The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-12-25
THE L, 5. NAVY.
synopsis OF ms Apnual Report Of Secs
etnry Gideon Welles.

ANNAN INV e"H'NA -~
aud destruction of vessels by earthquakes,
the reduction offorce in navy yards, speaks
of the survey of the North Pacific, the iron
clads and League Island, and contains the
amount of expenses for the past fiscal year
and estimates for the next. IL also has
chapters devoted to the reports of the sew
/ eral Bureaus Of the Department. One of
the most interesting features of the report
is the account of the extended tour Of Ad-
mirnl Farragut, which covers several pages.
There are also reports from several officers
of the navy, in regard to the terrible earth
quake in Peru. The exhibit of the naval
force contains the following information:
The number of vessels in squadron SER
vice, as cruisers, storeships, and returning,
Is AZ, carrying All guns. n reduction during
the year of Ii vessels. carrying DO guns.
The number of vessels of all descriptions
in use as cruisers, storeships, receiving
ships, tugs, and the like, Is 81, carrying
COB guns n reduction from last year OF %
vessels, carrying 2O5 guns. The total num-
Der of vessels borne upon the navy list is
20G, carrying LAB guns, a reduction dur
ing the year of 30 vessels, carrying 126 gun
The following figures exhibit the present
employment and condition of the naval
force: Cruising vessels in squadron SER
vice, 80, $3.50 guns: vessels returning from
squadrons, 3, 81 guns; stOrcships for squad
rons, 4, 81 guns; special and lake service.
3, 10 guns; apprentice ship, ]. IL guns:
pfnctice vessels, and In use Mt Naval Acad,
envy, 10, 115 guns; receiving ships, g, W
guns: quarters for officers, League
Island aud Marine Barracks, Norfolk,
2. ~ guns; tugs ut Navy Yard and stations.
| pov,der-boats. &c, IL, is guns; total i'm
use, 81, COB guns; iron-clad vessels laid
up, as, 107 guns; iron-clad vessels not
completed, b, Is guns; steam sloops not
completed, 10, 2j3 guns; lino.of-battlo
ships not completed, 80 guns; other vcs-
scls laid up repairing, fitting for sea, and
for sale, 81, 602 guns; total number of yes.
sells of oil description in use. building. re-
pairing. fitting for sea, BOG, LAB guns.
The vessels of the navy are classified rs
follows: Vessels Of the iirst-ratc of 2, 400
tons and upward. 35.562 guns. vessels OF
the s%econd-ntc of | 200 to 2. 100 tuns, 81,
1873 guns; vessels of the third-rnto Of GOO
to ! 200 tons, 7G, Al guns: vessels of the
foutth.nte under GOO tons, 3S. 1871 guns:
Total, BOG vessels, | ,7l3 guns. The follow
ing indicates the character of the vessels:
Irun-clad vessels. 81, 100 guns; screw
steamers, %, 93S gus; paddlc-whcsls. y.
100 guns; sailing vessels, 81, Al guns.
Total, BOG vessels; LIB guns.
The organization Of the %squadrons re
mains essentially the same IA when the last
annual report was made. Some changes
OF commanding officers and Of vessels have
taken y ace, and the force of each squad
ron has, in consequence of the limited
number OF scamcn allowed by tho act Of
the 18th of June Inst, been necessarily re-
dueed. The Secretary says that II our
commerce n ship interests have not re-
covered from the depression consequent
upon the war, and are not as expanded MS
formerly, il is from no inatteniiou or ne
glcct on the pait of the Navy. Since the
squadrons were recognized our country
men and their interests abroad have been
NJ v%igilnntly guarded and pro.cctel on
every sea aud NJ every nCCgssiblg pointns Mt
any former period. II has been the pur-
pose of the Department 10 ERvo one or
moro of our naval vessels visit annually
every commercial port where American cap
ital is employed, and than u man
of-war should not be long absent
from the vicinity Of every merchant
ship that might need assistance or
protection. 10 accomplish this purpose
and meet tho requirements of the Depart
ment great activity md vigilance were nee
ossury with our limited navy, numbering
in uIcn aud ships less than one-iourth the
effective force of Any one Of the principal
maritime powers. Vet the work has been
performed with energy and zeal, and the
views of the Department well sustained
Admiral D.. q. Flrmgut, h was IN COM
mand of the European Squadron at the
date of tho last report, returned to New
York in the hngship ON the 10th Of Noyem-
Der, leaving the squadron in temporary
charge of Commodore a. NJ. PennOck.-
The franklin is to return with Rear Adj
miml William Radiord, who has been dcs-
ignnted to command the squadron, which
j. composed of the following vessels;-
franklin, flag ship, 80 gunei Ticondcrogo,
. guns; SwatGp, 10 guns; Frolic, D guns
Guard, store ship, > guns, The Canaan
dnigua is on her way to :he United States
from this squadron.
Admiral Farragut has visited during the
year, Holland, Belgium, England, Scot
hand, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Aus
trim, Prussin, Greece, Turkey, and AIoroc'
co. His reception in every place switch he
has visited was equally flattering with his
reception the prG6rd ding year in the north
I of Europe, and cannot be less acceptable
tn the government and the people Of the
United States. While hOnOring that DIS
tinguished officer, the sovereigns and Other
high officials OF these powers have nyailet
| themselves of the occasion to compliment
! in friendly terms tho nation he represents
! 1t is n qualification 10 remark. while noting
the movements of this officer and his
squadron, that, III no instance, In
I All appeal been made for his intel
| ference in any manner to relieve ol
: extend aid to our countrymea scattered
r, along the shores where the flag has beer
: exhibited, nor has any application bcci
made TO him TO assert and vindicnte thei
= rights. Throughout Europe the rights o
p, American citizens are respected, AM
t wherever the lhlg has been carried by tn
= navy the privileges TO which they are emit
I tied, and which are guaranteed by treat.
: stipu!atiOns aud international law, hay
been asserted and maintained. ltear-Ad
. miral Henry Ii. Bell, who was in comman
I of the Asiatic squadron ut the date of tn
r last report, was drowned at Osaka on tn
n nth ol January, by the upsetting of n hos
G IN which he was crossing the bar. tn
Il command devolved upon Commodore doh
II. GoldSboTough as senior oiiicel
until tho arrival of ltear-Admiral )
u G. Rowan, who sailed from New York i
- the piscataqua on the 10th of DecCmOe
n and assumed command Mt Singapore ON tn
% 18th of April. The squadron is compose
l. of the following vessels, Piscataqua, fla
p ship, % guns; Oneida, 8 gunsi Iroquois,
guns; Ashuelot, 10 guns. Monooacy, ]
r guns; Unadilla, 8 guns; Aroostooll, 8 gum
~ Maumee, 8 guns: Idaho, store and hospiti
IL ship, Z gums. The Shenandoah is on he
"a way home from this squadron underorde.
issued June last. The Hartford arrived
New York in August. The United Stat,
n Minister, Mr.. Van V~alkenburg, was Of Opt
ne ion that our government should be repr
scented by n strong naval force on the occ
I'd sion of the opening OF tho ports Of Osal
at and Hiogc. Rear Admirrl Bell concurr'
in this opinion and assembledas many We
~ sells of the squadron oil Hiogo as wereav