The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-03
FACTS ABOUT OUR NAVY.
6UAT DE "a Gro SECRETARY THOMPSON
SAYS IN ms dNNU.iL REPORT.
rxree vessels on the stocks not worth Cers-
v,etinx, and Fineen so far pecayed ss TO
he vnaitcd for Repnirs Little TO show for
se~er Robeson'. Enormous Expenditures.

.,etIpx, aud Ftneen fnr necnyed as TO
be vnattcd for Repair TO show for
seeo- Robescn's Enormous Expenditures.
WAsgINGroN, Dec. 2.-The Secretary Of
me- Navy in his annual report. gives the num-
nor Of vessels In tho navy as follows Sixty
,oyen steam and twcnty-threo sailing vessels.
txenty three ronclads. two torpedo. one fcrry.
and twenty six tugboats. There are twelve
lronclads at convenient places. in fresh water.
IN readiness for active employment when
oeeded. In tho list OF vessels in active service.
In ordinary. undergoing repairs. &C.. is mem
Toned tho Colossus. now on the stocks at New
York. 40 dccnycd-having been built Of white
oak tinberas not to he worth completing. Tho
Massachusetts is in the same condition. ut Kit
Lry and the Oregon. also, Mt Boston. The
grcck Of the Huron ia alluded to. and tho Soc
retary will make tho report OF the board 10 In
vcst..aio the cause OF her unfortunate loss tho
subject OF special mcssngo to Congress when
he result is as .crtaincd Tho Connecticut.
Iowa, and PENNSYLVANIA. Mt Boston; the Java
and BusIuchnnnr. nt New York; tho Congress.
Sabine. and Kansas. at Kticry: the Worcester
and Shawnui. ni Norfolk the Saco. Nyack. and
Cyanc. at Mare Island the Frolic. at Washing
ton. and the New Orleans. Gt Snrhctts Narhor.
are also said to be so much dccaycl ms 10 be un-
Gttod for repairs or completion. The Rio Bravo
WIS sent up the Rio Grandc river moro than
from which place shc cannot proceed either
W or down stream. in consequent Of the shall
lowncss OF the water. Sho can therefore only
render such assistance to that exposed frontier
a. could be- afforded by local fortncation with
the same number OF men md guns. or by trans
fcrring the men for military service on shore in
case Of necessity.
Tho active list Of the navy is composed Of 800
officers N tho line. 5ai officers Of the stnff. and
2i9 warrant officers The retired list comprises
1856 officers Of the line. l03 officers of the staff.
twenty seven warrant officers and four pro-
fessors Of mathematics. There were in the SER
vice on Nov. "a. 1877. 1912 enlisted men and
boys.
An effective navy. the report SAYS. ia posi-
tive necessity. but the main difficulty lies in
deciding upon the point OF efficiency to which
lis expcdent and proper TO carry H. The
lcnding M, ,ons in Europe have such close po-
litical rclai ions that the fear Of disturbing the
existing balance Of power is constantly commu-
nicnting lis ~ from on" to- the other and therc-
b. eaa Is Inllu need Ia keep Itself in readiness
for any military or naval exigcn that might
arise. Hon 'e the necessity for lHr." standing
armies and extensive navies. hut what they
may 40 or . tiO 49, regards ihNir intercourse
with eWh other. whether In p'ace or IN war.
does not directly concern W. as nation.
yet 1t has su'n indirect relation to tho
United States. ~ ono Of the great powers OF
The earth, TINT our own policy mus, in some de-
grcc be influenced by th"irs. our situation,
about midway hfween Europe and Asia. for
bids any immediate or dlrect interference 10y
the United States with the affairs Of the nations
possess 'ns either OF those continents; nor is it
REASONABLE to expect that occupied as the
European nniions are. and are likely 70 be- for
many years t. come. with questions which seem
other they VIII lind II TO their Interests 10 adopt
an agercssi'r policy toward the United sat :.
We may safely adopt such course. there
dictated rs our own domestic relations alone,
separated as they are. except Ivy commercial
inter"our- from those OF other nations.
=. Whle our navy is not engaged in commerce,
b. at all times rrndy to furnish its protection in
whatsoey, sea it may hc required. All the ma
tions ehe uli understand thai we are AZ ready to
nsait Insult to ', our national nat nas wthout sye fofeisn I'm
CONNER, W. must sink into inferinrity and
ton, all the profits Of our surplus productions
will be transferred from the Golfers Of our own
our own industry and enterprise belong to our
selves and we cannot fully maintain our indie
pendsngc without these snloyment-. The
their property as the lands which produce them.
and those u the laborer and artisan in all the
spheres Of life should be held in as sacred re-
gard The Government cannot withhold its
fostering care from either without dctriment to
itself. Ii our navy in its present condition suf-
icent to furnish the necessary amount of pro-
commerce nt its present stage Of development.
or are content to leave il TO be transported
abroad IN foreign SHIPS; and thus deprive the
mgrSan proagesr, %i ths e nrois oI his labor
take the position among the commercial
nations to which we are justl ly entitled II we are
u secure t. our own people the right To trans
port the products of their Industry into whntso-
ever part Of the world they may be demanded
90 that the profits may be returned to Increase
the aggregate of our national wealth. then in
my opinion. it is not in such condition There
may bo shiIs enough. If they were all in proper
Repair to Increase our snuadrnn- Ia a sufficient
size for this purpose 10 put them all in r..
ture I'm, ,s ',a,.it ~, II M SN. Nprnui-
ofthc TrcaAiry. and prohahiy lareer linn woula
be Just fable ut any time. until our ravenun
from customs shall be suflicicntly incrensnJ
A we may cNpe,t In \ from n gra.lual dnveion
meni cf commerce. as soon as II occurs W., miv
gradually carry tho navy up II tho noint ~
neceasary iniproynmnnt: a uolnt in bo Jeni,iaJ
by the existing wants ot trni. Ii is mnnifestlv
duty tJ krD me. navy IN such ,onduinn AZ 10
make II ayiil N ma fntnr. for nll nur,o-,.e
for which II mnv be- 4, si-n.I f0'
Cons,ierfne 4 in thi. litsit tho o.iir,o.os IT,
tho ensuing yanr have Lcrn made vith rnfrl
ennr unl, h. nriiurry 4Nn. ifur.s an H. as 40
absolutely necessary f,r rnt., =. AMI In, IA
cpnslrnrtion Nnnry sGils ar. c.tin.tnd for
beruusA that would involve AN nNu"n Iit,,r,
larger tlnn tho rcceilis of th. rrrnsurv Nh
bs likely t. Justify. Tio,, now urssos.d ,,,i ",'ii
in q