The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-25
OUR CRUISERS AFL0AT.
STRENGTH OF CUR WOODEN EIHY.
WHAT Can b. Done to Increase ItHThs Press
Ing Needs Of tha Moment-Prompt Action
Of the Government to strengthen
Our Glorious Navy.

4he navy ofsAe United States, viewed az an ofen-
siye machine is not sach an one IS 9roat Power
requires, especially at time when our interests
may be nnpe-ped by foreign war, and when we
may be drawn into acontest with the grandest naval
Powers Of Europe II IL safe assert that we are In
no coalition TO grapple with any OF the rs or SEQ
ond rate nations OF Europe on the high seas. Az
home. relying our iron-clad squadrons, we could
take Of ourselves in sats sctory way, perhaps,
pnt II wond be quite impossible for our navy to un-
dertakc offensive operations in foreign waters. We
have no iron-clad cruisers and must rely In
case Of foreign war on wooden vessels
alone, none OF which could cope with the formidable
broadside iron-clads possessed by France, England,
Austria, Italy, Prussia, Spain, Russia or even
Turkey. Our wooden ships are quite competent TO
give q good account OF themselves In combat with
the wooden ships OF European Powers. although In
many instances they are less swift under steam
alone Admitting, Then, the fact that our navy, tit
for cruising and warfare in foreign waters con.
sasts only of wooden ships, we can very soon state
clearly what our naval strength Is at this moment,
and to what II can be developed in reasonable
time by bringing to bear all the resources OF our
dock yards and machine shops.
ouR WOODEN NAVY NOW READY FOR SERVICE.
Our ships anoat are distributed among i've fleets
the North Atlantic neet, South Atlantic neet Medi-
terranean leet Pacific neet and Asiatic neet-
while some are in commission on special service.
THE NORTH ATLANTIC FLEET,
On homo squadron consists Of the Severn, second
ra1e flagship, Is guns; the monitor Dictator, third
rate. guns; the double-turreted monitor Terror,
third rate, guns; Tuscarora, third rate, guns;
monitor Saugus third rate, guns; SwatGra fourth
rate guns; Nantasket fourth rate, guns. Total
vessels, As guns.
SOUTH ATLANTIC FLEET.
Lancaster, first rate. flagship, q guns; Portsmouth.
third rate, sailing sloop, 10 guns, and the Wasp,
fourth rate, gun. Totals vessels, 50 guns.
hEDITERRANEAN FLEET
Franklin, first rate, flagship, 90 guns; Plymouth,
second rate l. guns; Richmond, second rate, IL
guns; Junista third rate, guns. Total-4 ships,
~ guns
PACIFIC FLEET.
Saranac second rate, flagship, II guns; Mohlcan,
third rate. guns; Kearsarge third rate, guns; st.
Aary's sailing sloop, third rate, 16 guns; James
town, third rate, sailing soop &c guns; onward,
third rate sailing soop 3 guns Resaca, third rate,
guns; Cyanne, fourth rate, sailing sloop Ii guns;
Saginaw, ourth rate guns; Nyack, fourth rate
guns; Osspee, third rate, guns. Total-11 ships,
p9 guns.
AsrATIc FLEET
Delaware first rate, flagship, p guns; Ashuelot,
third rate. guns; Monocacy, third rate, guns;
Idaho, third rate, guns The Colorado, first rate.
20 guns, Is en- route TO the East TO relieve the Della
wnfe, ana the Benica, third rate, IL guns, and
Alaska, third rate, twelve guns, are also ON their
way to this squadron. Total ships 40 guns.
ON SPECIAL SERVICE
Michigan (IIake Erie) fourth rate no guns given;
Tallapoosa third rate despatch boat; Yannc fourth
rate, guns Sabine, sailing frlgate, just arrived at
Boston, second rate, 80 guns; NIpsic fourth rate,
guns for the Fishing Banks; Gerard, storeship
fourth rate, guns, Fishing Banks; Ffolic, fourth
tn ia hi, Dat,ry TAfa1 1;,f
Grand total-39 ships, Az guns.
suABBINISS OF THE GOVERNMENT.
The above exhibit OF our naval force cannot prove
satisfactory to any Americans except those Con.
gressmen who steadily and persstently declined to
vote needed supplies to the navy and who, while the
war lasted never felt safe unless gunboat was an
chored in easy range OF their homes. and deciam
against the service and characterize 1t as useless
and expensive national luxury. II we have not
respectable navy to-day 1t is entirely owing to the
short-slghted policy of parcel OF men whose ideas
OF American interests are bounded by the Mississippi
river and the Rocky Mountains.
The last Congress cut down the allowance of men
to $780, force sufficient to keep up our squad.
rons at the ridlculously and shameiuny small
standard 1t is now maintained Ships to be
sent out to relieve other vessels In dis
taDt seas lie Idle at the docks, without
men, because they cannot lie manned until vessels,
the time Of whose crews has expired. have returned
Our foreign squadrons are thus weakened in order
are despatched. The loss OF time and the consequent
loss OF money In furnishing relies iS much greater
1nsn me cost . Of pgpo1ns an addo9aI sea-
oountereq 6y the Navy Department by the stupid
action of Congress- Men can be obtained in any
number, with proper inducements, In brief space
Of time but IL Is the work Of months to repair and
Mt out cruisers. even with abundant financial re.
we ba .ya
IN our navy yards rom going 10 decay aud destruction
Our yards are filed with ships rotng at Their docks,
been kept really for instant service. The supreme
moment OF our national need has now arrived, and
dozens Of rotten ships ana others In condition to
60 to sea- AL may now see how shortslghted and
oGntempm6lEe was the policy Of the last Congress
public domain TO gangs OF private spectators, but
who could not rise to an attitude sufficiently lofty
to view the imperious demands Of the public service
Fortunately there Is money enough yet attainable
to at certain number OF SHIPS, sufficient for the
time being, to Tor and protect our vast personal
and commercial interests abroad. the government
is 1uy justified IN adopting extraordinary meas
pres to place one arm OF our national defence
on toieraby respectable footing. Our navy VIII be
increased and made more efficient. Ships VIII be
fitted out ana men will be recruited and our flag
tional affairs. future Congress win doubtless con-
firm the action Of the government and heartily en-
dolse measures taken 10 provide against serious
THE REINgoRcEMENTs TO OUR NAVY ABROAD.
Inc navy department. nave just Issued imperative
orders 10 me commanders o. the various Navy Yards
TO proceed without delay to at out every available
vessel Tor immediate service Work has already been
begun at the Portsmouth, Boston and Philadelphia
yards, and at the Brooklyn, Washington and Norfolk
yard! the force OF mechanics will az once be ncreas
Cd The following are the vessels that can be made
Jeady for sea In o lew m0nths:-
AT THE PORTSMOUTH, IN. H. YARD.
The corvette California. second rate,, p 400 tons.
and carrying twenty-One guns, IS well advanced,
and work is being pushed ahead with all possible
speed She Is the same size and Class as the Della
van and Guerrero, the former OF which IL now the
flagship ofhe Asatc squadron, fine class Of cru,s.
erS. The sloop Narraganset 566 tons, i've guns, is
now well advanced and will soon be ready for
sea.
The Wyoming, 726 tons, six guns, is now repair.
ing and VIII be despatched as soon as ready
AT TIE BOSTON YARD.
large force OF mechanics are engaged in fitting
out the frlgae Wabash, 1900 tons. forty-six guns
one OF the finest ships about the corvette shenan-
d0ah, 929 TONS ten guns, almost ready, and per-
foct picture OF man-ofwar, with her new full snip
RIG. The worcester, new ship OF the second
rate, 1000 tons. and armed with fifteen guns