The Portland daily press., 1864-12-10

| izas Mr. WelleS' rePoIIS anu al its eAnloit Vi
ro.,,,,. Is a triumphant reply to all the ephem-
ar.i attacks upon the management of his de-
nsrtment We give the following statistics
rom the report: ASk@
The United States Navy, Dec. 1, consisted
of 67l vessels, having tonnage OF SIC, 1893, and
carrying 4,6l0 guns. This Is an increase of
SO vessels and 1877 guns since December, 1858.
The vessels constructed for the navy since
March A, 1851, number 203, carrying 1881
guns-not counting those which have been
in battle or by shipwreck.
The officers and men now on duty number
81 ,000-oficers 5000; men $4,000
There are six squadrons on duty-the West
Gulf Admiral Farragut,) East Gulf fStrib-
ling,) South Atlantic (Dahlgren,) North At
lantic (Porter,) Mississippi iLee,l and Pacific
Pearson -besides the Potomac fiotilla Park
err The West India squadron, as an organi-
zation, has been discontinued.
The consumption of coal in the navy last
year was about 100000 tons.
The blockade extends along a coast line Of
3,549 miles-a greater length than the whole
coast of Europe from Cape Trafalgar to Cape
North. mafse
The iron clad feet has increased to II ves-
sells. They carry 275 guns, all of heavy metal.
| The number of prizes captured during the
| year was 3A, Eighty eight of these were
steamers. The gross proceeds from sales of
condemned prizes were $14 1906 ,250, and the
expenses 81 237, 1853. The balance of $13, 100,
Sal was divided equally between the captors,
as prize money, and the government, as ma
val pension fund. N1A H04 Is1li8
| There are 800 persons on the naval PEN
| sion roll They receive $lS9, $50 year. The
pension fund, on the LIST of January next, will
amount to $7.O00,O 00-yielding an annual in
come of $4,000, sufficient for the payment of
! the entire pension roll.
| The Navy Department has cost $2S0,647,
| 261 in four years. OF this aggregate, IS, 1888,
292 were expended last year. The available
resources for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1866, are $139, 289,059. The balance on hand
at the beginning OF the present fiscal year was
$4,000, 244. E9
The Secretary explains why Wilmington
has not been taken. It is the most difficult
port on the coast to blockade, there being two
main entrances to it, forty miles apart, and
these two are divided into several others.
The water shoals gradually to the shore, and
isolated batteries are erected along the coast,
20 that blockade-runners can by the lead, run
close in shore protected by the batteries.
The shallowness of the water renders it impos-
sible for the navy to take the harbor without
aid from the army. The navy has been ready
and waiting for some time to make the at
tempt, but the army has not been able to join
in the movement. Sixty-fye steamers have
been taken or sunk attempting 70 run the
blockade of this port, with cargoes valued at
$13, 100000. .,a
Farragut's victory at Mobile is alluded to
with high praise. 1t was not the intention to
any thing more than take the forts, destroy
the rebel feet, and close the port
1t was thought by many officers that the
monitors could not hold position off Morris
Island, and protect the coast. Yet it has been
done most thoroughly. Since Dahlgren has
had command there, fifty blockade-runners
have been captured or destroyed.
The country is congratulated upon the de-
struction of the Alabama. OF the fight be-
tween that vessel and the Kearsage the re-
port says: slA
"This has been the only fair and open sea
| fight which our naval men have been able to
secure, as yet. during the war; and it occurred
in the English channel, in sight of the two
| great maritime powers OF Europe. In size,
armament, and compliment of men, the com
batants were as near equal perhaps as could
have been arranged. Most of the crew of the
Alabama were Englishmen, and the, gunners
admitted to have been picked men of her
Majesty's gunnery ship the Excellent.
"Some latent remains of pride which belong
to the profession, and which animated his
earlier and more honorable life while sailing
under the American flag, undoubtedly had an
influence in inducing the pirate commander
TO meet naval antagonist, after his long ca
4 rof rob and MIN roft. -,r,1
sells, in the vain hope that 1t might success
iull, restore to him some portion of the respect
be had forfeited, and, at the same time, re-
4 lieve him of some of the debasement he has
never ceased to feel, even when applauded by
those foreign partizans who hated the country
he had deserted. But the same dishonor
marked his conduct on this occasion, as during
his whole ignoble career. Before leaving
Cherbourg, he deposited the chron0meters
and other trophies of his robberies on shore
When beaten and compelled to surrender, he
threw overheard the sword that was no lon
ger his own, and abusing the generous conf
dence of his brave antagoni.t, he stole away
ia the English tender, whose owner proved
himself by his conduct, a flt companion for
the dishonored and beaten corsair.
"Haying surrendered, he cannot relieve
himself OF his obligations as a prisoner Of war
until he shall be regularly exchanged. He,
and each of his surviving officers and crew,
whether received upon the Kearsarge or the
Deerhound, are, and will be, held to be pris-
oners of war and amenable to the laws which
govern civilized communities. A predatory
rover may set the laws of nations, as well as
those of his own country, at defiance, but in
doing so he must abide the consequences"
No explanation of the sinking of the Flor
ida is given in the report.
The Tallahassee, at last accounts, was at
Wilmington. @
Mr.. Welles expresses no positive opinion as
to the monitors, but speaks of the iron-clads
generally as experiments, some of which must
fail, and which the exigencies of the country
have imposed upon the department.
New vessels are being constructed, which
will be formidable for home defense or foreign
service. There are seven building on which
weight of armament has been somewhat sac
rifced to speed, of the class OF the Ammo
noosuc and Chattanooga. Twenty vessels, of
less steam power but more heavily armed are
building.
The Secretary speaks at some length of the
important experiments instituted in steam
machinery, showing the enlightened views of
progress that the department entertains.
Mr.. Welles urges the Importance of navy
yard in fresh water, and recommends League
Island. He says i@oA Ma
The Department has studiously avoided the
controversy which has arisen in consequence
of the efforts to secure a navy yard at New
London, which Is foreign to the question of
enlarging or substituting more commodeus
establishment at Philadelphia. A multiplicity
| of small Yards, similar in character crowded
into one section of the country, was not the
object or purpose OF the department in the
suggestions and recommendations which it
has from time to time urged upon Congress.
There are already three yards east of the
Hudson, and should Congress deem it advsa-
BILE to add another to that section or else
where, it is to be hoped that such determine
ton will not interfere with or prevent the
government from having I. proper establish