The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-22
WARLkE PREPARATIONS.
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The Navy Department and the
Southern Coast Defences.
THE GOSPORT NAVY YARD.
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Converting the Yantic and
Other Vessels.
Fortress Monroe-Armament.
&c.. To Be Improved.
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REC0NSTRUCTING THE RIP RAPS.
Spanish War Fever Among the Officials, Hav.
ing It's Inspiration in Washington.
RECONSTRUCTING THE RIP RAPS.
WHAT HAS YET TO BE DONE

WHAT HAS YET TO BE DONE.
PORTSMOUTH, Va, Jan. 10, 1872
Quite an unusual activity prevails at the navy
yard at this place al present; indeed, there
more life about the establishment just now than at
any time since the war. but whether 1t is due to
any anticipated con nct upon the 'hgh seasn or is
the result OF prudential economical policy OF the
administration to keep the navy In proper trIm 1s
altogether matter OF conjecture every body here.
Certain Of the highest officials In naval circles here
assure your correspondent, candidly ana freely,
that II there Ia "anytbing in the wind" OF warlike
nature 1t Is kept most scrupulously secret at the
Navy Department Hundreds of workmen have
been taken In the yard recently, and the most
encouraging hopes are INDUCED IN for busy
season here for the next several months. A
few days since certain OF the principal officials
Of the yard were summoned to Washington post
haste, ana while there every inquiry was made ct
the department concerning the general condition OF
the yard and the immediate necessity of having
the large dry docks here vacated and made ready
for any emergency that might arise The SUPPOSE
ton Is that the exigency alluded to respecting the
dry docks meant the fitting of
THE 1RoN-CLADs M0NTAUK AND MAHorA0
Tor service In the waters Of the West Indies At all
"un"'s the ntr- -"A nnwerful steamtug Standish
belonging to the yard was despatched to washing
ton on Thursday, to tow the said iron clads down
Chesapeake Bay, and their arrival here is now I
hourly expected. Aseres Of immense oaken checks
technically called cradles) have been erected in the
pit OF the dry dock which to rest the ors.
This precautionary arrangement is rendered neces.
sary on account OF their enormous top weight. Be-
sides the monitors now on their way two others from
League Island are expected here at an
early day to be repaired and fitted out
for efficient service IN Cuban waters. Other vessels
are also very soon expected on this station. The
second class sixteen-gun ship worcester flagship Of
Admiral 8. =. Lee
OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON,
WIN reach here from Boston in few days to receive
her coal and store supplies and await orders. The
frgate Guerrero Of the European squadron, is now
en- route to Norfolk Direct and having been much
damaged by . disaster IN the Mediterranean she
Will be laid up at the yard for very extensive re-
pairs, In the opinion OF the Board OF Survey Is
worth It. The frigate Congress. of the same class
az the Worcester, has been ordered here from the
West Indies to be inspected and overhauled and to
await orders The Congress was last reported In
Port an Prince, whittier she went to convoy the
steamer Hornet TO the United states. she Is ex.
pected In the Roads In day or two. 1t Is unques-
tionably that the vessels are
ordered here, and 1t Is asserted as very probable
that the second class frigatc Powhatan sdewhcel),
which has been laid up at the Philadelphia yard for
the last two years. will be sent here to have her
bottom Overhauled and to complete repairs which
were projected good while ago.
THE RECONSTRUCTED YANTIC.
Last week the greatest imaginable hurry, In con.
sequence OF perempt0ry orders from Washington,
was manifested in urging forward work on the
fourth.rate ship Yantic which has been In process
OF reconstruction in the dry dock last six or
no YAM In
name. Ayear ago, probably, the Yantic was con.
demned as being no longer serviceabe. Under the
head OF repairs she was broken UP and her keel
only reserved, and on this diminutive remnant Q
stately ship has been erected and Is now about half
finished. The new Yanttc ID q superbly modelled
ship, and In construction and rig will be so exactly
like the Saco that imagine 1t will be matter Of
no little difficulty to distinguish them apart. When
orders were received to hurry up work on the Yam
tic the services Of every available workman In the
city were obtained, and at the present time the
scene Of hustle and activity around the ship
is picture Of incessant and laborious
industry seldom II ever before witnessed in navy
yard About i've hundred wOrkmen are variously
employed around the vessel, and when her bottom
Is coppered she will be removed to one Of
the yard wharves and the work Of reconstruction
completed afoat / noticed Constructor EasbY In
the docks In person experimenting operations on
the Yantic.
oosPoRT NAVY YARD,
moro famarly known as Norfolk Navy Yard, al
though 1t is the other side OF the mile dis.
tant has been steadily increasing In strength and
capacity since the war, and may now be ranked
among the largest naval establishments OF the coun.
try Within the last year or two some Of the most
powerful machinery manufactured IN this or any
other country has been brought here and put up,
ready to be used wncn necessary on the most
colossal WORKS. The spacious shops are all In
perfect trim, and every facility known 10 the science
OF mechanics at hanc 10 accelerate the construc.
ton repair OF vessels IT would be safe 10 assert
IN TIE EVENT OF WAR
ten thousand men could be employed here and
worked TO advantage. In point OF territory the
yard Is the largest In The world, except Greenwich
England and BY the recommendations to Congress,
reported by q board OF inspection sent here by the
Navy Department, short Time since, the limits OF
capacity increased py the construction OF rolling
mills and additional dry docks. Opposite GOsport
aSo mile distant on the north side of the Eza.
beth River Is Fort Norfolk, where are Iocatcd the
spacious powder magazines OF the station. Fort
Norfolk Is beautiful place and well cared for by
the government.
VESSELS AT THE YARD
The following vessels are now lying at the yard:-
The New Hampshire, ponderous, Old-fasnioned
ship OF the itne Ii very serviceabe the receiving
used exclusively as the marine barracks, on board
OF which there are some seventy five men quar-
erdnas TSe Sa's last
service Is scMnoosnlp iad up In ordinary the
IN ordinary. The Saratoga, lately apprentice ship,
laid up IN ordinary The fourth rate steamer Galcna
Of Fort Darling fame Is at present anchored In the
building OF this vessel but out OF six cargoes OF live
oak, shipped from Mosquito Inlet, Fla, to be used
IN rec0nstructlng her, only two have ever reached
this yard. The skeleton or the Qunnebaug Is on
the ways but fragment OF her timber was taken 10
Philadelphia several months SINCE anu learn she
is now being rebuilt there. There are several large
tugs laid up here, which, from their neat and tidy
appearance seem to be well preserved.
The following Is complete list OF the oiflcers on
duty here:-
C07nnlandant-Re Admiral Charles II. Davis
ErecutiUe O1Icer captain George II. Cooper.
Inspector or OrdnGnce-Captain ]. Il. Janett.
NnDiO0fiOn OMCer-C Commander Francis II. Baker.