New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-07

has already been carried out III tno oaso Vi
The compicon of the Pacific Railroad must largely In
crease our intercourse with inc last anu t nopri an
OF q strong naval force constitutes our most az
peal to Asiatc respect 1t deemed advisable 10 Keep on
this station large squadron as p0sslDie, hot oy LOT
the protection of our citizens but to Increase the prestige
| of our representatives IN that quarter. 80 -. r ,or
During the civil war In Japan the presence ~ ouI wl
vessels was felt TO produce very beneficial effect care
fully observing neutral policy themselves they gave
security to our citizens and prevented much threatened
| injury TO American interests. Rear-Admiral Rowan
has been directed afford every facility at his command
TO our citizens who endeayOring to obtain from te
Chinese Government permission to lay nm oieGtrC cdc
graph Should they obtain the desired perihst9n, an
officer will be detailed to represent the United states III
'"0 INCREASE OF OUR FORCE on FOREIGN STATIONS
The service needs and the position OF our country re-
onires great increase in the effective force Of the navy;
not so much IN the number Oh ho sps I'M a %
plOyed recognize the necessity Tor close economy IN
expenditure under the present hs snail mart arr
of the national appropriations, ana no true Wealth. ot
of rational safety and honor money saved by
refusing adequate protection to commercial enterprise
must have some ships able to cope with those OF other
maritime ATOMS our navy, during the war, assumed
LARGE proportions I'm respect numbers and expense and
In was effective for the occasion, against an enemy nav
| ing little naval power; but 1t was made up largely OF
| vessels purchased or built to meet the emergency
large proporton OF not adapted to cruising pur
poses and, with the exception or the monitors, Whlch
were not built seagong vessels 1t would nave Deen
almost poweress against such fleets OF seagoing iron
cads either England or France could Drng INTO action
| on tho ocean, or own shores.
IL b the habit OF every foreign nation, making any pre-
tension maritime power to Keep on every STATION one
or more powerful going broadsde roncads agalnaG
the force of which our wooden vessels the same sta
ton would be pOwerless In the event OF war our SHIPS
would be usecssy sacrificed. or Obliged to mud safety III
neutral ports. or abandoning the sea- and leaving our
commerce fate to seek on our own shores the pro-
n is true our best monitors would II brought into
ton be powerful against anything that floats, but these
steam batteries not sea-going cruisers some OIL
them have illustrated, by successful experiment their
capacity for sea G as for on OF o1y more
available force. lately put some OF them "a commission
could not used with advantage as cruisers on foreign
stations They require several vessels TO accompany
teG "s soon as their coal is exhausted They would
be always dangerous To health III tOplcal seas anu win
broken or disordered machinery they would be helpless
Tor ore valuable for auxiliary defense OF
sbnres hnt should not be relied upon beyond them.
Tbe iime has come, think, when We should begin 10
use the knowledge We have been seeking and there
tG bnildnr Of sea.going rOncads, suitable to cruise
foreign stations and able to protect our commerce. ana
aim Co have one or Of these ships each foreign
station, and 10 be prepared win tG neeessS recl3
Without attempting build them all at once, We should
taamolsnIeu ~ snIed I'm their constructon commence
Immediately ON no less than fOuT-One Tor inc Asac,
ono for te Pacific aud two for the European squadron
falo,n these as rapidly circumstances VIII admit
with those necessary for the other squadr0ns ana ther
raiit recommend that plans for the boilers and en-
zines 81 these vessels be submitted by persons outside Oh
| the Navy, the best OF which may be adopted.
Tbe matter OF national defense Is still more important
and comes home as closely TO the interest and the pride
o. H. whole neople Any comprehensive plan OF naval
establishment must include some practical provision for
tc defense of the seapOrts scattered along
our coast and the great rivers ana bays on whose shores
are concentrated much OF the national and Individual
our monitors have been already alluded to ready
and effective OF harbor defense, and this they viii
donbess be to the OF their number aud capacity
Butunless completely certainly nyunerablet they arc
comparatively useless, ana we uhs therefore keep pace
with the late improvements I'm ordnance Most OF them
arc capable Of bearing the additional armor necessary 70
give tie strength required but TINS wiz Ot course require
| "a new and considerable outlay OF money.
| TORPEDO CORrs
Another comparatively inexpensive blt most eneclTe
means of defense has not escaped the attention Of thn
Department / refer to the submarine torpedo. The
terrible destructive power OF thus instrument was shown
during late Since that time considerable atien-
has been given to this subject by officers Of ne navy
particularly by those stationed NJ the Naval Academy
shortly after my appointment as head OF Tie Depart
OF Ordnance o. make experiments. taho charge OF W.
apparatus and perfect system FOR the application OF
! tiis means Of defense 10 our coasts and harbUrs.
This means OF defense prop ~ appheI ~ CONJUNCTION
with system uf harbor distractions baCkcdby monitors
and supported by the forts and water batteries which
command the narrow entrances TO our principal harD0rs
would defy any power which could cross tue ocean TO
| attack them.
There is another element Of defense against the time
OF danger perhaps effective any other available to
| wise and liberal statesnanship Nations IKE men, hes
attack those who prepared 10 do them serious
often found the defense against al who have any
thing lose. Such means would be at hand II We had
ports IN the peaceful pursuit OF commercial enter
Prise. but carrying our own flag, aud available to our
| 1nyernment in time OF need
! IL will not become TO discuss in tins report the
many arguments Of national prosperity aud pride which
press the subject upon but may be permitted TO
II important element Of national safety In sup
port this view, call attention TO the fact that there
are now running from the ports OF New York. Boston,
aud Baltimore for those OF Europe over 60 powerful
srrcNgcaners averaging nearly 5000 uns each. These
steamers, carrying the English and French and German
nag, most OF them, the results OF wise 1trdy on
the part OF respective governments and they now
absorb very large proportion Of the carrying trade
across the Atlantic. Their average time In crossing TO
aud fro. In all weather. IL not more than eleven days
Any Of them could be quickly converted into an Ell
ocnt and powerful ship OF war; capable Of carrying full
sail power aud keeping tho sea for any length OF time
Here then. IL heavy tunnage OF possible war vessels
larger than that Of our whole navy on the st OF January
Inducements should be held ont 10 those who Will
ing to undertake. t. 10 build steamers on plans approved
BY the Navy Department subject IN case OF necessity 10
be taken boy tho Government at Pn appraised value;
| Those on tho route between Calitolnia ana japan
should be able AT All tunes 10 ptol'S, aS
pirates and pryateers and all should be OF class avail
able IN war;
The nrst official act Of my Immediate predecessor was
the appointment OF Board 70 examine and report tle con
inspected most OF those the Atlantic coast They arc
generally oil small c9pacty ana 10y au.P,1u % meet so
requirements OF modern gaNa CONSTRUCTION sumo WeIo
established at comparatively early date apparently
without providing for the future and not IN their
present position, susceptible OF much improvement anu
Others though Of larger capacity are AT present poorly
Ne have seven regularly established Navy Yards. Not
moro than four OF these are capable OF hitting out more
than two three vessels nc one time In all we feel tho
want gilmore docks. In seven Navy Yards we have
but three dry-dOcks This want would DO severely felt
|
tile marine not suitable Tor taking heaVy hrnoreu
ship out OF the water; and nothing Is really safe Tor
vessel but regular dry dock into which she can
enter with armament board without strain
ing or danger. While mention these things rs proper
subectmater OF report, do not, nc this Time propose
any large expenditure for the Improvement IN these par
ticnars Of the yards In actual operation on the Atlantic
coast They generally available for tie present. ana
| the most pressing need is elsewhere.
The report OF the Board appointed 10 examine the con-
don of the Navy Yards Ii herewith transmitted. lt viii
DO found TO be Instructive and TO tho Information
and suggestions therein contained careful consideration
should given. Never before has 50 much and such ac
CITRATE this subject been In tho possession