New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-26

for vessel to the extent that we possessed
seis. The United States in advance. Foreigners
copied our models and adopted our styles. Now,
however, matters changed. Other nations have
advanced, while we have stopped if not actually
refrigerated. Here in this feet, which is supposed
to comprise the bulk OF the United States gong
war vessels, there had been constant bitches and
displacements in consequence of the mal-adaptation
of the vessels to the service The whole feet had to
rednce its speed to that of the sowest vessel in it, in
order that the proper positions might be maintained
What effect in an engagement would fleet have
going at the rate of four knots an hour the present
moving rate of the fleet
In turning the vessels great trouble was expert
eneed. The small tugs which had been placed in
line could turn almost Immediately and in their
own length, while the larger vessels took greater
time. There was no uniformity in their respective
movements, and therefore the swfter vessels had to
be in some degree handicapped. TO Obviate this, he
would recommend the substitution of g. twin
screw" instead of the present propelling apparatus
This would enable the vessels to carry stern bat
terry, which they cannot do at present in conse-
quence Of the propeller well, which now requires
great and unnecessary waste of valuable space.
The effort to combine sails with steam had not
proved success. The vessels had been loaded down
with immense spars and rigging adapted to past
generation, but not to the age OF steam. In action
the rigging would become damaged, trail over the
end, and catching the propeller would Immediately
stop all motion and prevent the vessel from dong
its work. II bis views were asked on the subject lac
would recommend the immediate cutting away OF
all this unweldy and dangerous mass OF rigging.
The eyolutons had thoroughly demonstrated the
necessity Of an immediate and radical change in the
character of the vessels composing the navy. He
a. tha f,,fu u
of rams artillery vessels, and torpeti0-boats. The
rams should he to the navy What the cavalry is to
the army their duty should also be to make the
charge upon the vessels of the enemy, doing all the
damage they possibly could. They should be fol-
lowed up by the artillery boats which were to bring
heavy batteries to bear upon the foe, while the tor
pedo-boats were to run in and finish the work OF
destruction by blowing up the vessels. England
was making every improvement possible i'll naval
architecture and appliances for warfare.
She was obliged TO do this Inasmuch as she is the
great naval power and her exgencies require her
ALWAYS to be on a war footing. This extraordinary
expense might not be so desirable for the United
States Expensive vessels probably not needed
and costly iTon-cads'might not be very formidable
in short time. The Ordnance Department had
been testing and experimenting with proectiles with
great results. They had found that in consequence
of the Improvement in powder without any greater
stran upon the gun they could throw projectile
further and with greater force than had heretofore
been the case. The limit of their experiments had
not vet been reached, and costly nayies might not
be of very much account when these experiments
had concluded. For immediate purposes, however,
rams. artillery vessels and torpedo-boats should be
constructed. They should be particularly great III
speed. 1t was a shame that the United States had
L,.4, oh tnalo fhpga
They could be built at moderate cost and would be
effective in high degree.
With reference to the movements of the past two
weeks Commodore Parker said that they indicated
how essential it was that there should be perfect
tactical system of fleet evOlutons. Suppose in an
actnal engagement the feet should become snarled
as il had during some of the evolutlons, and there
was system Of tactics to rearrange the vessels IN
position. The result would be that the enemy
would come down and open such destructive lire
as would cut them to pieces before the vessels OF the
fleet could get out of each others fire. There could
be only one result TO such an engagement as that
lie hoped however, that the experience acquired In
the present drill and evolutOns would have bene-
fetal results, the officers who had been directing
the eyolutions would certainly take care to make
known in their report the deficiencies and require
ments that had been demonstrated.
The other officers of the feet denounce the vessels
that compose it, and, speaking of them as a whole
call them lot of old tubs" although with the char
actcristc naval pride there is always an exception
in favor of each officers respective vessel AL how
ever say that the fleet would be yaueless in time Of
actual service unless with some very weak nation
that is practically without navy. They claim that
it. instead of spending money to effect political ends
and enrich political favoIites. the Navy Department
could properly apply that which has been regularly
appropriated for naval purposes there would have
been enough TO build and maintain decent navy.
As il is however officers and men are sent to sea To
compete with vessels that could sink them while
they could infict very little damage their oppo
nentS.
The Brooklyn arrived here Saturday night and
took her place IN the Second Division, under Capt
Ransom. The Ossipee arrived at Key West without
the iron-cad Ajax. The Juniata is at Key West
with the Dictator Iron-clad and will leave the lat
ter and probably arrive here to-day 1t is the IN
tenton to exercise the fleet here until Feb 2S when
all the vessels return to Key West. Upon arriving
| there Admiral Case will go to Havana in the Wa
| bash. and remain there for few days. As soon ~
he returns TO Key West the landing exercises will
take place, aud be participated in by $500 men,
under the supervision of Commodore Parker. After
these exercises are concluded if it is not deemed in
malicious the fleet will be allowed to visit Havana
! in detachments and then disband, going to their
| several stations.
| THE GROESBECK BRIBERY LNVESTIGA1ION