New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-15
INSPECTING THE NAVY YARDS.

SECRETARY THOMPsON's CRUISE ON THE ITALIA
PoosA-WHAT lie SAYS OF HIS INVESTIGATIONS
THUS FAR.
The United States transport steamship ITALIA
poosa arrived at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Saturday
afternoon, having board Secretary OF the Navy
Thompson, who is making official tour Of inspection
The Secretary is accompanied by the EnglneerinChie
the chief Naval Constructor AID the Paymaster General
ana by a few friends His arrival greeted by the
customary salute. and he waited upon at once by
Commodore Nicholson, attended by the officers Of the
station Tho TallapoOsa left Washington last Monday
having touched at Norfolk and Philadelphia.
In reference to his trip and the objects and results of
his inspcctOn Secretary said last evening" "My
visit is purely official have made inspection Of the
stations Norfolk and League Island and have examined
also tie work in progress at John Roachs
yard at Chester and at Cramps at Philadelphia Work
on the Nv irOnclads ROachs yard suspended by
my order In regard TO the CON petion OF them have
grave probemsto resolve The present methods Of armOr
ing vessels render difficult decision lon certain points
The MlantonOmah was designed to carry seven-inch
and the Puritan o ten and half inch iron But
by improved ornaments iron armor twenty-five
inches thick has been penetrated, and the
armors designed for these vessels therefore almost
useless. The English Government Is building an iron
clad with an armor Of "a inches and the Italians
carrying armor 81 inches thick The immense weight
to be carried by these vessels will make them very
unwieldy. 1 am awaiting the results Of experiments
that are being made by the English Admiralty 10 deter
mine the efficiency Of steel amOr. l am informed
that steel plate has been made against which
the present DrOeces Lave been shattered We may be
enabled thus TO make these IrOnclads thoroughly eff
vessels. Another feature Of their construction Is
their revOve above the surface The bases
OF the turres already In place. and considering
whether IL would not be true economy TO have them
sunk below the surface. For these faults Of plan am
not responsible but should dislike TO send vessel 10
sea that In an engagement, might be disabled by the
first shot"
AT the League Island Yard" continued Secretary
Thompson, - the QulDeDaug Is hitting Tor She Is a
repaired ship, but fact nearly and viii be ready.
hope early In September. But the principal work at
that station Is necessarily on the yard itself The
buildings and the machinery in line condition. which
is constantly improving. The extension Of the
improvements VIII depend upon the apprOpria-
tons made by Congress for that purpose, and
in these days Of economy II will be long
probably before the yard be made capable of great
efficiency The greatest difficulty found at tho Nor
folk is the protection OF large amount OF timber
there. The sheds destroyed during the war; and
ing. 1 contemplating the adyisabiiIty OF
sinking II in the water near the yard
have assigned 10 the Chief Constructor the task OF
estimating the expense Of DONG this, and my decision
viii depend largely upon the cost This Is my third visit
TO this yard with which am quite familiar but shall
make ahorOugh inspection OF II and OF the yesf IN
port. The Tennessee has just arrived from u taree
years cruise in the Asatie squadron and wish 10 de-
termine tho repairs that may be necessary 70 nc
her for sea again. The Constellation has returned lately
from HaYre, but think she ia In a hne condition.
She will be TO Annapolis as training ship Tor tho
school The C0mmandant Of this yard Is amply able "