The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-21
BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.

4
Not Wanted on the Dry Does-Fems,-
bility or Naval Drill i'm the Loxyer
Bay-Views OF Officers Touching LecIs.
1nti0n Upon "EetireG Pay I'm the
Navy AS Compared with the ARMY,
The steam sloop-o-war Frollc lett the Navy Yard
for Key West with draft or sailors rom the YER
mont, yesterday. The Roanoke, Captain Cooper
flagship OF Port Admiral Rowan Will go down to
the Bay tomorrow. The monitor Dictator CAP
tam w. f. Spicer, is taking in coal, and VIII not
leave the yard before Friday. She VIII proceed to
Key West under convoy OF the Juniata. Work will
be discontinued on the Minnesota and Florida.
The new slooJ-o WAR ana the Swatara will,
however, be carried forward 20 completion. Sew
eral hundred men Will be discharged from the Con
strnction Department this week, and q grave
yard aspectn will shortly be given this naval
depot attendant upon the fnifiiment oi the spirit
and letter of the retrenchment policy OF the gov
eminent.
A representative OF the HERALD had an inter
view with prominent naval officer ~ this station
yesterday in the course OF which the latter said -
~ see that the Spanish lron.clad Arap!les has met
with further misfortune, having sprung aleak.
The officers of the ship, it is set forth, do not want
TO return TO the Navy Yard for repairs. We are
glad OF IT, assure you. as we do not banker after
them ut all. These Spaniarus nave taken up our
Of the government. While the Arapiles was on the
dock the officers never stopped growing. They
were suspicious oil every movement we made, and
dissatisfied with everything. Oh! they waited to
be on and away. That was all they sought. take
notice that when they did leave the dock they APP
peared to be in 10 hurry to sail, somehow other.
There is a great deal OF buncOmbe about the
Spaniards, at all events. l hope they will be able
to perfect whatever repairs may be needed on
their ship without bothering us here any more"
THE NAVAL DRILL.
The writer conVersed with an officer Of the navy
concerning the possibility or having the neet OF
tNentynne vessels of war, big ana little, ma
nouvrc in the lower bay of New York, rs suggested
by the HERALD a few days ago. Upon this subject the
shoulder-strapped ana ancient marner'' said:-
"There Is not room in our lower bay TO handle
fleet of the proportions OF the American squadron
at Key west There is not water enough on the
naf lOr the larger 1figateS 10 cross dOub lie
file. They would have to form in line OF battle,
single rank ana glide over the bar and back in
order, but they could not manUuvrc in the bay
They would have 10 go outside for sea room.n
what li. would be the opportunities Tor witnessing
''WDy, they would be ample. For instance, an
excellent view of the dril could be obtained from
would be edited and enlightened upon the subject
OF our navy from that point. ! would suggest,
however, that the legislators who SIT in Congress
and Assembly and reduce the naval apprOpria-
tons should be furnished accommodations Tor
viewing the drill on board some excursion steamer
winch could come IN close proximity 10 the Heet."
''When you speak OF the legislators in Congress
you refer, ! presume specially to The Western
lures upon the navy NC all?'
.'Yes, mean the western statesmen. If those
fellows nave their way the day not far distant
when there will be nothing left The country but the
traditions OF the navy We viii have no shps.
The navy VIII have devilish hard time of 1t TO get
along with that miserable Sl6,OOO.0Ql approprla-
ton. even upon its present basis Of ecOnomy.'
"At all events the officers VIII have no cause to
regret the Spanisf-Amerlcan war cloud which mas
given SO many OF them sea pay'i
II don't know about that, Mr. Reporter. The
appropriations nave heen 50 greatly reduced tuat
1t Is difficult TO see where the money Is 10 come
from TO pay the 0itlcers.'
don't you suppose that the unprecedentedy
large number OF war vessels now in commission
will make work for many Will they not require
repairs ana overhaulng repeatedly for mouths to
come ?n
NO: for this reason:-There is no money to ex-
pend upon the SHIPS. When they return they will
be placed out OF commission and towed at once to
the rotten rows IN The various navy yards
where the worms and barnacles viii claim them as
their own Ii may ranspirc, in the fitness oil
time that the parsmonious members OF Congress
who nail from the great Northwestern Empire and
who are now sending this branch OF the service so
perdlflOn, ShaU nave accumulated fortunes. Then
they may seek recreation abroad, get INTO snarl.
and eau FOR tne protection Of the navy. Ihey viii
they VIII ask. The answer can be made You
know how ie is YOURSELF When you were III Con-
you voted no. suppose the real necessity
Tor navy Will never be realized until we are
wide-aWake nation than ourselves
REDUCTION Or RETIRED NAVY OFFICERS PAY
"What do YOU think of the proposition to reduce
the pay OF retired naval officers, now before the
Senate ?n
.'fhcre Is but opinion in the navy upon that
subject Mr.. Reporter, and that that it IL great
piece OF injustice, and which must be Apparent
TO All falr-milded men. Just think OF IL Tor mo-
menr. This man, Senator Gordon, of Georgia, pro-
poses to reduce the pay OF retired navy officers TO
One-half their full pay, instead Of two-tnlrds or
seventy live per cent, which they now receive.
ia n n hnf
whose rate of pay in each and every grade is pro-
pOrtlOnatey higher, arc not mOiested nv LEGISLATION
annuln. with allowances. The latter amount to
about $4,000 all told lie still to receive two
thirds OF that sum- A rear admiral's pay is only
$4,000. Retired pay Is two-thirds OF that SUM-
There are no allowances in the navy. IL Is very
natural that the Southern representatives should
oppose the navy interests. They never did take
kindly to the gunboats."
"But what do you attribute the superior influ-
ence OF the army TO, Captain, in the halls oil
legislation ~
ITO this while the navy mas not o. single rem
resentatlve IN either the House of Representatives
or tue Senate we find from the army such men as
Major Generals Logan, Ames SlOcum and a host OF
others who are constantly on the lookout Tor all
bills affecting the army. hope a sense OF Justice
VIII proven: Congress from reducing the pay OF
tired navy officers"
Il. Ransom rs was enormously reported, has reen
ordered 70 relieve Captain " alters III command of
the sloop-Of-war Ossipce at Noriolk, Va.
THE ARAPILEs.
The Spanish iron-c!ad Arapiles is Still lying Off
pier North River and viii probably sail In Il day
or two. Her officers are rather retIcent as to her
movements, but volunteered information that the
leak mad been fully repaired and they were ready
Tor sea.
THE RAIDS IN ERIE