National Republican., 1873-12-02

seizure and violence. - ~
In addition 70 these appropriate and lcgiti-
Atlantic station, they have been engaged, as l
occs,ion permitted, In important hydro !
graphic surveys both on our own and neigh |
boring coasts, securing Important data for
the benefit Of commerce, and have aided, TO
. limited extent. submarine telcgrsphic en-
The South Atlantic station.-The force on
this station Il under the command OF Rear
Admiral James II. Strong, who took passage
IN the steamer OF September % from New
York, and relieved Rear Admiral william X.
Taylor At Rio de Janelro, October "a, hoisting
bis flag on the Lancaster. Rear Admiral
Taylor ls returning home by mail steamer.
Nothing has transplrod 10 require an In
crease OF the force on this station, which Ia
now, and has been for several years past, at
the lowest possible figure.
The Monongahela. which sailed from Now
port on November IL, has taken the place Of
tho Tlconderoga, which has already started
for home The vessels on this station, few In /
number, have boon sufficient for all purposes,
o. the relations between our country and the |
countries with which tho command has In |
tercourse have boon pleasant and friendly; |
and ample security has been extended by the |
authorltles 10 American citizens engaged In |
commercial pursuits or sojournipg In that
quarter.
Tho usual cruising has been carried out, |
and the ports Of commerce on the coast Wis |
tied by the larger vessels on the station,
while the Wasp has ascended tho navigable
| streams Of Uruguay and Paraguay, faoili-
tating tho movements Of our diplomatic rep
reseniatives and encouraging American resi-
dents In the interior.
Merchantmen In distress, whether Of our
own or other nationality, have received
every assistance In the power Of our vessels
TO afford; and II has been their good fortune
to relieve several during the year. While not
engaged In other more Important business,
the time has bccn usefully Improved by con-
tributiug valuable photographic results by
surveys conducted under Instructions from
the Bureau Of Navigation.
The North Pacific statiou-Rcnr Admiral
| A. NJ. Ponnock commands the naval force on
the North Pacific station, with the earanac
as his flagship aud San Francisco as his
headquarters. His nag was transferred
vessel was put out Of commission.
The movements Of the vessels on this sta
tion have, during the year, extended to the
Sandwich Islands, our possessions on the
northwest coast, and tho coast OF Mexico and
Central America.
received late In December, aud tho changes
which would naturally follow so important
an event, suggested the propricty OF the
admiral visiting Honolulu, and he proceeded
70 that port at once, arriving January 15.
In the meantimea new king had been chosen,
a now ministry selected and the Govern
ment In tho course Of harmonious action.
The Hawaiian flag was promptly. salutcd,
aud q gratifying. exchange Of visits and
courtcsles Immediately followed. Later,
his, Majesty visited the California
and upon the invitation Of the. admiral
some Of the Islands Of bis dominion by pas.
sage In the Benlcia, which was temporarily
made the flagship Of tho station. Rear
Admiral Pennock returned 10 San Francisco
In May, and July proceeded on northern
cruise. Victoria, Esquimault sltka, Port
Townsend, Olympia, Seattle and Stoilacooni
, were visited, as well rs some other places Of
, less Importance.
Interviews were held with the Indians Of
, Alaska, many Of tho chiefs Of which visited
/ the ship, and the occasion was availcd Of "a
. impress them with the importance Of main.
TO recognize differences which had long ex.
lstcd between the principal tribes, which they
were anxious TO settle. The fag.ship re.
turned TO San Francisco September 90, and
on the 7th Of October following proceeded tc
the Sandwich Islands.
Other vessels Of this command have shown
the flag at ports In Costa Rlca, Nicaragua
San Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico
and Columbia, at all Of which our commsrcla
relations were undlsturbcd, and the feeling o.
the officials and citizens represented to be o.
the most friendly character.
Tho South Pacific Station-Rcar Admira
John j. Almy succeeded Rear Admiral Chas
Steedman In the command Of the naval fore,
on tho South Pacific station, at Panama
September %, hoisting his flag on the Pen
; sacola.
This station includes the islands ant
: waters Of the Pacific south Of the equator, a
far west as the one Kindred and fiftietl
| rnarittan md a md ..
. Australia; but In consequence Of the dis
turbed condition Of tho State Of Panama
: where there have been serious outbreaks
4 and the prosecution Of. important hydro
graphic surveys, the visiting Of these dlstan
quarters has been omitted during the year.
Within the limits Of this station only tw,
occasions have arisen where IL has becl
; necessary TO- land force from our vessels 70
!, the protection Of American citizens an,
property, and on each Of those occasions tn
landings were made on the same territory, q
tho request or with tho permission Of th
part Of their inability TO promise the securit,
and protection due from them.
, Rear Admiral Stoedman, on arriving a
!. Panama, May z, found hostilltics In progres
between the opposing parties contending 70
possession OF the government Of the State Q
: States consul and number OF innuentis
American and other foreign citizens, sent O
, shore force Of two hundred sailors an
marines, with four pieces Of artillery, While
were equally divided between the cit
, and tho railroad station. This force wa
landed from tho Tuscarora, which had pre-
pared fol. responding TO the signal for pro
lection the evening before the arrival Q
Rear Admiral Steedman, and from the flag
ship Pensacola. II was Withdrawn from III
city on the 1lth, and from the depot on th
I'D May, all differences having bceu settled
1l.A l.. H. = a
"a under tho order Of Rear Admiral Almy, tn
revolutionary movements having been re
, /, newed. A force Of ono hundred and thirt
= men, well armed and equipped, with how
itzers, was stationed et tho depot, and II wa
afterwards increased to one hundred an
ninety mon, and dotachments posted to pro
tect the American consulate, and other Amer
lean houses and American property. Tn
| authorities on this occasion gave notice o
their inability to give the protection guaran
tced by treaty. The landing parties wer
from the Pensacola and Benlcla, the latte
vessel belonging TO the North Pacific station
Hostilitles ceased October 8, and the fore
thirty men, which was left q fow days longe
TO guard the depot and the railroad shoul,
tho troubles revive.
The landing Of these detachments durln,
the two emergencies, while quietlng tho fear
Of foreign residents, secured the safe transi
>
freight and specie Of four lines Of steamers
two Of which were not Of our nationality
depending on this road for prompt trans
portation.
The officers aud men who composed III,
landing parties received the commentator
! of their respective commauders-in-ch chief fo
the creditablc and admirable manner IN whlcl
, they discharged theli duty. The commercial
ports on the west coast OF South Americ,
have been visited by the vessels Of the Soutl
! Pacific station, and some OF them by vessel
en- route TO the North Pacific station. With th,
exceptions aforementioned their proceeding
! have not been different from those common I,
our cruisers frequentlng the waters Of friendly
nations; and the exchange OF courtesies be-
tween our officers and the authorities and
other residents appears to have boon mutually
gratifying.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In addition to tho vessels which have con
stituted the regular force Of the several sta
tions, others have been usefully employed OF
special or separate service.
The Portsmouth has becn lcngaged In sur
yeying reported dangers and Islands In the
Pacific, on the highways Of commerce, the
existence or position Of which has not been
clearly established or definitely fixed. The
Narragansett has been examining the route
l N urauah hv nir u,archnnt afaa mara atnnar ths