Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-01-11
lJ The New York Mirror contains the

iolloWlng:-
ANAyAL STATION AT NEWPORT, X. L.
AS this subject has of late excited consider
able attention in Rhode Island and else
where, it may not be unnteresting to re-
print a statement Of the most prominent lo-
cal advantages possessed by Narragansett
Bay as naval station, as given by one OF
tho earliest advocates of that movement, ,Ihe
Hon. Samuel G.. Arnod, late Lieutenant
Governor Of Rhode Island, in lecture in
Newport:
/. This is the only harbor on our whole
coast which can be made in the face in a
northwest gae,-a fact OF itself sufficient,
when we consider the prevalence and Sc
verify of gales from that quarter during The
wnter,-to establish the superiority of New
port as naval depot The only wind that
renders it impossible to make the harbor is
the northeast and the thick weather which
almost always prevails with that wind be-
ing an obstacle to ships making land any
where, the objection is of little wcight-as
it applies with nearly the same force to all
the other stations.
2. The great depth of water and the IA
cilty of ingress enabling ship to enter at
any time without a pilot-'an advantage
possessed by no other harbor on the coast,
and of great importance in those emergen-
cies so frequent in war.
3. Another point Of immense advantage
which Newport possesses over every other
station, is the difficulty, and in fact impos-
sibilty of an enemy, OF however superior
force, maintaining blockade OF this bay
for any length Of time. The result OF the
attempts during the revolution and o war
OF 1912 demonstrates this truth. There
are no headands and islands To form pro-
lection for the hostile fleet, beyond the guns
Of tins fort, Us at every other naval station.
While Boston, New York and Chesapeake
bays are subj ct to blockade, nature and the
ell ments have provided Newport with sure
guarantee against such calamity. In our
heavy southeast gales, a blockading squad,
ron would find itself on a lee shore, reduc-
cd to the alternative of stranding on the
beach, or running in, TO certain destruction,
under the guns OF Fort Adams. A north-
east gale would compel it 10 put to sea TO
clear Long Island, while the thick weather
which attends that wind would enable yes
sells in port to got to sea with small chance
of being intercepted. A north-wcstcr
would likewise open the blockade as no ans
chorage would hold In the outer bay against
those furious tempests.
4. The facilities which exist no where
else in an equal degree for squadron ma
neuvre, by signal from the commanding
officer, and for exercise in target firing: two
matters which are sadly neglected in our
service, but are constantly practised in the
British navy.
5. The United States already possesses
a large tract OF land commanding the har-
Dor, and more, if needed, could readily be
obtained; the scarcity of population on the
adjacent islands and opposite shores affJrd-
ing, as it does to Fort Adams, the best OPP
portunity for gunnery and other sort of
tactical evolution.
6. The average height of the tides (bc-
tween and ieel) the bodness of the
shore, and the firmness Of the soil, present
a combination of facilities not TO be found
at any other station, for the construction Of
extensive docks, for The repairs Of ship.
and the preservation of timber.
7. The opportunity for rapid and most
extensive internal communication, which is
found at the head of Narraganset Bay, in
the long lines Of railroad diverging from
Providence, which give facilities, equalled
only by Boston and New York, and sur
passed by neither Of these, for promptly
troops to the Canada frontier,
the Great Lakes, or any other portion Of the
country.
G. The great advantage Of Newport, in
st'ategic point of view, has been APPARENT
from the earliest period Of our history. 1t
has always been the place Of attacs for an
enemy, and his possession of it wound hold .
in check our chief commercial ports, while.
if improved, as it should be, by ourselves, it .
protects at once both Neg York aud Bos- .
ton,and is the rcadiest point of departure Tor .
the whole scabcard. 1t was with this view,
that the extensive notifications, defending !
Newport harbor, were constructed.
as II is said that the Russian war has