National Republican., 1880-11-06
THE FITTING SQUADRON.
had weather and an Uncomfortable Day In
tile Roads-A Specimen of oar Naval ves-
sels-Inspeotion of the Yanuc.

sels-Inspeotio of the Yantc.
FoRTREss MONROE, VA, Nov. 4, 1880.
The weather Is exceedingly bad, casterly winds
and heavy rain squalls prevailing throughout
the day. The squadron is lying quiet, moist and
uncomfortable in the roads, with not n general
signal flying from the flagship to make It afraid.
The Tennessee fired a few uinc-in eh shells at
target this forenoon during the clear sp ell but the
practice was soon interrupted by the driving
storm, and the Nnndaia also had little small
arm target drill during the day, the target being
the close many scNis. This seems q poor cqulya.
lent for targe,-pnctce on shore.
SPECIMEN VESSEL OF OUR NAVY.
The board Of inspection, consisting Of Commo.
doro khind Captains Geer aud McCrea, Medical Dl-
rector Glvon, Chief Engineer Moore. Pay Inspector
DenniSton and Captain Callum, ofthe marine corps,
arrived this morning from Washington. and dur
ing the day inspected the United States cor
veto lautic. Commander Merrill Miller COM
manding. This vessel is perhaps the latest put
aiioat by the navy department, and one would
naturally suspect that she might represent tho
most advanced typo of naval architecture, combin-
ing the modern armament with enormous propell-
Ing power, enabling her to fight with success n
powerful opponent or If ovcgwCightcd by her
guns: to show clean pair Of heels, and when in
dulgi ng IN predatory raid on mn enemy's COM
mercc to be able to overtako aud capture swift mer-
chan tmen: whereas the truth IS that, instead OF
reprcs cnting any novel aud desirable feature In
any Of these respects, she shows q small corvette
capable OF Eto0ming eight or nine knots under the
most favorable circumstances, armed with old
ing rifle Of no formidable Dimensions. She is of
course, neat and comfortable as well as handsome.
but for good. efficient W orz In ihese later days
she displays not ono feature suggesting an advance
IN any quality possessed by tie steam guubuRts
that thronged this harbor nearly twenty ycaIs
ngo The ghostly skeleton OF the original NHntic
would prove quite as efficient and terrible IN con-
test with the long range, ch.loading, heavy
rifles OF the popular type Of the foreign gunboats
as the present supreme effort Of the government
now lying In Hampton roads.
There does not appear q single trace Of the result
OF tho experience Of our own and foreign naViCs
the past twenty years in this trim little corvette
RESULT OF TIE INSPECTION.
The board Of inspection were very much pleased
with tha appearance of the men on board the Nau-
tic their discipline aud efficiency, Tile inspection
was IN every way highly satisfactory and reelected
credit ON the commanding and subordinate
officers. The personnel Of tho navy Is most excel
lent and reliable under any circumstances, but tie
need Of new and more efficient ships and armR-
mcnt Is painfully apparent and must be met ir our
navy Is TO be maintained, II /, 10 be hoped that
The secretary Of the navy, Il he concludes 70 visit
the fleet, viii see the wants Of the service. and will
boldly announce thcm 10 the country and ask
funds TO replace our fleet Of hUiks.