The New York herald., 1869-12-08

Owing 10 the nssvaenee of the yellow fever our
vessels have been necessarily Kept ontsue 'as pIan-
cpal port of CuDa but they rendezvous az Key west
whence they can communicates by telegraph botn
with Havana and the Navy Department.
Some OF the vessels of this sqaadron nave also
| been cruising among tue West india Islands, moro
particularly in the waters OF Hayti ana ST. Domingo
Part OF this island has been during the past season
IN a state of revolution and 1t was much regretted
that the department could afford only partial protec
sells from time time az they could oe spared from
| other and more important duty,
| Al AspInwal a vessel has bean constantly kept to
look alter the persons ana property OF our cla2ens
I at that point ana on the isthmus.
| The south Atlantic squadron now consists Of the
| Lancaster (nagsnipJ, Quinnebaus Wasp and Ports.
| moutb--four vessels, mounting forty-three guns.
| and under the command OF Rear Admiral Joseph
| Lsnmau. II is highly important that this Aeet
should be increased as there is not at this time on
that station SUFFICIENT force to guard our citizens
and commerce on the coast OF Brazil and In the
In consequence OF the war existing between
Brazil and Paraguay the navy has been fre-
citizens and interests thar latitude, and the de-
partnent desires TO send there as soon as practca
ascend The rivers Of the Argentine Confederation
and Paraguay
The Paclnc meet under command OF Rear Admiral
Turner, with Commodore VIM. Rogers Taylor and
Commodore d. McDougal. commanding the respec-
tive squadrons, consists now OF fourteen vessels the
kearsarge LackawannA ossipee. Mohlcan. Resaca,
Cyane, Jamestown, Saginaw, Dacosah. Saranac,
Nyack onward and the Guerriere reftung), Win
OF these the ten ass named have 6eeu or are Being
thoroughly repaired and altered IN the mannef
nereInbefore mentioned, and the @ Meet snongn
smaller In number Ia already much more enective
for tine duties OF that station.
A ship OF war has been stationed on the coast OF
Alaska since that country was ceded TO u.s. and th6
sloOp Of war Cyane with properly equipped steam
launch has also been sent there as additional force
during the coming winter.
An astronomical party was conveyed to Behring
Strait n the Mohican, aud an interesting account OF
Of he Naval
the rear admiral commanding the station has
visited the Sandwich Islands during the last sum-
mer for the purpose OF Communication with our MIN
lister and looking after American interests In tnat
locality. He has been also charged with the super
tntendence and completion OF the surveys OF the
Midway Islands, for which and for the purpose OF
removing obStructlons CONGRESS- made an approprla-
ton at Its last session Tne department has en-.
tered into contract for the execution OF this WORK
with Mr. George W. Townsend, OF Boston.
the naval operations on the Pacidc for the last
year viii be found, together with those on the other
stations, detailed at length in the statement entitled
Operations OF Fleets" attached to this report. and,
without repeating here will only Say that, though
the arduous duties OF the stations nave been well
performed, covering the extent from Alaska 10 Cape
Horn and including the Islands Of the Pacific 1t stll
rs evident that force In the Pacific Is inadequate
for the duties required OF It.
our trade on that ocean is constantly and rapidly
increasing and our citizens are found located every
where on Its shores and among It's islands, All the
groups are visited Dy our wnalers ana many Chris
tan missionaries VINO are entitled to the protection
of our government are scattered among them. The
regions OF the South Pacific have not been visited
by an American vessel OF war since ,, tho ex.
the great Polynesian Archipelago, holding out
many inducements TO our commerce. has been
lions come constantly from our Ministers and
representatives on the Pacific urging the necessity
OF sending vessels TO various ports but we rarely
abe to respond to their appeals.
The sioop-oi-war kearsarge was sent to make q
limited reconnaissance Of the Pacific islands, with
orders to extend her cruise far Australia, where
she was last heard rom The satisfaction caused by
the appearance OF this vessel at the points she
touched, gives true and high idea OF the value OF
such cruises.
The Jamestown was subsequently sent with orders
to visit the Feejee Islands and the Caroline Group
for the purpose OF investigating reported Uutrages
on American citizens and looking alter the interests
OF the untted states IN that quarter.
The department trusts mat IL may soon be able
with the appreciation and as istance OF Congress, to
meet more fully the requirements OF this station.
The European squadron, under command of Rear
Admiral Radford has been reinforced by the Juniaa
and supply and the Sabine has been attached to IL
with she Richmond and Plymouth, and the Franklin
as 1agship-six vessels, mounting l06 guns TINS Is
OF course but small force for station SO con-
spcuous anu important, but we have not been able
further TO increase it. As soon as the resources OF
the department VIII permit this squadron should be
The Asiatic squadron consists Of the Piscataqua
nagshipl Oneida, Monocacy, lroquois, AshueIot.
and Alaska are also hitting out for tnat station
making In all ten ships. mounting seventy-two guns.
rowan 70 ay ns, ,hss n
these ships have been condemned IS entrev
ana TO FOR eTans sss n
States; and there Is no opportunity OF repairing
them IN those waters, the admiral In command has
recommended that tneT be sold on the station.
The department has therefore directed that when
1t shall DO no longer possible to use them with
safety, their armament and stores be removed and
sent home and the vessels themselves sold to the
best advantage This order has already been carried
out IN the case ol the Aroostook, which was also
condemned.
the completion of the Pacino Railroad must
largely increase our intercourse With the East and
as the presence OF strong naval force constitutes
our most powerful appeal to Asiatic respect, II 10
deemed advisable to keep on this station as large
squadron possible, not only for the protection OF
our citizens but to Increase the prestige Of our repre-
sentatives in that quarter.
During the civii war in Japan the presence Of our
war vessels was felt TO produce very bene-
nclal effect. Carefully observing q neutral
policy themselves. they. gave, security to our
jury 10 American interests Rear Admiral Rowan
mas been directed to AFFORD every facility at his
obtain from the Chinese government permission 10
lay an electric telegraph. Should they obtain the
desired permission an officer Will be detailed To
represent the United States IN the undertaking.
Elsewhere on this station every attention. within
the limited means at command has been given to
American interests. The squadron has been con-
stantly employed TO its fullest capacity Every
effort is being made TO reinforce ~ with efficient
vessels as fast as tney can be fitted out but we shall
not be able with our present means 10 give 1t the
strength which the station requires.
INCREASE or OUR FORCE ON FOREIGN STATIONS.
Such IL the condition and employ OF our navy
at the present time, differing from what IL was at
the commencement OF this administration only In
tue advance OF the SHIPS ana IDatefiA ON nauu from
state OF deterioration to condition OF efficiency
and Improvement.
This, while 1t was all that the department could
do under the present authority and appropriations,
Is by no means all that conceive to be necessary
for the safety OF the great interests involved or
even for national defence In time OF danger. The
service needs and the position OF yur country re-
QuiIes great increase IN the eective force OF the
navy; mol 30 much In the number OF the ships that
constitute 1t as In the number and character OF those
employed. recognize the necessity Tor close
my 10 expenditure under the present circumstances
htf IA AyaI t.ttNa
small part OF the national appropriations, and the
true wealth OF the country VIII not be Increased by
negecfing the means OF NATIONAL safety and honor,
commercial enterprise.
la country peoped like ours, and separated by
the sea rom powerful neighbors, need, In times
OF domestic peace, only the organization and nu-
ceus OF Land forces but with the prosperity which
follows domestic peace comes the demand for pro-
1elilnu which aters and tha