New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-24


The effective force of the British navy amounts 70
only ~ liners and 43 frigates.
1t should be observed, however, that, though in-
ferior in numbers, the steam fleets Of to-day are
vastly stronger, and more expensive too, than the
sailing fleets Of fifty years ago. For nine, twelve,
and thiy-two Founders, siIty-eight and eghty-fOur
Founders have been substituted. II used to be
estimated thatto build ship Of war would cost
S., 600 gun. But so much heavier is the present
armament, requiring a corresponding increase in
strength that they now cost three times that. The
annual expense of their maintenance, including the
cost of fuel has increased 10 still greater ratio.
As to fuel, England has decided advantage over
France, which, in the event of war between the
countries, would be obliged to draw her supplies
Of coal from Belgium.
The gradual and unavoidable decay of ships, when
built, is another heavy item of expense. At the
end Of fifteen years, very heavy expenses are neces
sary, and ship s worn out at thirty. So enor-
is this cost that, between 1852 and 1858, the
Enghsh have spent nearly hundred millions Of
dollars in building and rebuilding ships.
Notwithstanding the great changes already made,
OlHtib ult SUI ROlut ons luC ibSiNurCu ahu bVN
tremendous power of the new artillery bas natur-
ally suggested the necessity Of additional de-
fenses of ships, and the plan has been adopted Of
Of sheathing them with iron. 1t has been found
that shell falls to pieces against four-and-a-haf
inch plate: so do cast-iron balls, though wrought
iron siIty-eght pound ball will sometimes pierce
the plating. The French Government are building
twenty irOn-plaed ships wihth scantling of three
deckeIs armed with Sc guns each, throwing hol-
low percussion shot of eighty pounds Meanwhile,
the English are constructing gigantic steam ram,
so called, sort of revival, on a larger scale, OF
Fulton's experiment for our navy. This structure
is to be in itself impenetrable, to be armed with
thry-siI hundred Founders, aud to have engines Of
such power as to enable it to destroy ships BY run
ming into them.
Ships, however, are of little consequence without
men, The old-fashioned English practice of pressing
has been abandoned, while the maritime conscrption
in use in France, which extends over some $4,000
men, seems to give that country the advantage in
this particular. To supply the place of the press
gang, various measures have been adopted. The
internal condition of the navy has been greatly i'm
proved, the pay has been raised, and, when men
are suddenly needed, bounty is offered. Instead
of entering the men for particular ship, and put
ting il out of commission at the end of three years
and scattering the crew-the old practice which we
have bOrrowed-there is now q practice of con-
tinuOus service with increased pay and privileges,
which has been found to answer exceedingly well.
There are also on shore, in Government pay, 3l00
frstrate seamen belonging to the coast guard, and
connected with them body of 5000 volunteers,
who in an emergency would be sufficient to man a
dozen lne-ofbattle ships. The principle of SUBJ
sidiary or militia force, to be employed in connec
ton with the navy, has also been lately introduced.
number of men, not exceeding 10000, are to be |
enrolled for period of five years, and are to be |
called out for twenty days training every year.
receiving twenty-four dollars year each besidepay
accOrdngtO their sailing At the end of the five years,
they can retire reenlist, in which latter case af
terten years service, they will be entitled to pen
sion. In the event of war, they will be liable to
serve for three years. 1t is expected that in this
way men will be brought into a connection and
.ympaiby with the naval service which viii break |
down the wall of separation between the nercan-
Ie and naval marines, and will, at small outlay,
in time Of peace, keep large body Of men at tue
service of the Government in the event of war.