Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-01-06
DEPARTMENT REPORTS.
Report Of 1.-The SecretaryEOf the

4 -fThe new steam frigate Wabash, Capt
Thomas Ensle, (the flag ship; )the sloops-
of.war Saratoga, Commander Tilton, and
Cyane, Commander r. G. Robb, form the
Home Squadron, which is still under the
command Of Commodore Paulding.
The Brazil Squadron, Commander
French Forrest, consists of the flag ship
st, Lawrence, Capt. Hull, and sloop-of-wal
Germantown, Commander Lynch, fol
whose return orders were issued on the
3lst of October, last. The Falmouth will
Join the:squadron in a few weeks. II
T The Mediterranean Squadron; Comnlo-
dore Breeze consists Of the flag ship, the
frigate Congress, Capt. Craven; the sloop-
of-war Constellation, Capt. Bell, aid steam
frigate Susquehannn, Capt. Sands. The
store ship Supply, Lieut.. Commanding
POI ter, is in the Mediterranean on special
service under the War department.
The African Squadron, Commander
Crabbe, is composed of the flag ship, the
sloop-of-war Jamestown, Commander
Ward, the sloop-of-war St. Louis, Com
mander Livingston, and the brig Dolphin,
Commander Thompson. The squadron
were all well at last advlces.
The East India Squadron, Commodore
Armstrong, is composed of the flag ship
San Jacinto, Commander Bell, the sloops-
of-war Levant and Portsmouth.
The Pacific Squadron, Commodore Mer-
vine, consists of the flag ship Indepen-
dence, Commander Hoff, and the sloops-of-
war John Adams, st. Marys, Decatur, and
the steamer Massachusetts,. The Seoreta-
ry regrets that Commander Mervine failed
to make a personal examination of the sup
posed Guano Islands, and recommends
that another small steamer be sent to visit
the Islands. Reference is made to the
protection of our citizens at Panama by
vessels of this squadron. An additional
Pacific squadron is recommended.
The Behring's Straits expedition, having
completed its work, has returned.
Lieut.. Beryman's survey of the bottom
of the sea between New Foundland and
Ireland, with view to telegraph commu-
nication with Europe, is referred to at
length. The route is 1000 miles. The
practicability of laying the wires is estab-
lshed.
The Secretary recommends the estab-
lishment of practice ship in which gun
merry alone shall be taught. Great atten-
ton is now paid to practice at sea, but men
should be able to man the guns before the
vessal leaves her n,oorings. .---s
He gives reasons for the recent change
in the armament of our national ships.
The former success of the American Ma
Wy has been owing much to the superiority
of the calibre of our guns; and the Sec
retary recommends that we not only keep
pace with, but if possible, be in advance
of others in the character of our engines
of war. ir
Onr new steam frigates are all ahoat,
and the most sanguine expectations Of the
department relative to them have been re-
allied. The speed of those tested is great
er than usual in auxiliary steamers in which
steam is by no means the chief motive
power The Niagara will carry twelve
eleven-inch guns, each throwing shells of
one, hundred and thirty-fve pounds.
He repeals his recommendation of last
year about the building Of seven addition
al sloops of war.
The establishments for building and re-
pairing machinery at New York and Nor
folk will be completed next year. The
foundry at Boston will be delayed on ac-
count of the difficulty of obtaining safe
foundation. When these establishments
are completed, government can build and
repair its own machinery. The entire ma
chincry of the Mime sofa was built at the
Washington yard.
There are three vacancies in the grade
of captain, and fourteen in that of lieuten-
ant, some of which occurred several months
since.
To hold out further encouragement to
enlist; and to prevent any cause of com
plant for being unnecessarily detained be-
yond three years, the department recon-
mends that the length of the cruise should
be two instead of three years.
Several hundred American boys are
now enlisted and in active service in the
various squadrons. There was no difficult
ty in procuring their enlistment. While
the great consideration in admitting ap-
prentices is to secure American sailors, ii
might encourage the youth if the Presi.
dent were to authorize by law the appoint.
mcnt of ten as midshipmen. Such law
is recommended,
Much progress has been made in com
Ipleting the navy yard at California. The
dock, basin and railroad are finished.
The Secretary refers to the report of the
Bureau of Provisions and clothing, il
which he suggests that small corps of as
sisstant pursers, with moderate salaries be
established. Store-ships and vessels OIL
special service are not furnished with pur
sers, and their duty devolves on the com
manding officers, who, ignorant of accounts
frequently suffer pecunlary losses.
He recommends the creation Of an ad
ditional Office in the Navy Department fo
the management of all matters connected
with courts martial and courts of inquiry
and the appointing of a Judge Advocate
J for the Department.
The Chief of the Bureau of Medicine
t recommends that the Hospital Fund b.
i, paid the value of land recently conveyed