The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-31
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Guersiere Court OF Observation-Disclosures
of Charges of Drunkenness Among OMcers--
Tho Fleet Fitting Out ut BSston-The fish
ing Banks Cruisers.
Contrary to general expectation the court Of In.
curry sitting board the frigate Guerrero Oh the
Battery investigate into the causes leading to the
grounding OF the Guerrero or Nantucket, has nov
yet closed Its abors This apparent protraction OF
the investigation Is partially owing TO thevery thor
ouch ana exhaustive examination entered into by
the court which has gone to the root OF the matter
and partly because the court has gone into an ex.
animation OF the truth OF certain reports affecting
the standing Of the officers OF the SHIP which have
appeared in or two papers OF this city. 1t has
been charged by these papers that the officers Of the
Guerrero were drunk and unit for duty while the
ship was bound to this port bearing the remains
OF the late Admiral Farragut. The court.
at the suggestion OF Captain Stevens, com.
manding the snip, Is investigating these serious
accusations, ana has already examined witnesses
on that point. On Saturday Alderman Lawrence
Jerome, chairman OF the joint committee Of the
the Common Council, appeared before the court and
gave In his evidence. lie was passenger on the
ship and had every opportunity to observe the
morale OF the officers, and he testified that he not
only saw no drunkenness. but that the officers and
men throughout perfectly free from the slight.
est suspicion OF having tndulged In WINE or spirits,
and that they performed their duties with ability,
fidelity and untirng zeal. Other witnesses con.
Cured In this statement, and 1t became perfectly
clear to the court that the charges OF drunkenness
were completely false and enureiy destitute OF the
fanest SHADOW OF foundation Ia fact The vile cal
umneS invented and circulated by some miserable
creatures are thus formally exposed aud Destroyed
The discipline and perfect OF the officers ana
crew Of the Guerriere were remarked by all the pas
sengers on the snip, many Of whom were veteran
correct Judgment on matters OK the kind. 1t IL to
be loped that the base libeers OF gallant set Of
uv ranff mao. an al
vent and circulate false statements Affecting tho
reputation ana honor Qhhlg they dased theft
lives.
The court will probably conclude It's findings ana
forward them to the Navy Department to-day, wien
they VIII doubtless be promulgated.
Inc report from Boston on saturday that orders
had been received at the Navy Yard nom the depart
ment to propose estimates OF the expense In and
time OF fitting for sea- with despatch, the monitors
en- ships wabash, Niagara, Wachusetts Sabine,
TIconderoga California and three other vessels,
q fleet for sea service. Even II these ships were
ready for sea they could not be sent out, for tho
simple reason that there are no men at the disposal
or the Navy Department to man them. The laws Of
Congress permit the navy TO enlist maximum mum.
Der OF 5000 men. Ihat numoer - already enlisted.
and cannot, unless lmperlous necessity should re.
quire 1t, be Increased. The corvette California was
all ready for sea at Portsmouth, \. H., q lew weeks
SINCE and her officers had been ordered to ner But
the Navy Department could not, under the restrlc-
tons framed by Congress, furnish her mer, and she
was therefore dlsmanted aud sent to Boston TO take
on q new screw, and then lay up. All tie available
men at the disposal OF the department were ordered
to the sloop-Of-war Narraganset, Lieutenant Comy
mander George Dewey, now lying at this port, and
her complement Is not filed. Every man that tho
law allows Is now III the service, and any talk Of
new fleets or squadrons is absurd until Congress In,
creases the allowance, which not likely soon to
occur, Judging from the unsympathetlc Ieeng dis
played by Congress toward the navy which, having
done its duty during the war, has been sighted and
overlooked since its services are apparently less i'm
portant to the country 10 maintain our squadrons
abroad on decently respectable footing would re-
quire at least 5000 force much smaller than
that at the disposal Of such third rate Powers as
Spain.
There has been no information communicated "a to
the day Of sailing OF the Npsic and Guard from tho
Fishing Banks for this port As tney VIII come un.
der san 1t is possible that their voyages may be
somewhat protracted, but so far as known there Ia
no reason to fear any anxiety respecting their