Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-01-27
The London Times on tho
United States Navy.

United States Navy.
1t has been a frequent remark of our
most experienced navy officers who are in
correspondence with foreign officers, that
Europe would be the first to recognize
the extraordinary increase of our navy,
as well as the efficient and economical
administration of its affairs. The
"Thunderer." in the following able article,
has done this with some fault.fnding and
begrudgingly, where condemnation and
abnse Of our country has been the rule.
The following are a portion Of the
Times comments upon the Report of
Secretary Welles;
Mr.. Gideon Wel!es, the Secretary Of
the Federal Navy, is undoubtedly cntitl-
ed to claim credit for the exertions Of
his department during the great civil war.
He falls into the exaggeration character
is.ic Of his countrymen when he ascribes
to the American marine achievement S
without parallel Or precedent in any navy
history; for good admirals have lived be-
fore Farragut, though they did not 60
into battle with iron-clads, and great
naval expeditions have been undertake en-,
though the means were adapted to the
age and the occasion. But if we look
impartially at the work which devolv, d
suddenly upon the American admiralty
four years ago, at the resources which
then existed for its performance, and at
the manner in which it has been actually
performed, we must admit that the tone
Of graduation prevailing the Secretary's
report is by no means without justiica
ton.
In the month of March, 1861. whel
Mr. Wclles entered upon his duties as
head of the Naval Department, the navy
of the United States contained but 7G
vessels of all descriptions available for
service. 1t now contains GIL, large
proportion of which are vessels newly
constructed, on the principles suggested
by modern warfare. La this powerful
feet there are 10 fewer than II iron.
cads, and $50 ships out of the 67l are
propelled by steam. AT the commence
mett of the war the Government has
but I ,GG0 seamen in its pay, and Of these
only 207 were in the home ports Ii
the present month the number of me,
borne on the estimates is $1,000, Ehil>
during the present year, though 26 yes
sells have been lost to the Federals BY
shipwrcck, battle or capture, the fNavl
Lists still shows an increase of SO yessei.
over the feet Of 1868. Nor has thi
provision for the exigencies ef the wal
been upon any excessive scale. Th'
blockade maintained By the Federals ex
tends over q coast line of $500 miles
and this service, at any rate, is really
unprecedented in magnitude. The 'squad
rons" maintained on the several stations
occupied by the feet deserves the cp;the
of "lmmense," which Mr.. Lincoln g.vl
them.
The Mississippi itself is divided int,
ten naval districts, each under seperat,
command and the incidents of the wal
have taught US how skilfully and servicea'
bly, the navy has co-operated with ths
army even in the interior of the cent?
nent. The whole war, in f4ct, Oh thu
Federal side has been half naval war
and the gunboats of the Union have en-
ablcd its land forces to attempt and ex
ecule what would Otherwise have been III.
practicable enterprises. In the face 0
so much success it would be invidious t
insist upon failure but We cannot forge
that all the chief seaports Of the Con
federacy, with the exception Of New
Orleans, are still in Confederate hands
that the formidable navy Of the Federal
had no enemy to deal with, and that tn
depredations on American commerce
which Mr.. Wellos charges so bitterly t
the account OF British malice, were du
only to the temporary inability Of tn
Northerners to keep the police Of tA
sea.
If Mr.. I.incoln's statistics arc Street
ly seported we may say something more
Of the Federal navy, and admit that i
has been economically raised and thrift
ly maintained The Presidents mcssag
gives the entire cost OF the navy, from
the beginning Of the war to the prescn
time, at less than G50,000,000, whicl
would represent an annual expenditure o
some el2, coo, goo, only-a charge hard,
exceeding our own. Bat there is either
some mistake in these figures, or ta
Federal navy estimates must be incrcas
ing at an enormous rate, for Mr.. WeiIe,
now informs US particularly THAT tn
charge for the approaching year will b,
upwards Of g., see:2.! 600 OO0, or nearly dou
ble the average Of former years. Still
even that sum appears moderate IN com
parison ,Uith tAe.proaigio~S etpeAaitur
apon The army, especially if VIC rccolIeo
that the American estimate includes tn
cost of the ordnance stores, which in ou
own estimates are separately provided tor
Mr.. Welles, however, contemplates spend
ing no less than Gl 900, goo, in the con
struction, repair, and equipment OF YES
ses during the coming year.
1t will not have escaped the notice c
attentive readers that at the momen
when we are urged in this country t
abandon or curtaii our Government c;
Establishments for the maintenance of tn
navy, the head of the Navy Dcpartmer
in American is strenously insisting Oh tn
absolute necessity Of such establishment
What Mr.. Gideon Wellcs said in pre-
vious years he says over again now, an
reiterates more eagerly than ever his cor
vietion that the Federals must have sue
yards and arsenas would place the Coy
ernmcnt above the necessity of depen(
ing on contracts with private builders