Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-11
STAR.
THE AMERICAN NAVY.
From the London Time. /,

| The condition and progress of the Anne rican
Navy form subject replete with interest TO
the people Of this country. 1t is very true
that in onV respect we may be considered
rather as teachers than learners in this mai.
ter; but if the Americans represent a far
younger state than ourselves, and IL their
policy up to the present time has not aimed
60 directly at the establishment of powerful
navy, they have always bestowed extraordi-
nary pains on the construction and equipment
OF Individual vessels. Comparatively speak
Ing they have few ships, but their desire has
always been to make every ship a model of
Its efficiency and strength. They are entitled
In fact, to the credit Of having carried ships
OF every rate to the utmost limits Of their re-
spectiye capacities-of having made frigates
equal to ships Of the line, and corvettes equal
to frigates. At this very moment, too, they
are launching new class of steam vessels,
with batteries of prodgious power, so that in
their marine, though much smaller than our
own, we may look for the latest invention in
the science of naval architecture or the arts of
destruction.
On the 1st day Of December last the Secre-
| tary of the American Navy made his annual
report to the President of the United States
| On the state and prospects of bat department,
explaining in q lucid description the duties
discharged by the several squadrons aHoat,
| the actual condition Of the service, and the
| changes or improvements which it was thought
proper to recommend From this document
we collect much valuable intelligence but its
most striking feature, perhaps, is contained
| in the general view which it exhibits when
| regarded as a whole. As if under the infu-
ence Of some irresistible law of things, the
Americans are steadily treading in our own
footsteps, and advancing gradually to the for
| nation OF larger regular marine. The key
note OF the report in almost every section is
Extension. The traditional policy Of throw
ing the utmost skill and pains into the con
struction Of single ships is not forgotten, but
by the side of this principle appears that of
| expanding the whole naval force. Hitherto
there has been only one American squadron in
The Pacihc,-it is now recommended that there
should be two.
Measures are suggested for insuring tie
supply Of seamen, and American seamen espe-
cially, for the national service; additional Of
fcers are spoken of, and the forests on the
western coasts of the continent are TO be
searched for ship timber. The spirit in which
these and other recommendations are made is
explained in one of the paragraphs of the re-
port so clearly as to leave no room for miscon-
ceptiOn. "Tbe arguments and considera-
tions, says the Secretary, "for a steady and
gradual enlargement Of our macy have lost
none of their force. Our extended coast, our
multiplied commerce, tie maintenance Of our
rank among the great po,cers of the earth, all
speak loudly in favor of this policy " We
believe the impulse here indicated to be both
natural and Inevitable in the growth Of q
great nation, and sincerely do we rejoice over
the reflection that the power to be thus de-
veloped must necessarily by the laws Of po-
lltlcal gravltatiOn, be carried to the side of
liberty and progress
The latest novelty in the American service
consists in the introduction of guns Of pecu-
liar form, intended to throw shells of enorm.
Gus weight The explanations Of the Secretary
on this point are extremely interesting As
long ago as 1850 the cannon Of the new model
were spoken OF as yielding the narsmunB of
power to be obtained out Of given weight of
metal, and during the years 1852, 1853, and
1894, the invention was subjected to vigorous
and unremitting tests. AT length, when the
construction of six frigates had been ordered
by Congress, it was resolved to fit them with
this new species Of armament, and one speci.
men-the Merrimac-has visited our shores.
AS the guns are very heavy, the number CON-
posing the battery will not be great; but some
idea may be formed of their power when we
say th at the largest of the three calibres speci
fed will carry projectile l35 lbs. weight; or,
in other words, will throw more metal than
four 32-pourders. These projectiles are to
take the form of shells, as being the more de-
strucsive; but it is expressly stated that solid
shot could be used in case of attack upen the
stone walls Of Notifications, "although," adds
the Secretary, "recent developments in the
late European wars will hardly encourage such
assaults TO be often undertaken"
Steam power in these vessels is only en-.
ployed as an auxiliary, it being reserved as
an indispensable condition that their capaci-
ties as sailing vessels should be kept unim-
paired, but greater rate of speed th an usual
has nevertheless been obtained. The two
leading principles of the new models appear
to be, first, the distribution of a great weight
Of metal-equal to that of 40-gun frigate-
among ten or twelve guns only; and next, the
preservation of the most valuable qualities of
q calling vessel, In connection with a consider
able power of steam for occasions requiring it,
Although it is remarked in the report, that
" the introduction of these magnificent vessels
constitutes an era in the history Of the United
States Navy"
1t is rather curious to observe, that while
the Americans are thus taking g stride ahead
of all other nations in the composition of their
armaments, they are acknowledging imper.
fections in the study of gunnery, for the Secre-
tary alludes to the Portsmouth gunnery ship,
(the Excellent, as feature of our service de-
serving imitation in theirs, remsrking, at the
same time, that hitherto they have relied for
their training upon practice at sea. He OBJ
serves that, generally speaking, an American
finds himself instinctively at home with fire.
arms. 1t is much the same, indeed, among
ourselves, and the wilder features of transat-
ldntic lle, luFoiVing, III Sd many instances,
resort to the gun as an indispensable instru-
msnt, would Of course give stimulus to the
national paItialities. Americans, says the
report, are adopts in the use of the rifle and
the muskct from their bcyhoOd, and when
thrown into the field, no matter how suddenly,
they are skilful, and their aim is as fatal as
that of the trained soldier"
This is simply an incident Of that individu- |
ality of character which renders an American |
so much of man and SO little Of q machine
but the Secretary adds. with evident reason,
that f" the case is very different with regard to
the management of cannon weighing thou
sands of pounds upon disturbed sea-" As
an improvement, therefore, upon the system
in use, he recommends that special considera-
tion and encour agement should be extended
to an attempt already made, in the absence of
legislation on the subject, toward the estab-
Iisnment of gunnery practice ship, and ex-
presses his own opinion that vast improve
ment would follow il no man of war went to