The New York herald., 1871-12-01
WASHING CTON.
@-><>o~>~>~~~~>~s>e~~~~~. a..s
The Naval Movements To-
ward Cuba.
>@<~~N~~~->~e~@
The TERROR To REACH HAVANA TODAY.
Cause Of the Deplorable Condi-
tion of the Navy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~S~~~~~~~~
The Spanish Minister Asks an
Explanation.
ADMIRAL LEE NOT YET SAILED.
The TERROR TO REACH HAVANA TODAY.
ADMIRAL LEE NOT YET SAILED.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 1871.
The Iron.clad Terror and u War 4. A.um0r-The
lron-clnd 70 Reach Havana To-day.
There was much excitem ent here today, growing
out OF report the Terror, on arriving at Ha.
vana, had been forbidden TO pass the MORO Castle,
and had resented the insult by firing upon the for
tress. 1t IL well known thst q large number OF
Spanish war vessels, among them the corvettes
built IN American yards constantly In the har-
Dor at Havana and the entrance itself is exceed
ingly narrow and strongly dcended. An attempt
by q single vessel to penetrate the harbOr would
be extremely hazardous but, II any OF our naval
officers would dare to make the attempt the com
mander of the Terror would be the man. When tins
iron clad in the harbor during the negotiations
In relation to the detention OF the Lloyd Aspinwall.
her commander was much eXasperated at the
pusilanlmous conduct OF our government In SUBJ
mItlng to Cuban spanish delay, anu anxious for an
opportunity 10 test the lighting qualities of the
vessel against the entire ncct lie declared he
could "clean ouC' the haroor by running under
the guns OF the neet and settling them before they
found out there was gong to be fight The Span
iards are notOriOusly bad ors ana the Amer cans
in Cuba believe that their guns would be practically
worthless, owing to awKwardness and want OF skill
IN management IL was this feeling which
prompted the desire OF the IerrOr's commander
10 Try HIS CHauCc5 nv close quarters, anu III
the lumor which prevails here to-day has
proved true. the details OF the contest would have
been interesting readi g. The MORO Castle
could offer little resistance saucy clad, aad
an OLD hulk like the Saragossa would have little
chance with the four powerful guns OF the Terror.
Unfortunately Tor the rumur, however, the Terror
had not Lett Key West at last accounts, and the en-
terpri5ng gentleman who invented the story antci-
pated events by aG least twenty -four hours IL Is
expected that the Terror will reach Havana to-mor-
row morning. The cause of the delay in the sail.
Ing OF the Terror has not been explained, b". ber
detention Is unimporant in view OF th-, fact mar
owing to the deploraole cond..ion Of our navy,
through the unwlse legis,.alion OF Couaress. the
other vessels will not be at hand to support her for
some time.
The Dep!"rable Condition OF the Navy-The
Frnnlxl II and tie Wabash.
The lively discussion o the past few days relative
to the state Of our naval service has brought out
some interesting disclosures in that direction. A
prominent naval ofiicer, zealcusiy defending his
class from The censure that is being applied to II.
asserts that Senator Wilson's Gr0g bill, puri
tancal bit OF legislation, by which Jacks daily
drop OF rum was turned INTO Communication
allowance OF i've cents per diem, mas been
driving all the gool sailors OF the American navy
into the British service, where there no Con.
gress0nal tnKers to enforce the Maine law In the
forecaste ana leave full liberty OF five fingers abart
the mast. Legislation can NJ more change the set.
tied habits or a sailor than brigadier generals
commission can create a military genius; and the
daily ration of government grog the officer says IL
now replaced by big drunk at the cad OF the
cruise. But the chief embarrassment OF the Navy
Department by It's own assertion, lies In the Con.
gressionai restriction OF the enlisted strength OF
the navy to 5000 men. Making the usual de.
ducti0n for men SICK In confinement, on shore
duty absent, nothing like resolute
crew for single vessel can be kept on hand. The
Franklin, just returned from her third cruse when
starting on her two last voyages was compelled to
wait till her old crew had got over their spree
ashore and were driven to reenllst after spending
all their money When the Wabash was recently
ordered to relieve the Franklin as flagship OF the
new commandant OF the European squadron estab.
llshed custom would have required the former
to Join tue feet before the latter left It,
in order that the strength OF the squadron
should not be even temporarily diminished,
and because a certain amount OF etiquette
and sautng had to be attended to between
the incoming and retiring admras hut s.srctv scs Of
men comcelled custom aud etiquette to be passed
over in TINS case, and the departure OF the wabash
and the packing OF Rear Admiral Alden's chest
was nicely timed to correspond with the Frankln's
expected arrival uOfHc thc uuIdSou VI the
Indispensable sprees OF her crew before enlisting
for cruise in the wabash. The Franklin, however
failed 10 come to time, AMI a. the Admiral
was impatient to come into his new honors
II finally became necessary TO strip two
smaller vessels OF their crews end put
them out OF commission to get the wabash
and the Aumiral or 10 sea, This KIM OF thing, rs
well as the bad condition OF many Of the vessels,
prevents q speedy getting ready for the impending
troubles with Spain. leading member OF the
Cabinet loosely remarked, ''The Cubans send US
yellow lever, ami we may as well send them
Terror
senior Roberts Makes nn Inquiry.
II is understood that SehOr Roberrs the Spanish
Minister has addressed note to the state Depart
ment lnauiring INTO the meaning OF the naval
movements OF the last few days. The whole subject
will come up at the meeting OF the Cabinet to-
morrow, when the necessity for giving spain q
snubbing will be discussed.
Admiral Lee Not OF Yet.
Admiral Lee Is still here and has shown no haste
to 60 aboard OF his flagship.
The Presidents Message Sill n Profound
Secret.
Nearly nil the reports OF the heads OF depart
men,s and chiefs Of bureaus are completed. The
Presidents Message Is fnisned and viii be read at
the Cabinet meeting ton The reports will
pe sent TO the press, as heretofore in advance OF
their delivery to Congress, but not TO be published
until that time. The Presidents Message, being In
manuscript, win be telegraphed. The President
and heads OF departments give no intimatlon what
ever OF It's contents.