Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-13

The recent troubles with Spain, Russia
and Great Britain have forced our Govern
ment TO examine into the condition of our
navy, on which we would have to depend
almost exclusively in a war with any one OF
those powers. The result of the investiga
ton Is anything but reassuring, in view Of
a possible war with the "ruler of the
waves According to an official report,
published in February, 1870, the British
navy consisted at that time Of four hundred
and eight vessels of all descriptions, Of
which three hundred and seventy-fve were
steamers, fifty-two ironclads-twenty-s seven
of them wholly of iron, fifteen of them
wood, plated with iron, nine armored yes
sells under construction, and one armored
sailing vessel of the floating battery class,
which has since been completed. There
were forty-seven ships Of the line, all but
two screw-steamers, and two of these build
ing; twenty-nine screW-frigates, and three
paddle-frigates; twenty-four corvettes, thir-
ty-four sloops, both classes screw-steamers,
1ifty-gun vessels ffty-eight gunbeats,
all screw or double-screw, and the
remainder iron mortar-shps, store
ships, tenders, tugs, transports, etc.
Since then, the navy has been increased by
several of the most formidable war vessels
afoat. The year 1871 was marked by IN
precedented activity in the ship building
trade of the kingdom, and the present year
shows no indications Of a falling off in the
business. In her colonies, especially those
Of North America, an immense trade is
carried on in ship building. The Dominion
of Canada in the year ending July, 1870,
urned out 800 vessels, and
: lis does not include trade returns
IRON British Columbia and Vancouver's Is
land which were not at the time Canadian
provinces. In this connection it must not
be forgotten that Great Britain owns four
11fths of the powerful passenger steamers
plying between British and American ports,
and which could readily be converted into
war vessels if necessary.
show? Admiral Porter, who is the best
authority on the subject, reports to the Sec
Rotary of the Navy: Together We have
sum-total of one hundred and eighty-oue
naval vessels, of which number only forty
nine are at present available as ships of
war. Many eff the vessels in the register
should be entered as 'hulks,' for at present
they tend to deceive our own people"
Our monitors, Of which so much was ex-
pected, are almost without an exception,
utterly unseaworthy. The Washington cor
respondent Of the New York Journal OF
Commerce remarks that of the ffty-one
monitors in our navy, forty are so badly
put together that ''if the turrets were ad-
.iusted the shifting of quid in the guuuer's
cheek would capsize them" With such
navy to depend on, there is little to be hoped
for from war with Britain, especially if as
has been reported, she is about to give
Canada her independence. Through the
ruinous protective policy which the Radi-
Gals have inflicted on the country, our COM
mercial marine is little better than our navy.
Our dockyards are closed, and shipbuilding
has become as obsolete a trade as the man
ufacturing of medieval armor. Happily
there is no prospect Of war at present, but
If trouble should arise between this country
and Britain, the criminal incapacity Of
Grants administration leaves our commerce
at the mercy of the enemy.