The New York herald., 1869-12-08


were utterly iuadequate TO the ends 20 be attained
and that small neet on these stations, consisting
OF forty-three vessels, mounting $50 guns, with
tonnage OF s0.O52 tons, was too small In number,
and too weak IN character, force ana cOnul1ion 10
perform the service required 10y the laeas OF tne gov
ernmsnt and the expectations or our people.
cruising on the same seas and with duties not more
various and extended France has over 100 ships IN
commission OF tonnage OF $50 900 tons; while Eng
land has crowded into the same area, no less than
Iel ships, with tonnage OF s2s,ooo tons. with ner
fsying squadron ready 10 reinforce her power when
ever occasion may require.
The ieets OF other nations rival, ana some surpass
ours in their number, size aud character; and, IN
tact our position on the seas was maintained only
by the spirited and untiring energy OF our onicers,
and perVadng eiief in The latent resources OF our
country and the energies OF our people.
CONDITION AND EFFICIENCY or SHIPS on STATIONS.
or the foriythree vessels which composed these
several meets not more than eighteen were IN
condition for real service; some have been con.
demned as unseaworthy, and almost al required
considerable repairs TO bring them TO their most
efncient stale.
Tne eficency OF this small force, moreover was
much lessened by the fact that most OF them were
steamers, without adequate sail power. Tue prhc-
Hcal disadvantages OF relying wholly or even largely
on these fer cruising vessels VIII be easily seen;
their complicated machinery, worn by constant
nse. ls EXPOSED to derangenaeut on foreign seas;
they are more easily disabled IN palue OF
storm, and, what IS even more mnporsah, aaprs y,
men, Lounging through the watches OF steamer,
or acting as 1remen and coalheavefs VIII not pro-
duce IN seaman that combination OF boidness,
strength and skill which characterized the American
sailor OF the elder day; and The habtual exercise.
Dy QfItCef. OF cOuIuuuu tHt eAcCutiuu VI WulCu
is not under his own eye Is poor substitute the
school OF observation. promp ness and command
found only on the deck OF saoing vessel Besides,
few steamers carry coal for more than ten days.
use, and as large portion OF even this time must be
consumed IN seeking new supply, the disaovanta-
yes as well as the great expense OF cruising under
these circumstances are apparent, particularly on
foreign stations where our depots are necessarily
few and the cost OF fuel enormous,
MONITOR FLEET.
Our effective force was still further reduced by the
fact thar our monitors aud ronclacs, lald up since
had i'm. thA AMI mi
They were found, when the attention OF the depart
ment was directed TO them, IN state OF rapid dete-
rioratIop. Huls, turreIs and machinery, Inc most
costly aud powerful, exposed without care 70 the
OF the elements were fast losing tber value;
and OF the whole neet OF monitors relied upon by
the country for defence, not one could have been
ready IN time to resist q sudden attack.
A board tor the 'inspection OF steam machinery
OF which Rear Admiral GoldsborOugh was president,
constituted by Mr.. Bore and from their report,
hereto attached, 1t win be seen that many other OF
vessels entirely unsuited for naval purposes
These statements, may be permitted TO say with
out imputng blame to any one, exhibit our navy at
Q low epb-a condition the cause o. which may
doubtless be found IN the vast expenditure OF mate
rial curing the great war. IN the exhaustion which
followed It. and IN a'seDse OF the burdens it bad m
WHAT HAS SINCE BEEN DONE.
With such material this condition the depart
ment, al the commencement OF tue administration,
found Itself chargei with the duty OF maintaining
she naval power OF the government In every part OF
the word; required 70 protect on every sea the IN
terests 81 the dominant and responsible nation OF
the western Continent, whose boundaries stretcn to
the shores OF either ocean, whose people aspire 10
rival those OF the whole world III every field OF enter
PRISE, and whose government Is pledged 10 the 1n-
teresfs OF freedom civilization and progress and at
the same time to be prepared with reserved power
and the means OF applying. II, available In every
emergency for defence and aggression.
To restore our small force to an enective condlton
and to make IL available In the best manner in Its
large and growing field OF operations In the shortest
out addition to the national expenses, was the irst
duty which presented ITSELF and to Its accomplish
ment all the energies OF the department. nave been
bent
In view OF the importance OF the work. pressing
upon II with such urgency, and Involving so many
conditions of professional knowledge, lhe Secretary
eDdeavored 10 avail himself OF the best professional
ahlnty Et his command IN every bureau and depart
ment OF the service. Thus assisted, ihe department.
undertook the task OF reorRanklDg the material OF
the navy, as far as was consistent with existing
ana tne stare OF the naval appropriations; and
think II viii ne seen that the results Will fulfil all
reasonable expectations and fully justify the Wis
dom OF its policy.
while there were ships at the yards at home ready
tor sea, or which could be made effective without
considerable expenditure OF both money and time,
large proportion of those oreign stations needed
extensive repair and alteration
To meet these difficulties work was renewed vigor-
ously at all the navy yards, and fast possible
our ships ID ordinary were put In condition Tor
service.
Those in commission have undergone the same
process as fast as they could be spared from their
stations.
More than one half OF the whole Pacific feet have
been or are being repaired at Mare Island. Nearly
All the vessels OF the North Atlantic feet have been
sent home from time TO time for the same purpose.
The Guerriefe and Kansas from the South Atlan-
tic, and the ficoDderoga and Canandaigua from the
European squadron, are also Bow IN hand. The work
has also been renewed ana actively pushed on all
the available ships ST the various yards. By this
means we have teen able already TO reinforce our
various sguadr0ns 10 some extent The Severn. The
seminole, the Saugus. the Nan ta5ket and the Die
tator have been ADDED 10 the North Atlantic squad
ron, which has also been strengthened Dy the Pow
hatan and the Tuscsrora sent from the Pacific feet
The command OF the department
The Lancaster, completely lifted out, has been sent
10 the South Atlantic, relieving the Guerrero. or
dered home for repairs, and the juniats The Sabine
and the supply have sailed In like condition to rem
force the European squadron.
TO secure the greatest amount OF eficiency, with
greater economy at the same time oil the steamers
susceptible Of u which have been repaired or
power and rerigged so that without interfering
with their speed or effectiveness under steam they
are now entirely Independent OF it and are able TO
cruise wherever required or II need be- 10 go round
the world without deterioration OF boilers or
machinery aud without consuming their coal, which
Is thus reserved for times OF necessity or danger
The ship-rig considered the most efficient Tor
cruisers has been already gwen TO forty vessels OF
The success OF those which have been completed,
including among their number, a. marked instances,
Inc severn, Juniata. Mohlcan. Eantasket, Resaca,
Lancaster and Swatara, has illustrated the wisdom
OF The plan. The capacity OF these vessels for every
service IL proved By trial 10 have been greatly I'M
proved without loss OF speed or efficiency when
under steam and the department IS convinced thar
by this system, combined with judcious and prac-
uca selection OF simpler aud more erectiye engines,
poiers and propeIlers the efficiency OF our force
VIII be doubled aud a. the same time much money
saved. Many OF our foreign coal stations have
already been discontinued and orders have been
Issued 70 the commandanta OF the squadrons direct
Ing them not TO permit the consumption OF coal for
any purpose which could be as wei performed under
san ana requiring report TO the department. OF any
deviation from the general rule, with the reasons
Tor II IN each instance.
The result has already been a large saving
several OF our most effective cruisers have consumed
no coal since the receipt OF the order. IL can be
SHOWN by figures that this system OF giving and re-
quIng the general use OF full sa power beside Its
euect 10 make sailors OF both officers aud men, WILL
on the vessels intended 10 be kept In commission
tcaculatng that they cruise but two-thlrds Of the
tinie} make Ia the item OF coal alone az consumed
under lhe Old system, . saving or more taan
81, 900, 900 per annum.
our monitors aQi iron-ciadx were also placed in
the hands OF the mechanics and put in thorough re-
pair. Four or the largest have gone into commission
part OF our available crnSinR force and The reaI