The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-05

RxPEDITIoS TOWARD THE NORTH POLE
BY the ninth section OF an act approved July IL
1917 he President OF the United States was author
lied to organize aud send 0ut one or more expeui'
ns aad o. e
command thereof; to detail any oiicer OF the public
service TO take part In the same, and 70 use any
the scientific operations OF the expedition to I've
prescribed In accOrdance with the advice OF the
National Academy OF Science1-"
MIR. Charles r. Hail. q traveller OF great expo
ence thar locality, was appointed by your 0raer
TO command the expedition lifted out under TINS
The fcrriwinkle. now called the Palarls, small
steamer OF 3S7 tons, was selected Tor the service.
and thoroughly prepared aud strengthencd NJ the
polar Navigation. Mr. Hail himself was permitted
TO Suggest and supervise The prepira,ion OF the
vessel, ami to recommend the persons selected TO
me PoIaris left Washington June 10, arrived at
outfit and sailed the 18TH. Touching at New Loa-
don 81. Johns, and Holstelnberg, IN Greenland. sne
reached Godnayen on the Atm or August the
United States steamer Congress, detailed TO convey
to Greenland such stores Of the expedition as the
the 25th OF july and came up with the P0laris at
Goan wen on the 10Th OF August.
me too. e tne ex
whence her adventurous crew mas sailed into tue
Unknown Northern Ocean.
CoREAN EXPEDITION.
Our Minister to Emma having been instructed TO
arrange aaa conclude, II possible. convention with
tween he Yellow Sea ana the SEA- Of Japan Tor me
protection OF sailors aud otner strangers Ship
W sss nsr Ss should ne cap
III direct communication with the autaorl::
Inc authorities OF Cnlna 10 which country the gov.
ernmenr Of COrea ~ tributary, our Ainis.er sailed
the Sale River IN CoreA, IN the Colorado. the dag
snip OF Rear Admiral Rodgers, commanding our
Alaska, the Benicia inc Monocacy and Inc Taos
After the arrival OF the fleet at the anchorage.
and alter communication with and visits from tins
and understanding on theirs, tlat the expedition
not only peaceful but friendly In Its OBJECTS,
ton OF making surveys ana s0unings, IN the inte-
rest OF and for the safety oil commerce. alter
having been allowed with the understood o1nssnt
by any one TO PASS up the cnannci to point past
the C0rean lorts far separated from, anu oeyond
OF the neet was suddenly and treacher-
Dusty attacked whio IN the di11culc navigation
al ea Mn ne rocxs s"s Tae eos
were obliged TO repaSj the forts under herce tire
OF cannon suddenly opened upon them, AMI main.
taEed vita vlndlctlye spirit and energy. The small
vessels which mai accompanied the party, hurrying
into action, answered the ire OF the Iorts and drv-
Ing the Coreans from their works, rescued the sur
veynX boats from danger. villa only Two Of our
men wounded.
Ii was determined by the concurrent Judgment OF
our Minister and Admiral Rodgers that an cx pana-
ton should be ut Cnce dem landed, AID That ample
time should be given che Coreans to understand the
This was done, aud ten days were allowed to pass.
during which NO movement was made by Admiral
oceans. An attack Mas Inen panned and Carried
out upon the lorts aud citadel from which the out.
rage mad been committed. A party OF sailors aad
marines were landed, and, after o difficult march
over an almost impossible country, the forts were
assaulted aud captured June ana 40. The officers
and men engag ed In tnls attack displayed persever
ance, steadlaess and courage highly crcditaDe TO
the country aud the service.
Five forts were captured aud destroyed, fifty bat
our hands. Upward Of two hundred AMI fortJ Co.
reans were killed ana q few captured.
treaty, anI not authorized to commune n0stllltles
except to repe and punish attack, the ect lett the
anchorage Of BOls % on toe sd or july ana arrived
at Che0O on the 5tn or the same month. Ine latest
indicate that though the direct object OF
Was inctei nno, anr ireocnern's ne saiIants a"a
the gallant conduct or our forces, mas not failed to
make an impression upoa the people OF the Chinese
coast, and 20 contribute materially in IT'S effects 70
Inc consideration and comOrr, and perhaps TO the
SAFETY, OF our citlzens located there.
again call attention. to the necessity OF develop
Ing our most Important navy yards.
osmou. arsenas; are abe 70 stilke our snores
our own yards are generally small In area and
very deficient IN water front; devei0Ded on well
considered plan, they are tmpcriectly adapted to
the changed condition or construction and equip
AZ Mare Island. In California, we have ample
space, abundant water 'front.' and na2pny All the
IL IS unnecessary to dwell upon our great naval
interests IN the Pacific, or upon tine immense I'm
Inc immediate vlcinlIy Of our great Pacinc city.
At League Island we have mad tee same ample
area and water 'front.' and tue means OF easily con.
basin, like those In Europe, while the excavation
thus made VIII raise the island to requisite height.
The department mas been able, 81 tns appr0pria-
ton made last year for this purpose, to contract
with responsible parties for the budding OF a CON-
modlous wharf and for the dredging or consider
able basin IN the pack channel ald the flling in 10
proper level or ABOUT ten acres OF the Island. or
nearly nall the area Of the present working yard az
navy yard SO ample in ITS proportions in the
midst OF our great coal and iron region, easy OF &C
cess to our own ships, nut readily maize inaccessible
TO hostile fleet, with fresh water Tor the preserva-
ton OF the iron vessels SO rapidly growing into
favor, surrounded py the skilled LABOR OF OF
chief manufacturing centres, VIII be Invaluable to
our country. Win the resources OF Mare island on
the Pacnc an League Island on the Atlantic shore.
fnly deve4Opeu on well considered plan, the count
try would receive great accession or strength aud
ma new Dnlwarxs against foreign aggression.
At New London, Also the appropriation OF $1,000
made by Congress has been found sufficient for
the building or small but convenient dock,
and lnat station Is now In use for laying up ships
yards al new YORK aud Boston,
IRON SHlr BUILDING YARDS.
In March last mad the honor to make report
to the Senate. In obedience TO q resolution Of
that body, upon the subject OF tho proposals made
to the department "f0r establishing irol-shp build
Ing yards ana docks TO eccnonize expenditure In
the Navy and 10 AID in restoring commerce.
This subject Is much 100 comprehensive for cur.
sorv discussion IN this report, but have already, In
my first annua. report spoxel OF lis great import-
ance TO every interest Of this Country anl hope to
be able hereafter TO nresent some system TO De
maturcd uuder the deliberations OF Congress,
NAVAL PENSION FUND.
The pension roll on The LIST OF November, 1871,
was as follows:-
lao invalids, annually receiving .s13o, s5s
!, 1908 widows and children, annually receiv-
3, 1876 persons, receiving total OF. 1891 x98
EXPENSES AND ESTIMATES.
The whole expenditure OF the department and
the service since the date or the last report Is
SO, "a. Including the payment OF Invalid pen
sions and lJudlcated prize money. ana the appro-
priations OF CONGRESS for the payment OF bountles
and claims Of various Kinds 10 the LIST or the present
month.
Tho appropriations for the current fiscal year
amount In the whole TO 800, 96i TIT, ami the expen-
diturc5 rom these appropriations are considerably
within the proportion applicable to the period watch
has elapsed since It's commencement.
The estimates for the general expenses OF the ser.
wee Tor che fiscal year ending June 80 1873, amount
TO $40, 25,5O7.
These estimates. II will be perceived. are I'm the
aggregate more than $i.2oJ,000 less than tue estl.