New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-23
HARPER.

In an article on the "Navy of the United
States" Mr. f. H. Derby urges the Importance OF IN
creased that branch of the national defence
supporting his positions by large array of facts, and
sound practical conclusions. Mr. Derby remarks that we
have relied for navy ships built during the hurry
pressure of the late But the life OF wooden
chip rarely exceeds twelve thirteen years. which time
elapsed since built SHIPS for cruisers and TO
Southern fortresses While ships have
10 decay, the models have become obsolete, although
there has been great increase in the size of cannon and
the strength of armor. The ironclads OF Europe now
mount cannon from six one hundred tons in weight
are armOred with plates from ten to twenty inches in
thickness, and throw projectiles weighing from two
hundred thousand pounds each concentrating at
single point the force OF whole broadsde Of such ships
as Nelson commanded at Trafalgar. We ask too much,
says Mr. Derby OF the fine corps Of officers who have
been educated the war, when call upon them TO
sustain the Stars and Stripes with ships unfit TO the
ocean, and suited only coast defence. The commerce
Of country is advancing During the 1877
the arrivals and cearances IN foreign and cOastwse
commerce equal TO the arrivals and ccarances in
the ports of Britain and Ireland TO protect this
vast of property, exceeding $4,000 OO0OOO In
which the whole country, and especially
the West and South, is interested, we have ex
PENDED yearly decrept navy not more
than Sl7,0O0.Oo0 for the insurance of such
property from piracy and war. less than
threetenths OF per cent per aInnm. Our seabOard
exposed to foreign lronciads, which throw shells
Of great size than four miles, VIII lie we have no
fortresses ships OF that adequate It's pro-
lection Mr. Derby also forcbly insists the necessity
OF suitable provisions for supply of able and efficient
seamen. lie does justice the Naval School at Ann
apolis institution for the training of officers but
he doubts whether they Wed versed IN seaman
ship as IN the earlier DAYS Navy the officers
were taken from the erchantmen, and such as
Decatur. Preble, cambridge, Hull Stewart, and
Marlborough brought TO the front Mr.. Derby
evidently writes from thorough study of the subject,
ana with the carnestness OF familiar knowledge and
sincere The descriptive articles in this
number possess very considerable interest including
Some Pennsylvania Nooks.' by Ella ROdrnan Church,
devoted TO scenes along Chester Valley. the head
quarters Of Washington at Valley Forge. and various
localities connected with the memory of the mad
General" Anthony Wayne; - La villa Real de Santa
fe" by Ernest Ingerso lively sketch OF the present
condition of the ancient Spanish American city; an
Irish Fishing Village" by j. l. Cloud; and the "Swss
Rhine" an excellent paper the Baths ef Ragatz and
Pafsrs some OF the historical associations
that romantic region, by S. Ii. NJ Byers Mrs Mary
Treat contributes one OF her admir- bic studies In
natural history relating her observations the habits
of certain species of spiders and wasps, Mrs. John
Lille offers a series Of sketches OF famous English
learning and research the Early History Of Bible
Illustration" and there are poems by Mrs. l.. C.
.MoutoD, Thomas Dunn English, and Others.