The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-11-29
Rrpor, Of che sssrssnrr ef ,he Narr.

x
The following summary of the report OF Sec
rotary Robson has already appeared:
Secretary Robson has completed his annual
dent to-day. 1t appears that the whole num-
Der OF vessels now in the service is two hun,
dred This number be believes to be too large
Tor the present requirements of the Navy, anu anu
recommends its reduction to one hunote t anu ano
eisnty. Inc Secretary seems 10 las tbsre are
OF the smaller vessels, and peiieses n1';oo "ao
too many of the larger class in the service, as
it is not renuired that vessels of large tonnage
be emnloveJ' He is violently opposed there
tore to the sherwood machinery On account OF
ito oreat weight and the space it occupies, and
asks authority to dispose of the vessels of over
d 600 tonnage constructed during the war on
the sherwood plan. Among the latter class
are the Chattanooga, at Philadelphia; the Am
monoosuc and Virginia, at Boston; the
Illinois, at Portsmouth, and the Java,
Ontario and Colorado, at New York. He
speaks in favorable terms of the iron clads.
The report gives much space to a comparison
OF the navy OF the United States with the ma
vies OF other countries, especially of France
and England. The entire tonnage of the En-
glish navy Is five and one-half millions, of the
United States four and one-half millions, and
OF France over two millions. The cruising of
our navy is alluded to in praseworthy terms,
and the report shows that the service has been
of great benefit. The report also demonstrates
of England and the superior of France. He
calls attention to the superiority of the SER
vices of the French and English in their reeu-
latiOns and discipline of the enlisted men, and
the provisions for their protection and COM
fort. This is particularly shown in allowances
for uniform, rations, hospitals, pensions, bOun-
ties, &c, &c, which induces enlistments. 1t
appears that at present the enlistments for
the navy have gradually fallen of, until suf-
tcient number of men cannot be obtained. In
ion fhn =, ~,
giving the views of the Secretary very fully,
and shows how he believes the service may be
improved. He recommends an increase of the
pay of seamen and enlisted men, and also the
longevity system, whereby the pay is increas-
ed according to the length of service. He also
favors an additional allowance of clothing and
an increase of pensions He also recommends
Congressional action for the protection of sea-
men at home and abroad from the land sharks
and swindlers, and he believes that proper Of
Ulcers should be selected to give information,
advice and assistance at some of the principal
ports. The English system of educating boys
through enlistments for petty officers meets
the Secretary's approval, and he recommends
the establlshmentsOf the system here, and that
practice ships be set aside for the purpose. In
comparing the strength of the squadrons of
this and other countries, now in foreign wa
tiers, the Secretary shows that ours is smaller
than those of other nations, and he warmly
recommends that our foreign squadrOns be at
once augmented by additional vessels, espec-
tally Of the iron -clads. He argues that an in
crease can De effected without increasing the
outlay, through the operations of regulation
lately established of using canvass instead of
steam as motive power. This will not only
largely decrease the expense in labor, but also
in fuel. Such of course. if made general, will
also ultimately abolish most of the coal stations
now kept up at an expense of about $4,000, 900.
The Secretary refers to the subject of subsidz-
ing lines in ocean steamers and favors such a
course in view of the fact that in case of war
or any sudden emergency, the government
would have claim upon the vessels thus SUBJ
sided, which would be of vital importance. In
proof of this advantage he cites the number of
vessels which might have been profitably used
during the war of the rebellion. The navy
yards are reported as all in good condition.
The Secretary favors the adjustment of the
philadelphia yard and its transfer to League
Island; speaks favorably of New London,
Conn.,, and of Port Royal, s. c., as advantage
eous locations for navy yards, and also says
that all yards should be enlarged. The report
also recommends the early completion OF the
ship canal across the Isthmus of Darien, after
enumerating some of it's advantages The es-
timated expense of the Navy, for the next fis-
cal year, the Secretary places at $4,000, 900
against 1927 ,0OO, 900 last year. About 81 100000
OF the latter sum were returned to the Treas
ury, tor the sale of vessels.