Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-11-27

In the report of Admiral Porter,
made to the Navy Department two
years ago, on the general condition of
our navy, he said that in two years the
navy would actually be less than il was
at that time by ten efficient vessels, car
rying one hundred and twenty eight
guns, and there was not one ship build
| ing to supply their places. Under the
stand-still system, we must sooner or
later lose our naval prestige. As far as
it goes, our little navy does it's work
bravely, but it looks very inefficient
compared with the average nayies of
Europe. AS regards the personnel Of
the navy, feel at liberty to assert that
no service possesses more intelligent
set of officers than our own.
ADMIRAL PORTER ON THE SPANISH NAVY
[Yrom the Washington Republican, November III
Admiral Porter, OF the United States
Navy, arrived in this city Yesterday
morning. He has been busy all day
drawing up for use, when called upon a
statement showing the condition of the
Spanish Navy He says at present the
| Spanish Navy has rs vessels. CARRYING
$40 guns: "a. carrying so guns, and
Y, carrying 582 guns. There are also
10 transports capable of carrying guns,
and 81 gunboats with one, heavy gun
each. Fifty three Of these vessels are
stationed on the coast of Cuba, carry
ing 32o guns, with nine thousand men
all told The Admiral thinks that with
the present condition OF our navy we
would not be able TO successfully com
pete with that Of Spanish He said the
question now at issue between the
United States and Spain was that re-
speeding the insult to our flag The
Nirginills was sailing under regular pa
pers. She had got into waters other
than those of the United States and
was captured. 1t was the duty of the
Spanish Government To have held her
for trial. II she had violated any law,
this Government was the proper one to
punish her for it. He was not con
servant with the views of the Admins
tration on the question, as no member
OF it had conversed with him since his
arrival. He remarked, in reference to
the excited feeling among the people.
that 1t was not easy for our Govern
ment to readily respond to their views.
The Government had responsibilities
which the people had not We were
popular power; that if the people
dill not keep their faith with ma
tons our Government must. He
thought resolutions declaring war with
spain would be offered early next SOS
sion.
Postmaster General Creswell enter
tanned very decided opinions on this
question, he said He did not wish to
be put in a position as averse to any
action his colleague in the Cabinet
(Mr. Fish, had. decided proper to take
He was inclined, however, to endorse
tone Of the London press, that TIE
action of Spain in allowing so inhuman
an outrage as was committed by the
execution of the Cuban patriots Sc.
tied the fate of Cuba. He alluded to
the popular clamor in favor of the
United States recognizing belligerent
rights for Cuba, and said that the
agitators of this. proposition did not
clearly understand their position. The
recognition of bellieerent rights, he
claimed, would give Spain the right to
search and make "s,seizures upon the
high seas, the constitutionality of
which involves a: principle for which
we are now contending. He had no
doubt the CASTELAR,, Government would
make apologies for the outrage com
mitted This alone would not suffice.
Spain must make reclamation for the
injury done to the utmost limit in her
power. MIR. Creswell said, in con
cluslon, tnat our Government was pre-
pairing and taking every step possible
to prevent further outrages, and toward
enforcing the policy OF the Govern
lnent t,r the wrongs already DONE
he people being the sovereign power
war against Spain could only be de
clared through Congress.