The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-15

| The Present Condition Of Our Navy.
Attention il being generally drawn to the
exact state Of our navy by the Introduction Of
the bill providing for board Of naval survey
and the discussion Of tho changes 1t involves.
It Ia found on examination that the naval arm
| Of public defence is by no means as effective
| or powerful as the country supposes. Under
the spur Of the Alabama's ravages on our oom-
mercs efforts were made to construct number
of vessels which should combine the greatest
speed with the most effective fighting qualities.
New types Of vessels were designed and an
unlimited amount of money appropriated to
construct them. Some have been launched
and are at sea; others are lying at the docks,
and the balance are sill on the stocks. The
results attained. however, by actual trial Of
those vessels which have been sent to sea, were
not such as to justify, in the minds ofintellgsnt
and thoughtful people, the propriety Of COM
plotting those In process OF construction upon
the plans primarily adopted. But the designers
and constructors seem to think otherwise, and
it is likely that these nondescript bantlings
will be put afoat, with all their imperfec-
tons, to add to the size Of our navy on
paper, while they will really prove to be
source Of weakness instead Of strength to the
service.
Az now constituted, the steam vessels Of our
those that are fast and weak and those that
are slow and strong, for these elements seem
universally to be found united. Such vessels
~ the Wampanoag and Madawaska, for
instance, are said to be FAST and are undoubt-
eddy weak, while vessels Of the Hartford and
Brooklyn class are certainly strong and slow;
but the fighting qualities of the two classes can
hardly be compared. The Hartford and Brook
lyn are notably good fighters, strong and OF
great powers OF endurance. It is certain that
If the Wampanoag should catch such vessel
as either, which she could unquestionably do,
she would catch terrible Tartar In the Kear-
sarge and Alabama battle the latter proved her
self to be the faster, but she was sunk by her
antagonist in q short contest Fast vessels arc
valuable in their places, and are useful as
despatch boats or vedettes to feet; but speed,
even In these cases, should not be considered
the only requisite They must have room for
their crew and sufficient space to carry guns,
ammunition, provisions water and fuel, other
wise they cannot keep the sen long enough to
make them of much service.
In attempting TO gain immense speed we
have encountered the holds of our fast cruisers
with such an enormous mass of machinery that
there is scarcely room to stow six weeks pro-
In ohn,, NJ - 10
ammunition which they should carry for the
batteries they possess. In other words, we
have failed in our purpose, II we had an
| efficient war vessel in view when they were
built, and instead Of advancing we have taken
long step backward. II this be true, why
shall we not return to the old principle Of
steam as an auxiliary and depend upon sails
as the main motive power. using steam only
when going into action or when in chasef By
SO doing we might build useful vessels, Of the
Brooklyn and Hartford class, which can steam,
s.il .rd fight, stow their provisions, water.
coal and ordnance stores, besides carrying q
heavy battery and accommodating . strong
crew. Steam is invaluable as an auxiliary. Is
every seaman knows; but II must hold second
rank to other valuable elements in navigation,
which we have already suggested.
| II is quite time that government should look
this matter squarely in the face and bring back
the wandering and visionary designers and
constructors Of our steam navy to safe ground
again. TIE bill establishing board Of naval
survey appears to US to be the best means to
obtain the desired result, and we therefore
| a0ain ur0o ito anead W naoaa0o