, 1876-03-25
The American Navy.

annually asks Congress for $50, 600, 900 OF
more for the support of navy. This sun
is lees BY one-half of the sum annually sppro
priated by the English parliament for tht
same purpose; but it is sufficient, if properly
expended, TO maintain a navy which would
compare with any Hation, England and
Fraoe excepted, and at least to furnish one o,
two vessels equal to the best of those of which
the English and French nsvies have a score
sire to know is, if this money has been prop
erly expended. They desire to know if they
have a navy, or if they have net. There is
no party purpose in the question. There is
no general desire, at least among the indie
pendent press, to make ont a case against
the administration at the expense Of the
navy. Every American would feel the hu-
the fsct-if it be fact-that we have no
navy worthy of the nsme-no navy that
compares in any respect with those Of leading
European nations.
The official report of the Secretary of the
Navy shows by figures that our navy is in q
fair condition. II Is contened, however, that
this report is not reliable 1t is asserted that
it was cooked up to account for moneys tx
pended, and that it is in no sense a correct
statement Of the present condition of the
navy. Against this report the New York
HsrGld sets another, which it claims Is an ac-
| curate description of each vessel in the navy
| The vessels are divided in this report into
| four classes, besides % tugs and two torpedo
| vessels. The whole number Of vessels of all
/ kinds is 146. The number Of officers is 2337;
number of enlisted seamen, $500, and 1900
marines, making one officer TO less than FIVE
enlisted seamen. There are s navy yards,
q other naval stations, and 5000 permanent
navy yard employees, In the frst-class, 3
vessels are enumerated-Colorado and Wa
bash, 4G gun-wooden screw frigates, with
batteries of smooth-bo-e guns; Franklin,
wooden, 80 guns, smooth-bOre; Minnesota,
| &c guns, commissioned as training ship for
boys, and the Niagara, u guns, said to be
rOtting in ordinary al Boston The Colorado
and Wabash are used as receiving ships, and
large sums would be necessary to fit them
for sea,
The best second rates includes % vessels
4 column is devoted 10 a full description Of
each vessel, and in many instances giving
original cost and sums spent in repairs. The
Tennessee is mentioned as one of the most
effective, having a speed under steam of ten
and half knots an hour. Her cost was over
two millions of dollars. The Pensacola, re-
Gently repaired at Mare Island, 81 200, eco,
is another of the best second-class. The Con-
ueoticut, Iowa, Lancaster, Brooklyn, with
the two mentioned, carry 20 10 % guns the
remaining twenty-three carry from 10 TO IS
guns. The Newton, not yet finished, carry
ing only IL guns, is described as giving
promise Of being the best cruiser in the navy
She is armed with eight inch rife guns, and
Is expected TO obtain speed Of thirteen knots
an hour.
The third rates " include thirty vessels
nearly all of eight and six guns, six being of
three, one of five, and three of four guns
Not more than one fourth Of the number are
represented as in good repair
The " fourth rates" are only six in num-
Der. The Herald dispOses of them by saying
that none of them are good Cor anything.
There are also several wooden sailing vessels
not included in the classification, which bear
historical names, but otherwise are not Of
much service. Steam and iron have rendered
them useless. They are employed mostly as
rrceiving ships, training ships. depot ships.
etc, etc. The irOu-clad feet is not included
! in the Classification. Nome of them are classed
as first rates, and but six as second rate-.
Fourteen are ranked as fourth rate monitors.
These are all iron screw monitors, with SIN
gle turrets, and each armed with two fifteen
/ iiiCh S''oo'"-"O'e SHno' lucy arc "oV'HA
chiefly for barbor defense. The HtTala in-
fers from the indentions made by smooth
bore guns during the late war. that British
sloOps of war which carry seven inch rifles
can stand off at long range and hammer
away at them at their pleasure. The greatest
defect, in the Htrc!a'S view, is the lack of
speed None of our vessels, according to
this report. equal the best Engli-h vessels IN
speed, and bat few spproaeh them com
ParatiTely.