The New York herald., 1869-12-08

abandoning the sea and leaving our commerce 70 "
monitors and forts.
It is not doubted that any war win foreign
pie are accustomed to success on the ocean ant
they would have little cause and less inclination
forgive policy which .. the nrst sgn OF 2 iorelgi
Yet we have not at tins time, on any foreign sta
Tor day against the powerful scag0ing Iron-clad'
which botn France and England have on the same
These are not agreeable facts 20 contemplate or to
state, but after giving the s-bjoct much investiga
ton ana renecton, have felt IL to be my duty "a
state the truth frankly through YOU to the represent
atives OF the people, that tney may determine now
much and how prompt action the situation re-
It ia true our best monitors would II brought into
action he powerful against ANYTHING that noats out
these are steam batteries, not seagoiDg cruisers
Some OF them have illustrated by successful expert
ment their capacity for sea voyage under iavora.
bic circumstances and the department has, for want
IN IN -" commission S for duty on the S home m OF OF
North Atlantic station, but they could not be
used with advantage as cruisers on foreign
stations They require several vessels to accompany
them, and, being entrey without san power, NJ ust
be towed as soon tlelr coal Is exhausted. They
would be always dangerous to health in tropical
would be helpless In mid ocean.
They are valuable i0r auxiliary defence OF our own
Shores but should not be relied upon beyond them.
cruising vessel, suitable for our require mems,
should be able to depend her own resources with.
within herself. She should have ample steam powe
carry rapidly inchase or IN actl0n and should
possess at the same time the qualities OF first rate
sailing vesse able to keep the sea at WILL without
Stunning her coal. She should carry broadside bat
terry heavy guns and DO herself lmpervIous the
England and France rivaling each other In inge-
nuity energy ana lOeraiity m TINS direction. have
both succeeded IN constructing some beautiful specl-
mems OF lron.clad sailing Vea5eis, with auxiliary
steam power, effective LOT every warke purpose
and aDle TO keep the sea under all circumstances.
terrible Zoe Tor q squadron OF wooden vessels. In
the meantime We have built no snps OF that KIND:
but we nave watch cd with interest all the naval ex-
perlments OF Europe, and, familiar with their de-
tails and rssuirA we know their strength aud their
weakness.
Under these conditions we can be sure that every
ment. The time has come. think, when We SHOULD
begun to use the knowledge we have been seeking,
menclng at once Gns building OF sesg0inR ironciads,
suitable to cruise on lorega stations and able to
project our commerce ana % vindicate our principles
more Of these ships on each foreign station be
prepared with the necessary relleis. Tals Will
ultimately require no less tnan ten In all; and with.
out attempting TO builu them all At once we should
tadmonisned VI the urgency oi the case and OF tha
tune necessarily consumed 10 tneir constructionl
commence Immediately on no less than tOur--One
Tor the ASauc. one for the facinc anu TWO for the
European MISUNDERSTANDING these, a. rapidly as
the other sQuadrOns ana tier rellefs. recommend
that pans lor the boers and engines OF these
sells be submitted by persons outside Of the navy,
the best OF whicn may be ad0pteo.
These, with some additions to our wooden vessels
anu the rehtng on the plan adopted, and the proper
employ ment Of such enectlye snips as we now nave
fence Will give Us the nucleus OF navy-nut, In
deed, proportional to our commerce or ap-
ers. out sutilcient to command respect abroad
and to anord time, in case OF sudden
country and tue energies q our people.
For your iurther information and taat Of the repre-
sentatlves Of the people ON tns suoject herewith
transnit In che paper entitled Mercantile and ma
val tonnage" detailed statement or our mercan-
tile and naval tonnage, and the reauon whicn 1t
bears 70 taas @ Q. some o.aer .s maritime Powers:
commission numbered nity-seven, mounting o.!
guns. with tonnage Of o5, ,4o5 or only about one
France IN commission numbered $50, and had q
tonnage OF Zo0,u0o TONS or one-eghtn OF tner mer-
cantlIe marine, and those OF England In commission
numbered lvl vessels mounting Z, 900 guns and mad
tonnage OF GA. or 0ne-seventeenth OF their mer
cantIIe marine.
TINS comparative statement represents our COM
merce In It's present depressed stale.
bOtn France aud England, since the date at which
the comparison Is made, nave aided largely 10 rhe
nunoef aud power o. their respective naval estaD-
llsnments; put we have not increased, until very
lately even preserved ours
HOME DEFENCE.
But the subject OF protection TO our commerce and
1nnuence on foreign seas by no means compreneuua
scot 10 connection witn the question OF the size and
character OF our navy.
Inc matter or national defence iS still more I'M
pOrtant, and comes home as closely TO the interest
and the pride OF Inc whOe people. ANY comprenen-
slve plan OF naval establishment must include
some pracucal provision or tue defence OF the Du
merous seaporJ scattered along our coast ana lhe
great rivers and bays, whose shores are concen-
trated 30 much OF the national and Individual
wealJn.
our monitors have been already alluded to as
ready and effective means OF narDOr defence, and
number anu capacity. But unless completely and
certainly iavuineraDle, they are comparatively use-
less, and we must therefore keep pace with tile late
improvements IN ordnance. Most OF them are capa-
bic of bearing the additional armor necessary TO give
the strength required but THIS viii, OF course, re.
Qulre new and considerable outlay OF money.
ToEPEDo CORPS.
Another comparatively inexpensive but most
effective means OF defense has not escaped the
ton OF the department.. l refer to the submarine
torpedo. The terrible destructive power OF this
instrument was SHOWN durlng our late war. Since
TINS subject by Officers OF the navy, particularly BY
those Stationed &C The Naval Academy
shortly alIer my appointment as head OF tho
department. torpedo corps was established under
the bureau OF Ordnance to make experiments, take
caarge OF the apparatus aud perfect system for the
application OF this means Of deIenee 10 our coasts
aud narDors.
THIS Is. Of course, not subject for public Illus.
tratlon, but enough experiments have already
terrible, s this means OF defence; and TO eonvinco
all having knowiedge OF II tnat when 1t shall
nave teen further perfected and its use systema-
tzed, the torpedo VIII be one OF the most effective
weapons Of marine warfare. To insure safety and
success IN their under every condition requires
aknowledge Of the scienti1c principles applicable
to their construction and with intimate &C.
qualntance with the localities 80 be defended The
torpedo corps has therefore Deen selected with care
ana the experiments are conducted under the super.
vision OF an off1cer OF scienti1c ability AZ soon as
torpedo is constructed and the particular locality
aad manner OF It's use determined, IL can be slowed
away ~ an inexpensive but most effective weapon
OF war.
1nis means Of defence, properly applied In con.
Junction with system OF harbor obstructiops,
backed by monitors and supported by the forts and
water batteries which command the narrow en-
frances to our principal harbors, would defy any
power which could cross the ocean 10 attack them.
These localities nave been the subject Of careful In
spection by potn branches OF the military service
and both are thus prepared with the knowledge
which only actual inspection can give.
commend tins SUBJECT through you TO the atten.
tion of Congress, anu 1 trust tAey Will AFFORD the
means TO pursue and perfect the system.
In the paper herewith transmitted entitled "Plan
OF naval establishment In time OF peace" will be
found detailed statement Of what IL believed TO be
the most economical and efficient organization o
the force necessary,