The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-19

What our Navy Really wants /. 70 Promote
its Emcicncy.,
The official Navy Register for 1856 has just
been issued, and we call the attention Of Con-
gress and The American people to curious facts,
which, on careful examination it discloses,
but which are adroitly concealed from the
superficial reader. Thus, the first page of the
list Of officers is false statement; and this mis-
statement continues to the last page Of the Re-
gister. The number of captains is there set
down as GO; while, in fact, 90 hold that COM
mission, and receive pay; either for duty,
leave or turlough. In the British Navy List
the retired officers head the list of their grade
then comes the active list; but, in our Navy
Register, the retired and dropped lists are Sc
parately given at the end Of the Register, where
even those most familiar with it, can, with
difficulty, discover where they are placed
Then, again, the number Of commanders is
given as 81, when there are 100; and the lieu
tenants 326, when it should be 800. Is this by
accident or design?
The number Of vessels Of war of all classes
in commission on the LIST Of January, 1856,
was 3l-of which there were in the home
squadron, 4; Mediterranean, 8; Brazils, 8; Afri-
can, 4; Pacific, 5; East Indies, 6; lakes, special
service and preparing for sea, 6. OF the 90
captains, ii are at sea; of the $50 commanders.
80 are at sea- of the 800 lieutenants, l61 are
at sea.
Agreeably to this official statement, cap
tain would see one years sea duty in seven; or,
after three years cruise, his turn for sea duty
would arrive again at the end of twenty one
years. Commanders would see one years duty
at sea in four; or, after . three years cruise
their turn for sea service would come again at
the end of twelve years; and leutenants would
zee one years sea service in two years and six
months; or, after a three years cruise, would
not again be called upon to go to sea until the
expiration Of five years. We cannot more for
chilly illustrate the absurdity Of these regula-
lions than by repeating the remarks which we
made ON the same subject in our issue Of the
18th December last
We again put it to Congress and the American people,
whether these ocer after such long periods on shore
are likely to be efficient and competent officers q. sea
Would merchants and ship owners entrus the care OF
CT duty Would any one, IN short, like to employ
lawyer, ply. ician or mechanic, who, for 80 many
worked at his trader
The British Navy List Of the lst January,
1856, gives 301 ships of war in commission, of
which $50 are steamers; among which is the
Marlborough, of l3l guns, and 40 of them
(steamers) mount over 60 guns EACH !" and
such few sailing vessels (says the LisD as are
yet doing duty are set aside as fast as their
terms of commission expires" If the heads of
our navy are SO anxious to promote its eff.
ciency," why do they not compel our naval
officers to make themselves familiar with steams
In the British Navy, no officer can be appointed
to the command of any steam vessel of
war who has not passed an examination
on stesm; and captains, commanders and lieu
tenants, as we learn from their Navy List, are
ordered to their dock yards, "to study steam.''
In the American Navy such knowledge isdeem-
ed unnecessary. Higher rank and higher pa7
ale the only objects for which certain Of our
officers labor; and as Congress would not di
rectly increase the number Of officers, those
persons could only rise by crowding others
out, and accordingly they (not Congress)
framed bill, which, in the words of Mr.. Ben
ton, was "rushed through on the heel of the
session, under the action of the previous ques-
ton; it was, in short, legislation without de-
liberation" Admitting Mr.. Dobbins' great de-
sire to promote the interests Of the navy, he
has fallen into bad hands among body of
men whose ambition was, as shown by this pro-
ceeding, to pull others down in order that
4nnx, 4hnvno Iva bkrscn oif
merit, nor long service at sea, nor illustrious
deeds, could save their victims. But one class
of men were cafe, and those familiar with the
service know but too well who they were.
On further examination of the Navy Re-
gister we find that forty-one lieutenants are
employed on the coast survey, eight lieuten-
ants at the Naval Academy, five lieutenants on
Lighthouse duty, fourteen ieutenants at the
observatory, and seventeen officers on ord
nance duty. Will not these facts be new, even
to the Secretary of the Navy himself? These
are the men who are POLITICALLY supposed to
have
Their march upon the mountain wave
Their home upon the deep.
We will point out to the Department and to
Congress come of the measures by which they
may promote the efficiency of the navy" if
they are really DESTROYS Of doing SO. First, to
erect, in all our navy yards, modern and COM
modious machine shops, in which the largest
class steam engines can be built and repaired.
Secondly, to build shot proof steam batteries,
Of small draft of water, for the defence of Bos-
'cn, New York, the Delaware, Chesapeake, New
Orleans and San Francisco. Thirdly, to EN-
lloy steamships on our coast, particularly dur
ing the winter season, to relieve ships in dis
tress. Fourthly, to introduce steam propellers
into every ship of war we have-where the ship
will bear such an alteration as has been done
in the navies of England and France. Filthy,
to erect storehouses and timber sheds in our
navy Yards and I'LL them with imperishable