Nebraska advertiser., 1877-05-03
OUR NAVY.
Its Ability to Protect American Com
merce.

An Inter Ocean correspondent re-
Gently had an interview with Admir-
al Porter, the head of the navy, in re-
gard to the condition of the United
States navy its ability to protect
American commerce against the pri-
vateers that might be sent out to de-
stroy merchant vessels in case the Eu-
ropean war became general, and its
comparative stregth in relation TO the
other great maritime powers of the
world.
The United States navy now con-
sists of146 vessels of150, l57 tons meas
urement. Exclusive of howitzers and
GatIings they carry 1,142 guns of
these 123, carrying 9l3 guns, with
measurement of 12O, 1894 tons, have
steam power, and %, carrying nomi-
nally 229 guns, with a measurement
of 29. .263 tons, are sailing vessels.
Of the whole number of vessels, IS
are at present in actual use, 81, are at
tached to fleets, 2 are in use as train
ing-ships, 6 on special service and as
dispatch and freight ships, 2 are torpe-
do-boats, 5 are receiving-ships, are
store-ships, 2 more are used by States,
under act of Congress as scholarships,
and 10 are in use as quarters, gunnery
ships tenders, etc., at the navy yards
and shore stations. OF the remainder
are preparing and almost ready for
sea, s are under repairs, and SO are
laid up at the various navy yards.
Admiral Porter says: 'Our navy,
taken as a whole is worth nothing and
the sooner the country understands
that fact the better. 1t would require
agreat stretch of credulity to make one
believe that the navy is in the flourish
ing condition represented by Chief
Constructor Hanscom in his late re-
port. Our officers, as has been proved
are ready to do battle even with the
most desperate odds against them but
do not believe there is any one who
would engage one of the ships alluded
to in smooth water or otherwise un-
less he wanted to throw his own ves-
sci away
He further says that the English
and Italians have vessels which are
as superior to our fleet 'as whale is
superior to shoal of herrings.' What
ships we have would be useless in war
with the great powers of Europe, for
they would soon be swept off the
ocean.
The manner In which our navy has
been conducted since the abolition OF
the Board of Commissioners is re-
Election upon our intelligence as ma
tion, and it will be happy day for the
country when our legislators sppreci-
ate the Importance of remedying the
evil. Since 1861 we have spent $3.50,
600, 600 in the construction of vessels,
and have not at this moment single
vessel representing the force of Sec
ond-class British ship.
The last vessel of war built by Eng
land and 2 lately constructed by the
Italians, could either one of them,
place our entire navy hors du combat
OF drive them to the shelter of our
forts
Admired Porter thinks the proper
system for the United States Govern
ment to adopt is that pursued by
Great Britain--to build yearly so many
tons of vessels of war. She builds an
nually about 20 600 tons, half of which
amount wonld be sufficient for US to
build for the present until 1886, after
which we could get along with 1000
tons a year of iron vessels and the
same amount of cruising vessels
He says that from 1915 to 1912 our
navy was the best in the world, be-
cause it was ably managed by board
Of naval commissioners composed of
the three highest officers in the ser
vice. He thinks the present system
should be abolished and the old sys-
tenn resumed.
In case of war between this ma