is here detailed, with the
Behring'S Straits survey, asd some alasioo TO the war
In China
The Pacific Squadron, Commodore b. Dusny, con-
iist Of the flag ship 81. Lawrence. Commander W.
w. Hunter, the sloops ofwar Portsmouth, Com
maDder I. A. DorLn. and ST. Mays, CounAnder T.
Bailey. The frigate Inder Evidence, Capt. = Iat
nall, bearing the broad pennsnt Of Commodore W.
Meryine sailed from New York the 9th OF ocooei,
for the Pacific. Upon her arrival oat, Conmoaors
Mervine viii take the command, and Com@oaS1s
Dulany viii return 10 the United etAsss "a .ao as
Lawrence. The sloopof-w pecssu, So% T:..s.
i. S. Stererett and steamer nassseosseo, 1ie1yr
ant Comuaadiae r w. Mssde, ssleo no@ yosI"U,
respectively. the lsth of June and su o. Suy
join bis squalroa. By Lest s4v'oss ns5 ~ "sssss