New-York tribune., 1866-12-05
TIE AmERLcAM Nhny

Army and Navy Reports havo ceased 10 he as inter
esting little while ago, when every ship was in
line Of BATTLE and every soldier hurried 10 the front.
Our army of half million has dwindled down TO a
little corps Of O0 Just enough not TO keep the In
dans and the Rebels in the best ORDER The decrease
in the active force Of the Navy is less Secretary
Welles reports that of the 278 vessels and 2,351
guns now in the Navy. there are in commis-
sion and on duty il5 vessels and l.o29 guns.
Even og those wc 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 idleness. An army can be dis
banded aud called out again. but ships must be kept
in use TO be servceable, and 1863 Of service are
certainly enough for economy. OF those "a are iron
olsds, now slowed away at League Island, in the
Delaware River fresh water being considered neces-
sary TO ther preservation. Mr. Welles justly con-
siders that Congress should make some provision for
the safe-keeping Of vessels which have cost the
country several millions of dollars and trust that
early in tho session depot for ironcads will be &C.
lccted The House last Summer accepted the offer Of
League Island but the New England influence in the
Senate defeated tho bill. In time our monitors will
be superseded By better inventions. yet for years
they might safely be trusted to defend our harbors
against the navies Of France and England. The Mon
adnock and the Miantonomah have crossed tho At
lantc, and in comparison with the bcst monitors oil
Europe did not need to hide their turretted heads.
A squadron is maintained in the Gulf, with as much
reference 10 foreign as TO home affairs Those ton
vessels patrol the Gulf from Havana to the Rio
Grande but have had no occasion for asserting the
rights of the United States. MFR. wecs refers to the
report that ooored kidnapped on the South
ern coast and sold into Cuba but says no such out
RACES were discovered. Squadrons have also been
sent TO cruise in the waters Of Europe. Asia, Africa,
aud in the North Atlantic South Atlantic, North
Pacific and South Pacific Oceans, making in oil eight
squadrons employed to some extent in exploration
and ocean surveying service. No unusually import
ant work of science has, however, been assigned to
the Navy though We nevor had organization better
fitted to make discoveries and observations
Among the special subjects which the RepoftcOnsid-
ers is the establishment of Government shops for the
construction Of iron and armored vessels. Mr. Welles
observes that the want Of buidugshops, shphouses,
and dry-docks was Of serious delay during the
whole war He wishes this deficiency supplied. and
thinks that every nayyyard should have dry-dock.
The restoration Of the yards at Norfolk and Pensacola
ia urged upon Congress- and he adds that in case OF
war with any Of the great naval powers, we should
suffer seriously from the want Of a navy yard in the
Gulf provided with oil appliances for the repair Of
vessels Harbor defense 10 briefly considered, but no
satisfactory report made it appears that the Board
appointed by the War and Navy Departments, Of
which Rear Admiral Dahlgrcn aud Gen. Barnard were
prominent members, failed to submit aeOmpete plan.
Mr.. welles suggests that bureau should be estab-
shed TO take charge Of the interests of sesmen.
thosc OF tho merchant marine well 81 OF the Navy.
We know that the race Of sailors is dying out; there
are not many Of those tary heroes let who thought
the sea tho natural element .of man. aud regretted
that so much Of the globe was wasted in dry land.
jack in a tornado exclaimed. "Lord how pitics
them poor folks oil shore :" Our sailors arc half
andsmeu and In vther navles the service is equally
deteriorsed England finds it very hard 10 get good
sailors Life before the mast has ceased to be attract
i've TO tho imaginstions OF young men. and the Sec
rctary advises that measures should be taken to i'm
prove the service and to the comfort Of sailors
The system Of naval apprenticeship, recently revived
ia so far successful the Report afcrs and certain i'm
provements in il recommended.
The aggregate naval pension fund is Sll,75O,OOO,
an increase of So 10000. The income is more than
enough 10 pay the pensions now on the roll The
expenditures during the year ending June 30, 1866,
were $43 324 526 leaving balance Of 80, ,967, ,S2
The available resources for the fiscal year ending
Juns 80, 1867. arc Sii7,9i4O O6O. The appropriation
asked Ia $93565,4 436.
Altogether. we are satisfied with tho condition of
our Navy as exhibited In this Report and urge upon
Congress the Importance Of considering Mr. Wolless
suggestions. We do not SEQ that he could bayo made
better Of the large force lett on his hands at the
close Of the war. and Congress must take further
measures for tho completion Of that groa system OF
which tho war laid the rough foundations The SEQ
rotary winds up with eloquent appeal to the Gov.
ernmsnt TO do its best for the Department, and an
earnest eulogy upon the services Of our ships and
men. aud we will all gladly join him in tho old
chorus
nuzza for the Army and Navy
"A threac cha lnrf Ia Al Whito anl