The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-12-14
THE NAVY.

The report Of the secretary Of the navy states
the movements Of various squsdrons during
the year. in home and foreign waters, whore
our officers and seamen, with such ships - we
posssss. have continued to illus
tra:e the high character and e.
cellent discipline Of tae naval organization.
On the 21st Of December. 1881, information
was received that the exploring steamer Jean
nette had been crushed and abandoned in the
Arctic ocean The officers and crew, after .
journey over tho ice. embarked in three boats
for the coast Of Siberia One OF the parties,
under the command of Chief Engineer George
". Melville, reached the land. and falling in
with natives WAS saved. Another under Lieut.
Commander De Long landed in = barren 70
giou near the mouth Of the Lena river. Aftc4
six weeks had elapsed all bat two
of the number had died from fatigue
and starvation. No tidings have been received
from the party in the third boat under tho
command Of Lieut. Chip. bnt . long and
frultlese investigation leaves little doubt ths
all its members perished in tho sea Az .
slight tribute to their heroism give in this
communication tao names of the gallant mon
who sacrificed their lives on the expedition:
Lieut. Commander George W. De Long; Sur
geon ]. N. Anlbler;J. ]. Collins. Hans b. Erlck-
son, Heinrich Maackl. Geo. A. Bryde, Walter
erson, the cook All Sam, the Indian Alexy: The
So.t we're: 'nd Ieuon.ns Charlie. e' w. Gs
commanding; William Dunbar, Alfred Sweet
mau, Walter Shortell, Albert g. Kuehne, Edwin
Star, Henry Warren aud Peter E. Johnson
Lieut. Giles B. Harber and Master william H
mains OF Lieut. lie Long and his oomFsdA
In pursuance of the directions Of congress, tho
Rodgers. fitted out for the relief Of tho Jean
nette, in accordance with the act OF congress
Of March 3. 1881, sailed from San Francisco
June 16 under command Of Lent Robert u.
Berry. On Nov 80 she was accidentally d.
stroyed by fire while in winter quarters in g.
Lawrence bay. but tho odaosrs :od
shore. Lieut. Berry and ono Of hi. oasesr..
after making search for the Jesnnetto along
the coast Of Siberia, fell in with Chief Engineer
Melville's party, and returned by way OF
Europe. The other officers and crew Of the
Rodgers wore brought from St. IAws@>s by
Charles F. Putnam, who had been placed In
charge Of depot OF supplies 1t Oade Zerdsse.
returning to his post from st. Lawrence DAY
across in . binding snow storm, waa carried
out to sea and loet Notwithstanding all efforts
to rescue him 1t appears BY the sserstary's
report that
TIE AVAILABLE NAVAL 101CD
Of the United States consists Of thirty -sevsD
cruisers, fourteen single-turreted monitoss
built during the rebellion, largo number OF
smoothbore guns and Parrot rites and eighty
seven rihed cannon The cruising vesssas
ships, the monitors BY modern armorsd 49,
sels and the armament BY high-power r30sd
guns. Tho reconstruction Of our navy, winch
WAS recommended In my last message, WA0
begun by congress authorizing, in ito reosos
steam vessels of the character Teeommendsd
BY tho late navy advisory board.
and subject to the final approval
of new advisory board to be organized %
provided bv that act I call your attention 70
the recommendation Of the secretary Of ths
boad that authority be gwen to construct two
feet dispatch vessel, and that appropriations
be for high-power ri1ed cannon. for torpedo
service and for other harbor defensea. Pend
ing conslderation by congress OF policy here.
after to be adopted in conducting tho eight
.5Ss S.'as and th:d se
ton Of tho expenditures thsrs-
for to the lowest possible smounta
for the purpose Of a6ording the o@oers and
seamen Of the navy opportunities Of exercise
and discipline in their profession undsr appro-
pirate control and directions The secretary
advises that the lighthouse service and coast
| survey bs transferred, ~ now organised. from
| the treasury to the navy department.; and he
also euggests for the reason which ho assigns
that similar transfer may wisely bs made OF
the cruising revenue vessels 100 eecko0ty
| forcibly depicts the Internal connection and
inter-dependence Of the navv and the
0o10U1CIAI NA1lNB,
| and invites attention to the continued deoa-
doneo Of the latter aud tho corresponding
transfer Of our growing commerce 70 foreign
bottomA This subject 10 one OF the utmost
importance to national welfare. Methods OF
rovivine American shipbuilding and Of restor-
| ing The United States dag In tho ocean-carryine
srsds. should receive the immediate attention
| Of congress- We have mechanical skill and
abundant material for tho manufacture Of
| nodorn iron steamsLips in fair competition
| Nth our commercial rivalA Our disadvantage
IN building ships il the greater cost Of labor
| and sailin9 them, higher taxes and greater IN.
teeost on capita, while the OCEAN highvays srs
already monopolised BY our formidable eom-
petitoeA These obstacles should be
some Wy b overcome. aud for our rapid!
oonmunication with foreign lands we should
| not continue to depend wholly on vessels built
IN tho yards OF other countries and sailing
0nder foreign dagA. With no United Ssetea
steamers on the principal ocean lines, or for
any foreign ports. our facilities for extending
our commerce aEe greatly restricted, while the
nations which baild the ships and carry mails
and passengers obtain thereby conspteuous ID