Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-08-08
NAVAL POWER OF UNITED STATES.
FACTS THAT WILL CRAFTY OUR FRIENDS AND
''''@ ASTOUND OUR FOES

ASTOUND OUR FOES.
The New York Times, of Saturday, gives
a full list of the vessels Of our new Navy. 1t
shows that when the war commenced we had
only SO war vessels, while now we have 292,
55 of which are wooden, and built during
the past year, and % ironcad and also built
during the year, and that nearly 200 vessels
have been purchased and armed by the Navy
Department since the war commenced. The
Times in its comments upon these facts, says:
We give this morning the first authentic
exhibit that has been made in the Press of
the present strength Of the American navy
the classification of the vessels, and the
number in each class, together with the facts
in regard to their size, build, armament, the
number of men engaged on them, and SO
forth. We do not think it can be called
either boasting or pretension to say that the
facts there set forth are astonishing. We do
not sec that it can be construed into assump-
tion If we say that a knowledge of these facts
will give the nation feeling of security from
aggression, and a firm and intelligent con
sciousness ofpower We do not believe that
it can be taken for bravado or insult by any
foreign governments if we say ttat it would
be well for them to study and ponder upon
interfere in our affairs, OF meddle with mat
ters which are none of their business. 1t is
a force intended simply for defense against
internal and external foes; and in this work
we believe ii is capable of doing some success
ful service against the latter when called up
on, as it has already been uniformly and tri-
umphantiy successful against the former
whenever it has had any opportunity to ope-
rate.
From our resume it will be seen that the
entire strength of our navy is close upon
three hundred vessels, nearly all of which are
propelled by steam, and that among these are
two iron clad frigates, twenty-three iron clad
gan- boats, and a good stock of tho highly
effective naval weapon, the ram. OF the lat
ter the number can be increased indefinitely,
and at any moment, as they may be needed.
All we have to do is to fit beak on any
staunch steam craft, plate its most vulnera-
be parts, and it is ready for service in sink
ing and destroying wooden walls, or what.
ever else it can get Il drive at. In this way
the magnificent ocean steamship Vanicr
was fitted up in short tire in ..inis port and
sent down to Hampton Roads for tilt with
the Merrincac; a.iu the river ram feet Of Col.
lIlo.. was also turned out in the same way.
In case Of q contest with naval power, the
ram, we believe, would be one of our most
formidable weapons. Fifty Of them, stout
and swift, cruising along our coast, and il
would be hard work for any enemy to land
troops anywhere on our shore. the foe
sent mailed conveys with his transports the
ram would simply dodge the iron-clads and
sink the transports, if indeed they could not
quickly destroy both. e-... ...a.-
We believe that these three hundred armed
vessels are match for any naval force tha,
any one or two foreign powers could send te
these shores, and that the same time they
could keep the rebels in easy check. W.
have, or will have directly, larger number
Of ironclad vessels than England or Franc,
combined, and Of far more available and
destructive kind. Upon these we look as
the best guardians Of our liberty, our Union
and our Independence, from any and all for.
eign Intermediates. .a..-.. . .... -r,
The speed with which this splendid naval
force has been gotten up and put into service
is one of its most remarkable characteristics
Tho greater part of it has sprung into being
within the last year. Twelve months since
we had but eighty vessels of war of all kinds
only one third of which were steamers. Bu
thirty then-threc hundred now Ofthesc
all save some OF the iron clad and steam frig
ates arc actually atloat. Within the year We
have constructed alone nearly rs many YES
sells as the entire number of ships on the
Naval Register of 1861. We had but 5000
sailors and marines year ago; now there
are over $4,000 in our naval service. Ger
tainly these things exhibit an amount Of en-
ergy and of work deserving of notice, and
show forth the resources of the country in a
light not less striking than was shown in the
raising of our armies. If Mr.. Welles has
seemed derclict in some Of his duties, and
has been censured by the public and the
press for want of push and vigor, it must be
confessed that in the long run, he has made
grand show of both deeds and of results
In the statement we give elsewhere in de-
tail, our own people will find cause of en-.
couragemcnt and strength, and those who
would attempt to destroy us will find cause
Of warning. From the work that is still
going on, too, and is projected, it will appear
by another year that this present exhibit viii
be absolete, and that America will show .