The New York herald., 1876-02-29
Our Naval Weakness.

cial goosequill and unstamped with the de-
partmental seal how differently a report on
the condition and efficiency of the vessels
composing the United States Navy reads
from that presented to the country by the
jolly gentlemen who control our forces
afoat A great many of us are possessed OF
an abiding faith in the ability of Uncle Sam
to hold the seas against the best navies OF
the world. But we fear that this confidence
is wholly based on the rose-colored reports
that annually issue from the government
printing office at Washington, and which
are carefully prepared for home and foreign
reading. That European governments are
not deceived is easily seen by perusal OF
the documents which reach us from time to
time as the fruits of a scientific analysis of
our naval strength by eminent foreign ofh-
GERS. Indeed, were it not for these expo
sures of our weakness, even by those inter-
ested in its increase, we would remain in
utter ignorance of the humiliating fact that
the United States is regarded by European
nations as only fourth fifth rate naval
Power.
On another page we print carefully pre-
pared report of the actual condition of our
navy, which will be read with great interest.
1t will, without doubt rudely dispel the
pleasant sense of superiority and security
which we have hitherto been enjoying,
especially when the clear and disinterested
statements of the writer are compared with
the muddled and mystifying mass of so
called information furnished by the Navy
Department reports. This article clearly
shows that the application OF the
single test of speed to the measure
ment of the relative efficiency of Ameri-
can and foreign war ships develops the
startling result that we do not possess one
ship which can compete in speed with those
of the English and French nayies that our
vessels cannot even run away from the en-
emy. The reputation for speed gained by the
famous Yankee clipper ships is lost in the
days of steam navigation, and the country
men of Fulton have scarcely a ship in their
navy fast enough to capture Chinese junk.
This reflection becomes q very painful one
when we remember that the exigencies of
modern naval warfare demand the highest
development of steaming power in order to
achieve success. The question of a coal sup
ply as much as that of armament will decide
the superiority of fleets engaged in American
waters. Unless our war ships can overtake
and capture the coal supply fleets of the en-
emy we are wholly at the mercy of European
navies The superior speed and armament
of the foreign ships would quickly force
ours into harbor, where they could only be
threatened ports, and our commerce would
be swept from the ocean or forced to take
protection under some neutral flag
1t must be evident to any one possessing
the least knowledge on the subject that the
armor which protects our monitors and iron
clads, and which is almost entirely con-
structed of laminated plates insecurely
bolted together, cannot resist the enormous
penetrating force of the projectiles thrown
from improved rihed guns. The power of
resistance to penetration of the laminated
armor is, under the most favorable circum-
stances far below that of the homogeneous
armor plates which have been adopted for
the protection of foreign war ships. Con-
sidering, then, the enemy's ability to regulate
his distance to suit the superiority of the
range of his guns over ours, the American
iron-clad or monitor becomes q mere tar
get, with no other alternative but to
sink or surrender. These facts and
the many others show how utterly un-
prepared we are to engage in naval war
fare with any prospect of success. Until
sweeping reform is inaugurated in the
whole system of our naval administration,
by which our navy can be rendered really
efficient for war purposes, we had better re-
frain from interfering in the affairs of our
neighbors. Let Congress at once appoint a
commission of inquiry into the condition of
the navy, and particularly into the whole
sale corruptions of the repair system. 1t is
far better that we should know by this means
our real weakness, disgraceful though it may
prove, than to discover it at the expense of
defeat and disaster by relying on strength
which we do not possess
THE FRENCH MINISTERIAL CRISIS. s.-Presi-
dent acMahon has not completed the work
of the reorganization of the French Cabinet
NJ. Casimer-Perier refused the portfolio of
Minister of the Interior. He has found it
necessary to explain the reasons for his
action to his Assembly friends of the Left
Centre. 1t appears as if there exists large
amount of personal feeling and political jeal-
ousy among the moro prominent statesmen
of the Republic, and that this operates to
some extent to prevent their cordial co-opcra-
tion for the work of ministerial service. The
shade of NJ. Bullets policy continues to
darlen the prospects of the Paris Executive.
MncAIahon has difficult task before him,
and, like prudent general, he is about to
/ take time to consider the situation: The
! Cabinet changes necessary for the recon-