Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-12-24
TnE .. NAVY.
Synopsis Of the Annual Reporflof Sec
retary Gideon Welies.

The annual report Of the HON. Gideon
l.Welles, Secretary OF the Navy, shows the
present naval force, the different sqiadrons
and the vessels attached thereto, the einjury
aud destruction Of vessels by earthquakes,
the reduction offorce in navyyards. 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 II 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-
miral Farragut, which covers several pages
There are also reports from several officers
Of the navy, in regard to the terrible earth
quake in Perm. 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, a reduction during
the year Of IA vessels, carrying 90 guns.
The number of vessels Of all descriptions
in use as cruisers, storeships. receiving
ships, tugs, and the like, is 81, carrying
893 guns, reduction fsom last year Of 22
vessels carrying 205 guns. The total num-
Der of vessels borne upon the navy list is
206, carrying /, ,743 guns, u reduction dur
ing the year of 80 vessels, carrying l26euls
The following figures exhibit the present
employment and condition Of the naval
force: Cruising vessels in squadron SER
vice, 50, 1866 guns; vessels returning from
squndrons. 3, "a guns; storeships for squad
rons, 4, 81 guns; special and lake service,
3, 10 guns; apprentice ship, /, II guns;
49, So. ,,aooois a,,l Il, tsoa ~ Nasal Aoa1
emy, 10, 115 guns; receiving ships, 6, a92
guns; quarters for officers, League
Island and Marine Barracks, Norfolk,
2, " guns; tugs at Navy Yard and stations,
powder-boats, &C., II, l8 guns; total in
use, 81, G93 guns; iron-clad vessels laid
up, 46, 107 guns; iron-clad vessels not
completed 5, l8 guns; steam sloops not
completed 10, 1858 guns; line-oi-battle
ships not completed, so guns; other YES
sells laid up repairing, fitting for sea, and
for sale, ST. 592 guns; total number of yes-
sells of oil description in use, building, re-
pairing, fitting for yea, 2O6, 1,743 guns.
The vessels Of the navy are classified as
follows: Vessels of the first-rate of 2, 400
tons and upward, 35,562 guns; vessels Of
the second-rate of ] 200 to 2.400 ttns, 81,
| 483 guns; vessels of the third-rate of GOO
to 1000 tons, 7G, 4l4 guns; vessels of the
fourth-mte under 600 tons, SO, 1871 guns;
Total, 206 vessels, 1.743 guns. Thefolloa-
ing indicates the character OF the yessels
IrOn-clad vessels, 50, 100 guns; screw
steamers 95, 038 gus; paddle-wheels, 2S,
199 guns; sailing vessels, 81, ATT guns.
Total, 206 vessels; 1,743 guns. ~
The organization of the squadrons re,
mains essentially the same as when the last
annual report was made. Some changes
of commanding officers and of vessels have
taken p lace, and the force Of each squad
ron has in consequence Of the limited
number of seamen allowed by the act of
the 18th of June last, been necessarily re-
dueed The Secretary says TINT il our
commerce and ship interests have not re-
covered from the depression consequent
upon the war; and are not as expanded rs
formerly, il is from no inatteniion or ne
glect on the part of the Navy Since the
squadrons were recognized our country
men and their interests abroad have been
as vigilantly guarded and protected on
every sea and ut every accessible pointas ut
any former period. 1t has been the pur-
pose of the Department to have one or
LuOIC vi OuI Atfdl NIooSib NADAt htlluullJ
every commercial port where American cap
ital is employed, and than man
of-war should not be long absent
from the vicinity Of every merchant
ship that might need assistance or
protection. To accomplish this purpose
and meet the requirements Of the Depart
inent great activity and vigilance were nee
essary with our limited navy, numbering
in Daen and ships less than one-fourth the
effective force Of any one Of the principal
maritime powers. Yet the work has been
performed with energy and zeal, and the
views of the Department we'll sustained. -
Admiral ID. G., Fnrragut, who was III COM
mnnd Of the European Squadron at the
date OF the last report, returned to New
York in the flagship on the 10th of Novem-
ber, leaving the squadron in temporary
charge of Commodore A. Nj. Pennock.--
| The Franklin is to return with Rear Ad-
Iniral William RadIord, who has been des-
] ienated to command the squadron, which
, is composed Of the following vessels;--
Franklin, flag ship, 90 guns; Ticonderoga,
1 0 guns; Swatara, 10 guns; Frolic, ! guns;
Guard, store ship, 5 guns The Canaan
daigua is on her way to The United States
from this squadron, 4.l.
Admiral Farrpgnt has visited during the
year, Holland. Belgium, England, Scot
land, France, Portugal Spain, Italy, Aus
tria, Prussia, Greece, Turkey, and Moroc-
co. His reception in, every place which he
has visited was equally hattering with his
reception the preceding year in the north
of Europe, and cAunot be less acceptable
to the government and the people Of the
United States While honoring that dis
| tipguished officer, the sovereigns andother
| high officials OF these powers have availed
| themselves of the occasion to compliment
in friendly teTms tho. nation he represents,
| It is u qualification to remark, while noting
the movements OF this officer and his
squadron, that, in no instance, has
an appeal been made for his inter
ference in any manner TO relieve or
| extend aid to our countrymen scattered
along the shores where the flag has been
Iexhihited, nor has any application been
made TO him to assert and vindicate their
rights. Throughout Europe the rights Of
American citizens are reRpeetedu and
wherever the flag has been carried, by the
navy the privileges to which they are enti-
tied, and which are guaranteed by treaty
stipuiations and international law, have
been asserted and maintained Rear Ad-
miral Henry II. Bell, who WIS in commaud
of. the Asisiic squadron ut the date Of the
last report, WIS drowned al Osaka on the
\ 11th of January, by the upsetting Of o boat
Ill which he was crossing the bar. The
command devolved upon Commodore John
r. Goldsborough as senior officer,
until the arrival of Rear-Admiral s.
G. Rlwsn, who sailpd from New York in
the Piscataqua on the 10th Of December,
and assumed command Of Singapore on the
18th of April The sqgadron is composed
OF tho following vessels, Piscataqnay Thag
ship, 23 guns; Oneida, gunsI Iroqpois, 8
guns; Ashuelot 10 gnns. Monosacy, 10
guns; Unadilla, guns; Arooatook, 8 guns;
Maumee, guns Idaho, store aud hospital
ship, 7 guns The Shenandoah is on her
way home from this squadron underorders
issued Jnne last. The Hartford arrived at
New York in August, The United States