New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-05
srpoRr OF SECRETARY robson.

general proposition almost all those built OF unseasoned
white OAK upt for use, and cannot be repaired with
advantage.
Built with great rapidly Of the only material available
during the pressing Of tho war; and many Of
them designed for special purpose tho necessity Of
which has passed away the cost Of repairing them would
be entirely out Of proportion to the results to be obtained
Not only the chores and among tie islands Of our
continent but in every seaport OF civilized Europe In
Asia from the shores Of the Bosphorus 70 the head OF
navigation unnamed rivers on the confines OF the
Chinese Empire in Japan in the islands and scmcon-
nents Of the East and Among the groups Of the Pacific
and the Southern Oceans cur citizens claim ana neeo
protection. In every quarter Of the known world
they found occupying every field which enterprise
dares to invade energy avas to conquer and every
where outside Of limits. wherever they enter,
they carry with them Affirmative and sometimes aggres'
ideas of freedom and progress. antagoDstic alike to
the traditions, customs. and habits Of the people, and
the idoas and practices Of the local governments.
spch the result Of progressive civilization upon
the enterprisng and affirmative spirit Of our people Its
effect apparent In every land that they penetate and
cannot afford, either Government as people,
neglect wholly responsibilities representative
nation, national obligations to citizens who,
wherever they claim the OF Govern
ment AMI the protection Of its nag.
feel duty again to these considerations, so
often presented already In the hope that IN their
time the representatives Of the people will give their at
ention to the situation and take efficient measures, at
least, to check the decline Of our naval power.
The limits and duties assigned to the various cruising
stations been changed since last report, and
the naval force given to each has not been materially
changed. The vessels actually in commission
on sOme Of the stations III number than former
but this decrease is rather apparent than real for "
Utmost all there has been actual increase Of the active
force This been done by putting out Of commission
thu nnwieldy .iron-clads which could only lie
inactive IN harbor were towcd slowly and
foam SArf
substituting for them, as far as the Depart
ment able small and active cruisers. by which
mems enabled occupy continually larger e1-
Of cruising ground and visit more frequently the
ports assigned to each station and generally to render
more effective in every department Of public affairs
where the presence and aid Of the Navy Is necessary
without great expense of men and money.
The force the North Atlantic Station IL still under
command OF Rear-Adma g. p Lee. who held that posi-
the making OF the last report The force on TINS
station consists the Severn the swatara the Nam
tasket the Nfrsc the Kansas the Pawnee the Terror
With the Worcester and Canandagua just lifted for the
station and the ehawmut duty there, but ulti-
natey destined for the South Atlantc-in Gil 10 ships
mounting 20 guns all active cruisers, except the Terror
which Is an ironclad OF the Monitor class
The South Atlantic Station remains as nj the date OF
the last report: under command OF Rear-Admral Lan-
man. with feet consisting Of the Lancaster tag-shpG
the Tconderosa, aud the Wasp with the Wyoming
already fitted for the staOnfOnr ships, mounting 40
n beside tho sbaw,rut dcrained for the present OH
du ty on the North Atlantic Station.
The feet on the Pacific Station, still commanded by
Rear Admiral John A. Winslow, consists OF the Caf0r
MA Pensacola the NaIragansttt the Saranar the Mo-
49,, IN. Pc, III. ossinee tho Onward and the st.
in ON ,,;ne sh,ns nountinp % INNS and divided
,nto ,uo sou,d,ops Wv. the North Pacific and the
fouth Pacific commanded respectively by Commodore
'Sfs e %S%
miral Charles s. Boggs, who relieved Rear-Admrai
tha .luun In
cmgSs to- this his set are the BcSyn the plymouth" the
Guerlee, the watmscit, the SHENANDOAH tne Jn,atd
and !he Manafi W WIZ ,ne congress a'o'' W '" :" WI
On the Asiatic Station, of which Rear.Admiral John
Rodgers still the comandant We have tne Oo0rau NO.
Iabo and the raios with the sacc now on her way
through the Sue Caha ana inc o. wns
to ION the al mh9 snPs , az have heen
more or less re1tted and repaired at home abroad
since my report and four Others all OF the smaller
class now at the various Navy Will oe rea"' ior
a@@ e eI e0s Of the Dsren and
eesrapn cables and under the direction Of Congress-
sssss :; Ss isaSy
the sufferers from the European war and has, under like
ana out to the
R Rsctie OCEAN %eaHn tSnSd the Worth fee
aed
IT. material force and while they add to the informs-
an aud
, %D D.,, ISLANDS, !; Ian. :;.,., tho, III. ro,.
In my last annual report IT was stated that .ne wol.
under inc % ~ ., in October 1870
on account Of the exhaustion Of the fund appropriated
for the purpose. Accordingly work on the cutwss dis
continued on the Of month named and the wess
rs Hss sn
pe the canal 70 width Of 7 fet VIII se@aF renoS