The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-15

.he world Then, in addition 10 aal this, there i
her poyeriul and exceedingly efficient fleet Of
eunboats, which have come TO be regarded as
more xrvceabIe than vessels Of larger class.
There is, In fact, no government except the
French which pays more attention to this arm OF
her power than England, and none which has
reaped more advantage and profit therefrom
The French navy is hardly inferior to the British
in point Of numbers aud efficiency, although as
a commercial nation France falls far behind both
England and the United States. Her navy is
also composed for the most part Of steamers,
and as she watches with jealous interest every
increase in the naval force Of her great rival she
builds ship for every one that is built in an
English dockyard.
The effective naval force Of Great Britain
numbers about six hundred and forty vessels,
and she has Of line battle ships alone many
we have Of all classes and sizes in our navy.
But she has, besides, over three hundred which
are used as coast guards, hospitals, receiving
ships, &C.; so that the whole British navy num-
bers altogether about one thousand vessels
Her gunbOat feet alone is composed of one
hundred and sixty-one small steamers, of
the efficiency Of which for war purposes
naval critics have formed high estimate
But England is still increasing her navy, and
there is always employment for her naval con-
structors and ship carpenters. For every new
vessel that is added to our list the English add
three or four to theirs and they never fail to
take advantage Of any Improvement that we
may make in the construction Of our ships Thus,
when the Niagara the Wabash, and the other
new steam frigates were launched, they had the
keels of similar vessels laid in their yards, and
some of these, we believe are now aioat and
ready for sea.
In view of all these facts, what is our policy?
With commerce equal to that Of Great Britain,
it will hardly be credited that we have not more
than vessel to every ten that she possesses. 1t
is true that we have recently built some splendid
ships-such as the Niagara and the Wabash;
and it is no less true that we have the
means and the material for the construction
and organization of the best navy in the
world. Our officers, in point Of capacity
to those of no other nation, and the perfection to
which the art Of gunnery has been carried by such
men as Captain Dahlgren proves that we might
occupy the first position among the great naval
Powers as we are fast becoming the first among
the commercial nations. II has been said that we
don't need large navy and that it is time enough
to increase it when we are forced to do so by ne
cessity. Leaving the dubious nature Of such a
policy out of question altogether, we ask, has
not the emergency which would justify that in
crease arisen, and have we the means Of meet
ing it? Are we not driven to every sort of ex-
pedient to make up for our want Of proper
naval force? Were we not compelled when fit
ting out our expedition to Paraguay to charter
steamers from steamboat companies and to fit
them up, ill-adapted and unseaworthy as some
Of them were, as vessels Of war; Indeed, so I'M
safe and unseaworthy were they that several of
the naval officers who were sent on board Of
them were unable to get their livee insured.
We ask, in view Of all the facts which we have
presented, what is our policy? Is IL not to in
crease our navy so that we may be prepared
for any emergency that may arise! The Naval
Committees of the two houses should take up
this matter at once. Out Of the navy as it
is, they can give us twenty or thirty ad-
ditional war steamers at the same cost that
ii would take to build twelve new ones. BY
cutting. down our line-ofbattle ships and fri
gates, and converting them into screw propel-
lers, as has been done in the case of the Frank
lin, the strength Of our navy would be more
than doubled. In this policy our government
would have the hearty support and approval Of
the whole country. When the line-of battle ship
Pennsylvania was launched, In the year 1887,
the occasion was one Of general rejoic-
ing, and people from all parts of the United
States 1ocked TO Philadelphia to see the
spectacle. She was the lagcst vessel, at
that time, in the world, carried one hundred and
twenty guns, and her measurement was three
thousand two hundred tons. Since then what
change has taken place in the construction Of
war vessels The Niagara-the great historic
cable shp-registers, according to government
measurement, four thousand six hundred and
cghty-tbrec tons, and yet carries only twelve
guns, but those twelve are Of such immense size,
'hhV" SUN hcaNy mcsh' ahu nave SuCn ionB
range, as to place her on an equality with the
largest line-ofbattle ship. IT is said by those
who are conversant with such matters that one
Of her shells, which weigh one hundred and
thirty pounds each, Is effective at range OF four
miles, and that il II should strike a vessel amid
ships and explode, il would sink or completely
disable her. A vessel Of this character,
invincibc against . sailing ship, no matter
Of what dimensions or force Of guns.
A mere gunboat, with one Dahlgren gun, would,
by means Of her steam power, be absolutely
more than match for the frigatc Sabine, which
has been sent on the Paraguay expedition, al
though she carries ffty thirty-two FOUNDERS.
The present state Of our relations with Mexico,
and tho thrpatenino poatiou NJ affairs In thu ,,lf