The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-06

spectve squadrons consists now OF fourteen (l4) Is
nincan Resaca, Cyane jamestown, Saginaw, Ds-
cotah, saranac, Nyack, onward, and the Guerrlere
In all one hundred and twenty nine guns or these
the ten QO last-named have been or are being tho
before mentioned, and the feet, though smaller in
number, is already much more effective for the
The European Squadron under command OF Roar
Admiral kadford has been reinforced by the Junata
ana supply, and the Sabine has been attached to ft
for the present; it consists now OF these vessels
with the Richmond and Plymouth, and the Franklin E
as nag-snlp-six (6 vessels, mounting one hundred l.
and siX pO6) guns. This is, OF course, but small
force Tor station SO conspicuous and important but
we nave not been able further to increase IT, AS
soon as the resources OF the department will permit
thls squadron should be largely strengthened.
Wagshlp), Oneida, MonocaCy, Iroquois, Ashueiot,
lnadilla, and Maumee; and the Bencia, Colorado, f.
making in all ten Qo) ships, mounting seyeStvtwo
Q2 guns: 1t is commanded by Rear-Admira ste
these ships have been condemned as entirely unse9
worthy unit ior cruising except in rivers and un-
no opportunity OF repairing them in those waters the
! Admral In command has recommended that they be
SOLO on the station. The department has therefore
directed that when II sha be no longer possible to
use them with safety, their armament and stores be
sold to the best advantage. This order has airnady
been carried out in the case OF the Aroostook which
| was also condemned. ~
Home Defense.
But the subject OF protection to commerce and
ihnuence I'M on lorekn seas by no means comprehends
all that the department feels called upon to repre-
sent IN connection with the question of the size ana
character Of our navy. ~
The matter OF national defense is still more inn.
pOrtant ana comes home as closely to the interest
ana the pride Of the whole people. Any comprehen-
| slVe plan OF a naval establishment must incInde
some practical provision for the defense of fhe mn
merons seaports scattered along coast, and the
great rivers and bays on whose shores are concen-
wealth.
Our monitors have been already alluded n no
ready and effective means OF harbor defense and
this they Will doubtless be- to the extent and num-
AM trnlnu
certainly invulnerable they are comparatvely nsa
less, and we must therefore keep pace with the late
improvements in ordnance Most of them are cana
BILE OF bearing the additional armor necessary To
give the strength required but this will OF course
| require new and considerable outlay
Torpedo Corps. :
Another comparatively inexpensive but most
effective means Of defense has not escaped the
attention OF the department. l refer to the sub
marine torpedo. The terrible destructive power of
this instrument was shown during the late war.
Since that time considerable attention has been
given to this subject by officers OF the navy partcu
larry by those stationed at the Naval Academy.
shortly after my appointment as head OF the de-
partment torpedo corps was established under the
Bureau OF Ordnance to make experiments take
charge Of the apparatus, and perfect a system for
the application OF this means OF defense 10 oHr
coasts and harbors.
This is, OF course. not subject for nublic rlns
tration but enough experiments have already been
made to show how valuable, as we'll as terrible is
knowledge Of it that when it shall have been fur
ther perfected, and its systematized the torpedo
VIII be one OF the most effective weapons Of marine
under every condition requires a knowledge Of the
scientific principles applicable to their construction
ana use, with an Intimate acquaintance with the
localities to be defended. The torpedo CORPS has
therefore been selected with care, and the expert
ments are conducted under the supervision OF an
officer OF scientific ability. AS soon as torpedo is
constructed, and the particular locality and manner
of its use determined, 1t can be slowed away as an
inexpensive but most effective weapon OF war.
This means Of defense, properly applied in con-
backed by monitors and supported by the forts and
water batteries which command the narrow en-
power which could cross the ocean to attack them
These localities have been the subject OF careful
inspection by both branches OF the military service
and both are thus prepared with the knowledge
p which only actual inspection can give.
commend this subject through you to the atten-
ton of Congress, and ! trust they will afford the
means to pursue and perfect the system.
In the paper herewith transmitted, entitled "Plan
OF Naval Establishment in Time OF PeaceD will he
found detailed statement of what is Believed to
be the most economical and efficient organization OF
This force, there estimated as low as one-nfteth
-5O) OF our mercantile marine, at about one gun
boat OF six hundred tons to sixty thousand tons OF
commerce, is less in the number OF ships than that
which we now have.
League Island.
Another point is the necessity OF commencing at
that part of the FhadepSia station known an az
League Island. This is not only desirable in view OF
tne present condition of the yard at Philadelphia,
and further necessities of the navy
ships are OF course, better constructed and
equipped at large establishments, possessing COM
plete accommodations and facilities for the economi-
Cal arrangement and application OF material
The great defect in the situation OF most of our
yards is their want of land area and available water
front SUFFICIENT to do even their present work to ad
vantage.
This is particularly the case with that portion of
the naval station at Philadelphia where the work is
now done. The water front OF the present working
ground is small that four ships can hardly lie
there without being in the way OF each other Build
ngs and machinery OF every description are cramped
and crowded together, interfering with their proper
use, causing great expense of both time and money
and, from the close proximity OF workshops and in
risk In case of fire nothing but the most favorable
circumstances would prevent q general destruction
OF everything in the yard and great vigilance is re-
CURED and constant expense incurred to guard
against general connagraton OF houses, ships and
material. II
Moreover, this portion OF the station is situated I'm
the midst OF great city, stopping its growth in one
Itself subjected TO all the Inconvenience Incident to
its position an independent establishment In the
midst OF municipality with adverse interests and
under different government.
Like difficulties have been felt at the Brooklyn
yard, but those at Philadelphia are much greater
These inconvenience in the working OF station OF
such absolute importance as that OF Philadelphia are
most serious. They great at all times and they
VIII be more severely felt as iron comes as must
now be the case to be more generally used as a
material for naval construction. In view of the
necessity of fresh for their preservation the
Philadelphia station is for the repair and ordinary
of iron ships Of every class far the best If the
only practical one the Atlantic coast Situated
on great fresh water river, hundred and
twenty miles, Oy its course, from the sea- in the
heart OF populous country, at the great centre of
iron and coal, and with water sufficient for the
draught Of the largest ships 1t presents at every
condition OF convenience, economy and defense.
The only difficulty for the present and for the
future is found in the size and situation OF that part
Of the station which are now for want or legsla-
tive action, obliged TO use as the working yard.
should not feel authorized TO speak so strongly
on this subject it not that now Actually own
arf nj Tho mn tcnN. ~