The New York herald., 1869-04-13
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

With all the navy yards undergoing reorganza
&ion the earnest spirit OF inquiry and healthy tone OF
Acton which pervades, 1t Is satisfactory to see naval
bficers taking under the regime the most active
0nterest In the equipment OF our war vessels. At
hast they feel the navy Is no longer bureau ridden
And on every side you hear discussions OF how TO
SPAR rig and equip all classes Of vessels, what kind
Df prOpcers to use, their relative merits; and oil
shs takes place fro the spirit contagious from the
ActiOn of Secretary Borie and Admiral Porter.
\ The Sabine, fitting out at the New York Navy
ETard, Ii to have an increase in calibre Of her
battery Upon the main deck she will carry twenty
kour or thirty 9-inch Dahlgren guns and upon the
spar deck the new modelled 32pounders; also
swo pivot guns, 6o-pounders. She equips a school
iahip and will take the graduating class of mdshp
Flnen upon a cruise; returning, Will then take an
lcther class for instruction. Commander John G.
Walker has been assigned to command. She is ex-
Sected to sail from the United States by the Is th OF
June.
The Navy Department have ordered the Junlata
fitted with despatch for service in the West India
squadron She second class ssel OF 1900 tons,
and will mount heavy ba ttery OF eleven and nine
t1nch guns. The Of the Juniata be hoisted
out OF the water she possesses the requirements OF
b sailing vessel, and doubtless she win prove an
economical cruiser In naval circles 1t is rumored
Captain f. 7. Nichols is to be ordered to command
,her. This officer is one Of those recently promoted
upon the list OF captains for gallant services during
ehe war
The United States steamer Seminole is rapidly
completing for service at Boston Navy Yard and Will
proceed to the west Indies upon completion. Here
I'VE have effective sloop-of-war itn heavy bat
terry OF eleven and eight inch guns and with ability
70 keep the sea without unnecessary expenditure OF
coal. Commander E. X. owens Will command her.
she is over 800 tons and bark rugged.
The United States SOoD-Of-war Gacna. at Ports
mouth, Is well forward Tor commissioning and 1t was
ordered to take place upon the 10th inst The vessel
| was originally built for an iron-cad and used for
Service during the Her plating proving defective
latter the fight in which Captain John Rodgers
ma nded her, 1t was removed and she became an
cnective slo0p-of- war, with comfortable quarters
and good slowing qualities She will have heavy
battery and prove a very servceable vessel. CON-
mander A. W. johnson will command her; he has
uni lately been on duty at the Naval Observatory,
and Is an officer OF rare attainmentsin and out OF
his profession. Commodore James Alden Will, II Is
reported, be appointed chief OF the Bureau OF Navi
\ board consisting OF Rear Admirals Striblng
F1.ardner and Commodore Lee are TO ascertain the
present condition oil all our navy yards and what
Is wanted to render them efficient in time OF war.
sheir capacity for repairing vessels what required for
ne care ana proper OF puDc
sion OF the peace establishment TO the very lowest
point for It's proper administration, what EN-
shall be sold, what engines are stored at navy
yards, whether they are suitable Tor war vessels &c.
Rear Admiral G0idsDOrouen, associated with Com
snodOre Boggs. and assisted by the chief engineers,
are orderedto investigate the condition OF all marine
ehgines IN our wal vessels and report efficiency, and
alterations required to make them so. The Wam-
psnoag class win Doubtless be first considered.
These are asserted by reliable American marine en-.
aine builders deiecuve; yes. radically so, from the
TACT that they are geared engines, and, from the
manner OF their placing cannot be kept in line;
also they are ass long ago tried and pronounced
failures by the best constructors OF the world.
sherwood fastened them upon the United States
Navy, and his satellites oil the Engineer corps
tlnue them. irrespective OF the fact that in the most
ordinary gale they would be destroyed and perhaps
endanger the lives OF every one on board. They
cannot be handled under sail; they will not stow
and all save the Wampanoag, are butt OF white
'oak and other green timber and pronounced unsea-
worthy ere they have been commissioned, OF which
The gunner class viii also be examined into. The
Chief engineers OF tue navy OF any ability In their
proessi0n have already declared these engines built
upon false prncip giving results under trial or
actual service very tar iieror to those Of any first
Class nations steamers OF similar size and power
What has been done with tens Of thousands OF
Cons OF coal burned for useless experiments to prove
ympossbilities IN steam And millions nave been ex
pended TO purchase ana continue the radical defects
Sn steam engineering by pllingup TWENTY-FIVE COM
pete sets oil marine engines when We have nos the
ships built to place them in.
The board. upon wnicn we find Commodore Self
ridge, Captains Guiot and khind NAV be consid-
cred OF rare importance from the TACT that they are
20 decide what Is required lot the most eflcient
equipment management and economical retaining
In commission OF our vessels OF war. steamers In
time or peace or war, unless the orders
Imperative should be navlgated under sail
If this Is accomplished TO-, 900 tons OF coal
Will be saved at the cost OF 100000 per annum
IL well worthy OF consideration what vessels
aGoat I'm commission we have that can be managed
under sail The Contoocook. Guerricre, Tconderoga,
Richmond, Swatara, Pensacola, Lackawanna Os-
eipee, Monongo, Resacca, saginaw, P0whatan, Tus-
,arora, Nyack, Piscataqua, shenandoah, Oneida
M0D0cacy and Ashueot cannot be navlgated save by
steam. and those not enumerated are doubtful
sels.
a board. consisting. Of Commodore Hitchcock,
Greene and Hunt have the onsderation OF ordnance
department OF the navy winch has made the best
aud most rapid strides daring the late war. And
believe the late chief OF the bureau moved In the
right direction The day for the S2-pounders has
passed away. Our smooth bore guns should be 15
Us, IL, H. and s-inch wrought iron, nothing less
Our res should be 800 200, loo, 80 and 3pounicrs;
howitzers OF "a, 20 and 12-poundsrs. All the ships
arms should be breecu-loadlng both rife and pistol
with centre fire cartridge, aud both OF cahbre
with reduction IN weight OF bullet aud charge of
powder. Where IL our bOasted torpedo system IL
lacks every want OF proper appilcatlon