New-York tribune., 1876-08-21
NAVY RETRENCHMENT
CHANGES In THE FLEET.


CALLING IN THE EXPENSIVE SHIPS AND SENDING
OUT SMALLER oNEs-To DISCHARGE ioVo MIN
-FURLoUGHs TO OFFICERS.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATcH.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2O.-The Naval ApprO-
priation BILL which was passed at the last session OF
Congress- provides for reduction OF 1000 men In the
enlisted TO OF the navy-the number now being hNeu
at 1900 instead OF $500 heretofore. In order 10
carry out this reduction 1t Will be necessary To put some
Of the larger vessels out of commission and supply Their
places with smaller 1t Is the desire OF the secre
torv IN keen M the present number OF vessels foreign
stations and not TO eopardze American interests abroad
for the OF naval vessels TO protect Them The hist
change in pursuance Of this policy III regard 10 tue
flagship OF the European staon-the Franklin-"hlch
has been ordered home. Her place VIII be supplied py
the Trenton one of the new class Of slOOPs being
prepared for sea at NewYork. The Franklin is regis
tered at 8 73 and carries 80 guns; the Trenton
il registered at $500 tons, and carries IL guns.
Her complement of men will necessarily be much
smaller than OF the Franklin. The eight new sloOps
recently built viz, Trenton, Adams, Enterprise Essex
Alliance Alert Huron and Ranger, are either III c0lnnl
sion will he ready for to take the places OF
larger vessels abroad. These vessels all supplied
with compound engines aud therefore can be kepFlh
service with much smaller quantity of coal than vessels
of the old class Those in commission the Alert re-
Gently ordered TO the Asatic Station, and the huron,
attached TO the North Atlantic Station The Adams IL at
Philadelphia the Essex and Enterprise at Boston, the
Alliance at Norfolk Ranger at Wilmington the Trcn-
ton at NewYorland all of them will soon be ready for
service In addition those above named the old vessels
Swatara Vandalia, Marion and Quinnebaug have been
rebuilt and lifted with compound engines, and being
little larger than the ones, are regarded a. equally
effective cruising glnboats with the last named vessels.
The SwataTa is attached 10 the North Atlantic eet ana
the Marion is in the Mediterranean. The VandaIa is
fitting out at NewYork for the station, and the
1cft
pia. The Npsc, another vessel OF this class, Is being
rebuilt at Washington but it will be months before
she is ready for SEA.
In enforcing the recent order OF the Secretary OF the
Navy furoughing officers large number OF naval
officers who have been shore duty will be furloughed
and their places supplied by Others returning from sea
service 1t has been usual to give an officer shore duty
after cruise which practice will be adhered to far
is pos ibe and the Secretary will iurlOugh those who
have been shore duty 1t will not he practicaDe
under the law to send them to sea Ill turn, as has
been the custom. There about 19i line oihccrs
the active list OF the navy OF the following ranks:
Twelve rearadmrals, % comodores, 80 captains, 80
consanders, 271 heutenans, 100 masters, 81 eissIs
and Ca midshpmcn. The stat corps numbers
$40 officers, ranked follows: Fifteen medical
rectors 10 medical inspectors 90 surgeons, 45 as
sisant surgeons, l3 pay directors l3 pay IN
spcctOrs, 80 paymasers, 30 passed assistant nay
masters 20 assistant paymasters, 70 chief en-
gneers. Ils passed assistant engineers, "a as
sistant engineers, and l6 cadet engineers. In ad-
dtion tine above u ehapains, I2 professors OF
mathematics II naval constructors, ana assistant n-
val constructors. The warrant officers are % boat
SWANS, G2 gunners, % carpenters a. saiiakeIs ana
80 mates. The retired list of the navy numbers 272 Off
GERS, ranking from Tearadmra down TO sailnaher; put
the retired officers not affected by the recent order
the provides that they shall receive 20 per cent
of the pay the grade OF rank which they held at
the time of their retirement. Hence retired lieutenant
receives 81 $50 perannum while arrradmirl on thc ac-
tive list furionccd under tie reccn order yC
only $1,000 per annun