New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-10-13
THE SPEED OF MEN-GE-WAR.

The Alabama is small screw Steaiher vi
probably nine hundred tuns burden, and not
quite so long as the fleet of double-enders
which have lust been finished in our various
shipyards. Having only five guns in all, and
these far less formidable than those composing
the armament of a majority of our ships, she has
caused serious alarm to our merchants, has
struck heavy blows at our commerce, and to-day
can roam over the ocean almost regardless Of
our splendid frgatcs and cOryetteS. The old
San Jacinto for instance, which lay alongside
the pirate at Martinique, could have destroyed
her in half an hour had fighting begun; but
she was powerless when Semmes had few
miles the start of her in going to sea. 1t is said
that Mallory, the Rebel Secretary Of the Navy,
in ordering the Alabama, wrote to the English
merchant in these terms: "Wbat l want is
speed make box that will float, and fill itwlth
engines from top to bottom; make 1t sea-worthy,
and you shall get whatever it is worth" II
would have required some eloqucnce then to per-
suade our naval authorities that such box
could he of any possible use, and if they believe
il now, it has taken considerable time to con-
vince them Of it, and not until after II has been
proved 10 the satisfaction Of all other people.
The Alabama il known to have no warkc quail
ties whatever. She is beautiful and fast; these
are her chief characteristics. The space for her
crew Is 50 small that .he carries but few men ard
officers and her hull is reputcd to be SO tender
that Scmmes always avoids, if possible, an en-
gagcment, even with Il less formidable vessel
than his own. person unacqualnted Win
maritime affairs can hardly conceive OF the
superiority which a speed greater by two
miles an hour than that Of her adversary
gives a pirate. IL is believed by our
naval authorities that many United States yes
sells have sighted the Alabama on the horizon
but,Semmes has not only as good telescopes a.
his pursuers but more speed. Thus II Is that a
squadron. almost large enough to blockade the
coast Of Great Britain, is vainly cruising Oh the
ocean in the hope Of falling in with this nimblc
Rebel. How long this state OF affairs Is TO last
remains TO be seen; recently, however, the
Navy Department. has made praiseworthy encoav-
ors to give the country feet able TO overhaul
the Alabama or vessels even swiftor than she
is. II has also purchased many fast ships; we
regret TO say, however, that their speed has
been impaired by their being loaded down with
heavy batteries. Our correspondent Oh board
the Fort Jackson, whose letter We published a
few days since, states that his vessel, (which
was expected to 90 II or IL miles an hour, is
unable to make more than 10, because her bat
terry is too heavy, as the officers believe The
same mistake Las been made in regard TO the
Magnolia and other vessels.
Secretary Welles has done 80 well since be
took the helm OF his Department that he may
bear 10 be- told few Of bis mistakes. We doubt.
for instance, whether he has any specified plan
for discovering which are the fastest vessels in
tie service Every two or three days We hear
that the Winona, or the Union. or the Magno-
la. has made II or IL miles an hour; but has
TIE Navy Department, any specific inionna-
ton ON this head We know, of course,
that the log.books are sent, when the cruise
is over, To Washington; but does he, or do his
clerks. look over them To ascertain what the
qualities OF vessels are, or is there really any
practical knowledge in Washington OF their rate
Of sailing after they have finally gone to sea
They are of course, at first reported 10 be very
fast The Edile, the Nirgin!an, the Stcttn, the
Mcrcedita, and Others were 10 do wonders on
the ocean and some Of them have, We believe,
attained to great speed. But is the record of
their performance kept and studied III the proper
quartcri so far as we can learn. il is not III
cumbent on commanding officers to report on
this subject, nor are orders issued 10
the commanding officer OF fleet to
iAiorm the Government OF the relative
steaming qualities of his ships. Indeed,
we heard some time since from naval friend
that Admiral Bailey, commanding the East
Gulf Squadron, had written to the Secretary OF
the Navy TO send him back the Magnolia as
quickly as possible, as her great speed rendered
her very valuable to him. The Department took
no notice ofthis lctter however, aud similar let
ter was addressed to Admiral Paulding; yet three
or four days aiterward this splendid steamer
was sent down 10 Quarantine TO act a. Il
hulk for tho inyalids of the steamer Ala
bama, which had just returned from a cruise
with yellow fever on board. Surely this was an
error. Admiral Bailey knew the value of the
ship, and she should have been sent TO him at
once.
Our naval reports within the last few weeks
have recorded the fact that several naval con-
structors are about to commence building YES
sells whose speed is TO be their chief character