The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-06
The American Navy.


From the Tribune.
Army and Navy Reports have ceased to be as
interesting as a little while ago, when every snip
was in line of battle and every soldier hurried
to the front. Our army of halt million mas
dwindled down to little corps of $4,000, just
enough not to keeplthe Indians and the Rebels In
the best order. The decrease in the active force
of the Navy is less. Secretary Nelles reports
that of the 278 vessels and 1851 guns now in the
NAVY. there are in commission and on duty l15
vessels and 1929 guns. Even for these, we
Judge, there is not much necessary occupation,
though we should reluctantly see the squadrons
which bear our flag on all the seas recalled
home and laid up IN dleness. An army can be
disbanded and called out again, but ships must
be kept in use to be serviceable and l63 out of
service are certainly enough for economy. OF
these 81 are iron-clads, now slowed away at
League Island, in the Delaware river, tresh
water being considered necessary 10 thelr pre-
MIR. Weles Justly considers that Congress
shoBld make some provision for the safe-keep-
ing OF vessels which have cost the country
several millions OF dollars, and we trust that
early in the session a depot Tor irOn-clads will
be selected. The House last summer accepted
the offer Of League Island, but the New Eng
land influence in the Senate defeated the bill.
In time our monitors will be superseded by
better inventions, yet for years they might
safely be trusted 10 defend our haIbors against
the navies of France and England. The
Monddnock and the MtdntOnon1dh have crossed
the Atlantic, and in comparison with the best
monitors of Europe did not need to hide their
turIeted heads
squadron is maintained in the Gulf, with as
much reference to foreign as to home affairs.
These ten vessels patrol the Gulf from Havana
to the Rio Grande, but have had no occasion for
asserting the rights OF the United States. Mr..
Welles refers to the report that coored men
were kidnapped on the Southern coast and sold
into Cuba, but says no snch outrages were dis
covered. Squadrons have also been sent to
in the North Atlantic South Atlantic, North
Pacific, and South Pacific Oceans, making in
all eight squadrons employed to some extent in
exploration and ocean surveying service. No
unusually important work of science has, how
ever, been assigned to the Navy, though we
never had an organization better fitted to make
discoveries and observations.
Among the special subjects which the report
considers, Is the establishment of Government
shops for the construction of iron and armored
vessels. Mr.. Welles observes that the want of
building-shops, ship-houses, and dry-docks was
cause of serious delay duriOg the whole war.
He wishes this deficiency supplied, and thinks
that every navy yard should have dry dock.
The restoration of the wards at Norfolk and Pen
sacola is urged upon Congress, and he adds that,
in case of a war with any of the great naval
powers, we should suffer seriously from the
want of a navy yard in the Gulf, provided with
all appliances for the repair of vessels. Harbor
defense is briefly considered, but no satisfactory
report is made. 1t appears that the Board
appointed by the War and Navy Departments,
of which Rear Admiral Dahlgren and General
Barnard were prominent members, failed to
submit q complete plan.
MIR. Weles suggests that a bureau should be
established to take charge of the interests OF our
seamen, those of the merchant marine as we'll
as of the Navy. We know that the race OF sailors
is dying out; there are not many of those tarry
heroes lett, who thought the sea the natural
element of man, and regretted that so much of
globe wasted
tornado exclaimed, Lord how | pities them
poor folks on shore!" Our sailors now are half
landsmen, and in other nayies tue service is
equally deteriorated. England finds ii very
hard to get good sailors. Lite before the mast
has ceased to be attractive to the imaginations
of young men, and the Secretary advises that
measures should be taken to improve the ser.
vice, and to secure the comfort of sailors. The
system of naval apprenticeship, recently re-
vved, is so far successful, the report AYERS, and
certain Improvements in it are recommended.
900, an increase of $275OOOO. The income is
more than enough to pay the pensions now on
the roll. The expenditures during the year
ending June 80, 1866, were $43, 1924, ,526, leaving
a balance of S98, ,997, 1892. The available resources
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1867, are
668. .436.
Altogether, we are satisfied with the condition
of our Navy exhibited in this Report, and
urge upon Congress the Importance of consider
ing Mr.. Weles suggestions We do not see
that he could have made a better use of the
large force left on his hands at the close of the
war, and Congress must take further measures
for the ompletion of that great system of which
the war laid the rough foundations. The Secre-
tary winds up with an eloquent appeal to the
Government to do its best for the Department
and an earnest euloey upon the services of our
ships and men, and we will all gladly join him
in the old song:-
"Hurrah for the Army and Navy.
Three cheers Tor the Red, White, and Blue"