The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-06-10
J. Incrense of tIle NaYI, =

+ We make the following extract from Al
able sriicle IN the Psnasylvagian, upon the
necessity which has long existed for an In
crease in our Navy. That paper says:
For years we have been talking about the
necessity of increasing our Navy. At eve.
ry session Of Congress the matter has been
sgitsted and discussed, but with no practical
1 results at all commensurate with the de-
mands upon the National Government for
protection to the honor Of our flag, the
rights Of American vessels to sail on any
sea without fear Of hindrance or molesta-
lion. Each year witnesses an increase 10
the commerce of the Natiun, and conse-
quently in the pumher Of ships which sail
under the protection OF the American col
ors. At the close of the war Of 1912, there
were many ports OF the world where an
! American vessel was never seen. But at
/ the present time there is not an ocean, sea
or bay whose waters are not ploughed by the
keel of the adventurous and hardy Ameri.
can seomen; and from China and Japan,
from the for off islands Of the Pacific
Ocean, and from oil parts where trade is to
be secured, there comes q cry for adequate
and immediate protection for American
rights. How shall this demand be satisfied!
is the most Important and pressing question
at this time. The sound of British cannon
is being waited to our shores, and each ar
rival from the Gulf brings intelligence ol
fresh cutrages upon the ships and commerce
Of the Nation. At present startling ru-
NOR is abroad that British cruiser had fred
into On American vessel, and that one man
was killed. Whether this particular case
can be verified, it is certain that within the
last three weeks more than thirty American
ships have been nverhauled and searched in
the Gulf of Mexico, and on the coast oil
Cuba, by cruisers, acting, 1t is presumed
under the sanction Of the British Govern.
ment. The Nation is at last fairly aroused
'apd the National authorities have despatch
ed armed vessels to chastise the perpetra'
tors of those outrages and prevent The repe
tition OF like offences in the future.
II is easy to call upon the National Ad
minstraton to send out vessels in suficien
numbers TO scour each sea and visit all in
tested localities, but have they vessels a
their command to perform this necessary
] duty! 1t is we'll enough to demand that tht
vessels despatched to the Gulf shall imme
diately capture or sink the whole Englisl
feet in those waters. But even American
valor and skill cannot perform impossible
ties. It is not probable that the Fulton
with only .fre ouaS, will be able to conquer
the British steamer Terrible, of one thou
sand eight hundred tons, and t,centy guns
even if she should attempt it. The dispro
portion is too great. And SO it is with ref.
erence to feet duty. Ten vessels of mod
crate size cannot overcome twenty of supe
riur proportions and armed with heavie
metal During the war of 1912, our victo
ries in almost all instances were achieve
by single ships. But in the Gulf we mus
expect fleet engagements, if war doe
take place betW cen this country and Eng
land, and preparations should be made t
meet any armament that can be brcugt
against US.
This can only be accomplished by an il
crease Of the Navy. Build more ships, an
c let them be of all sizes. We need sloop
@ of-war, and they should be built; but "
also require heavy screw steamers to carl
IL long thirty-two's and eight and Ten int
= guns. These will be able 10 meet the mo
!. power Of the English steamers, sngly or
n fleets. without fear as to the result.
- the English navy at present there are al
" large screw sloops of two thousand tor
= carrying from twelve to twenty-four hea
e eight inch guns, and calculated to do me
g effective work when needed. If this for
y is to be met, preparations must be made
as early day as possible, Vessels of co
: responding size and armament must be bui
VI and fitted out, in order that our Navy nj
It stand upon something like an equality vii
:. that of the nation with which we are like
to become embroiled. Let US have mo
vessels. Congress should not adjourn wit
out action upon this important matter.