Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-29
The EnrIi.h Naval Aamini.,rn..on.

IfBntannia still rules the waves as used to be
the popular boast, her rule is surprisingly blum
dering and unintelligent. The laundering of
of the irohcad Captain with all on board in a
moderate gale was a severe shock to faith in
British official skill in naval construction and
seamanship, and some other disasters, which
followed it at short intervals, suggested I'M
pleasant doubts of the competency or prudence
of the board of admiralty. Additional facts
mentioned in late English papers confirm the
impression that the management OF the British
navy might be greatly improved. Among other
things, which to some people seem like mis-
takes, several vessels built for the Canadian
lakes were sent to cruise in the Persian gulf, the
hottest inland sea in the world In consequence
OF the intense heat, twenty-four men Of the crew
of the Maggie, one of these vessels, were at one
time Frustrated by heat apoplexy, or, as we
should say, sun-stroke, and thirteen men Of the
Bunhnch another of the same feet, were in the
same condition. There was no such suffering
on other vessels in those waters, and the infer
euce is drawn by the Indian newspapers that
the admiralty was culpaby careless or ignorant
in sending ships into a climate for which they
were wholly untitled.
But an instance of still more gross needless
ness was sending the Megaera as transport TO
Australia. with four hundred officers and sea-
men on board, beside her crew. She sunk in
mid ocean, with the loss Of nearly all on board.
A parliamentary inquiry has developed the facts
that the Megaera was an IRON vessel, built in
1874 when the art of building such ships was
.,nIarstnaI. oh haJ loOp
much service, and had been for some time
placed at the bottom of the list of ships em-
Moved for home service only. After starting on
her VOYAGE she was obliged to put into Queens
town, and fom that place remonstrances
reached the admiralty from the captain against
sending this ship in her unseaworthy condition
on such voyage. Some triiing repairs were
made, and she then sailed, never to reach her
port of destination.
The defence which Mr.. Goschen, the first lord
of the admiralty, made in parliament was that
the defects specially complained of were rem
edied, and that the admiralty had no reason to
suppose that anything else was unsound Such
an apology would hardly be offered, certainly
not accepted by any government which held its
officers to rigid accountability, or to that
minute knowledge of details without which
efficient military or naval administration is i'm
possible. 1t would seem TO be the business of
the admiralty, if anybody's, to know precisely
the condition Of the ship and what voyage she
might safely undertake. We have been assured
lately that the German naval officers not only
know infinitely the character and capacity of
each vessel in their own navy, but also are re-
quired to be thoroughly well informed of the
history of each ship of any Importance in the
navies of other European powers. If the man
agement of the British navy is such as these re-
cent disclosures would indicate, it might prove
an imperfect defence in the case of German
invasion, the present favorite bugbear of
British alarmists