The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-04
OUR NEW NAVY.
Secretary welles' Report 70 t".'
President.
How an Efficient Navy Can Be Imprcvised BY an
Energetic People.

s,u The report from this department under date Of
ath yuy last exhibited tho condition Of the navy, tho
administrative measures taken augment It's efficiency,
and the general Of It's operations up to the COM
meucement Of the late special session Of Congress The
enlarged estimates Of expenditure for the naval service
then submitted contemplated especially, three different
lines Of naval operations upon extended SCALE do
manded by the situation OF the country. These were
J. Inc closing Of all the nsurgent ports along st
line Of nearly three thousand miles in the form AM IN
der the exactng regulations Of international bio ckadc
including the naval occupation and defence Of The Poto.
river from its mouth TO the federal cap al ss the
boundary a5'between Maryland and Virginia. and also
the commercial the princiy al base OF our
military operations.
q The organization Of combined nav al and military ex
petitions operate in force against arous points Of tia
Southern coast, rendering efcicu naval cooperation
with the position and movements OF such expeditions
when landed, and including also all necdful nava, aid to
the army in cutting of intercow muncaon with the rebels
and in its operations the and its r.butaries
and,
s. The active pursuit 0i the pirat!cal cruisers which
might escape the vigJ Of the blockadng force and
put sea from the roes,l ports.
These were duties which the navy was called upon at
tho same time 70 loare for and perform and they
stituted triple taS ardlaus is beloved
respects, than has before been demanded from The iWri.
government.
~ the eDorts watch have been maa for s accomplish
ment.
DIE BLocxAos
The limited number Of ships and at command
when the proclamation nag the bkckaae Of the
ports Of tire nsurgent States issued and the made
quate provided by tho last CongrOs FOR tho ener.
gency dcyolyed upon the department the necessity
calling into immediate service not onyal the naval forces
but vessels from the commercial Iualne Purchases
al.
for the exgency and orders pev empsoriy issued to
| forthwith equip and prepare Tor service the pub
lcvessels that were disnanted and ordinary ut tina
scvera yards. Tae force thus hastily gathered was
placed along coast and divided into two squadrens
orc OF which, designated a. the Atlantic b!ockadsng
squadron, hal for its field Of operation tho whole
extending from the easernU 1st Inc of Virginia Cape
Florida and was nIaer the armand Of Flag officer las
! H. sr'ngham The other, a. Gulf squadron, operating
from Cape iorida westward the Rio GranJe was
! nmied tg Flag Officer VIII liam N.rync These oicefs
rease 70 their stations ~ I'd reinforced frcsn
u TINS by the arrival of ch vessels despatched
20 Their commands, and, dnas their supervision aac
IL econ ali the ports upon their were subjected
q blockade as rigid am ectise as the pec nature
OF our maritime frontier (which has through largo lcr-
ton Of its entire extent. double coast andcnlor
would admit Oar prs acipa, naval vessels not, rom
their great draft Of a;or, adapted to bockee FIR
onour shallow coast, whrh las been guarded with OK
tremc difficulty. Tie, ports sf North Cagoae specially,
situated within tlse interior shallow waters IL choir
sounds and niets, sfordi peculiar facilities 10 ccss Of
small vessels AIDED by fraudulent papers and foreign
nlgs 20 clile the gtscnca or sentinel ships whose
special duty itesas TO Inter dict With M nsur-
| gents.
| TIE iora1Ac FLoIIlIA.
I II beaane necessary at an eorJv .rcriod "a
piaee fotilia or the lower potorsac 4
variety of ,csrcuasstrslces combined % rnpaSy