New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-21
WHAT THE NAVY NEEDS.
ANNUAL REPORT OF ADMIRAL PORTER.
VESSELS WITH FULL SAIL AND STEAM POWER
NECESSITY.

legal cap. He says that during the past summer III
visited the torpedo station at Newport and was wei
pleased with the action OF the contact torpedo winch
he considers the best OF its kind. The steam launches
supplied TO vessels OF not suited Tor torpeuo
boats his opinion they have not the speed or cac
ity for carrying with effect properly constructor tor
pedo They will be able, he says TO operate sue
cessfully against vessels in motion and are haDe 10
swamp in anything like a sea-way. He commends the
steam launch attached to the New-Iiampshire as III
| every respect suitable for naval purposes ana
urges the adoption of boat OF similar character TOT INC
general service instead of the present heavy clumsy ana
nseaworthy launches that continue 10 be DuIt lO INC
Navy He suggests that the Board OF Inspection De Ill
reeed to institute competitive trial between the New
Hampsres Hereshof boat and the steam launch at the
torpedo station and any regular navy steam launch that
NAV be selected by the departmentthe trial to be made
in Newport Harbor and Of its conditions to be the
testing Of the sea-going qualities OF the boats
Admiral Porter in speaking of the Coasters Harbor
Island station for training naval apprentices says II VIII
never realize the reasonable expectations Of the service
while it, prominent feature is the pauper Establish
ment which prevents the Government from using the
buildings. lie recommends that the buildings be uSeu 10
establish postgraduate class of officers He says that
if system had been adopted ten years ago the officers
would not he involved in perpleNues in regard 10
building ships and making guns
chapter of the report is devoted to new steel arhoea
vessels designed for the Navy by the Advisory Board
Admiral Porter Is anxious that the Board should sucoeeu
in this the first attempt to rebuild our decayng Navy
He then continues . A few years ago the Powers Oh
Europe including even the ottoman Government CON
suited together with view of abolishing p1vateerlng
and of establishing what should be considered contra
band of war Among other things was decided l al
kinds of coal should be so idered In case OF our
having war with any foreign Power, all the coaihs
stations of the world would be closed against U.s. hencc
the necessity that should build vessels having li san
and steam power so that they could make good speed
II a, a. l,oulr al paalV nj "A
notice to get up steam 1t may be argued that the pro
posed ships will not be required to maneuve ana th"t
they will always work In important cases under sleal
but in war 1t necessary to guard against every con
tingency and in time of peace every effort shod DE
made 10 economize coal the careless expenditure OF
which eats up the public treasure. what steamship
consumes in coal would in few years buy new vessel
al am not an advocate for extremes, but am certain
that no ship will frstcass cruiser unless she mas
sail enough to send thirteen knots through the wafer
of the wind and ten knots by the wind snip OF war
cruising should not only be fitted with fu area ol
square sails but she should have all the usual lbs ana
opsas and have light stays between all the maSts where
the latter could be set She could then keep the sea as
long as her provisions lasted think no practical man
will doubt propriety OF having our vessels-of war
equipped with sail power with comparatively light masts
and yards and with the greatest possible number OF gh
fore and aft sails that be put upon them in ordinary
weather TO expedite passage Il steel masts are objected
TO on account OF the extra expense pine spar could be
used although consider steel preferable ~ II reduces
their size without full sail power sip-of- war would
make but slow progress II she should ont OF coal In
foreign country where the ports were closed aca hr
The Trenton is good specimen OF ful power san ana
although rather oversparred aud Is superior
in peace and war any halfsparred cruising ship we
for vessel of her size and would he ia hat com
MERGE destroyer. The Magicienne an Ola fashioned
French steam frgae which was present NJ the Yorktown
celebration ought destroy the Trenton In about fifteen
minutes the latter being armed WIN t1i t, ~
yerted guns of which no one gives s"usi'o'"l! nc
count. .,.-,., |
greater speed than the Trenton would not equal the 4ie
rs a commerce derOyer-that Is II SHE hybfid sail
lr ' in now carried ON bv sIyift steamships many Of
which average their fifteen knots across the Atlantic ana
would be carried in such vessels. Now and then com
paratvcy slow steamer might fall prey 10 orr cl-'r-'
INT this would not often happen. The Boston and At
ANITA are the snacstsiLed commerce dc-iToycr7 tht
should be built and while IL may 9c well to build or
do not think they should be relied on 10 do any ighns
,rchend a war between England and the United States,
uce their interests mixed mp IN coWriclhl Gu
erprises but shonld such calamity occur most Of the
ast steamships OF Great Britain would bee Withdrawn
rom commerce and armed with heavy batteries. In
uch q case how long would II take for Steamship Ike
he Oregon or the Alaska to overhaul ana capture small
commerce-destroyers r. We should build "a cas- oil
IDLE more enduring We might not need them In time Of
peace, but we should have them ready or en' tcn,le'
reat care should be taken that do not fall back upon
nave been the policy since l-bJ. Ihere i no use on
building vessels Ike the kcarsargc either to defend the
ycichty result = A. It Is universally admitted and the
ction of the Inspection Board proves this that We have
eason why Congress should not appropriate literally for
immediate increase OF the Navy - II did Ia the time OF
II the least formidable Of maritime nations went TO
,r Nth Is to morrow she would sNcel, our gradually
arge swift steamers she could buy IN Europe and we
ni1 moi rrcyant H. Iu the end We would no doubt get
he better of antagonist but would that satisfy the
Ountry for commerce destroyed, repay our people
or Tyaged coast. and burned cities for with a tie Now
b 4 ]
Of war likely 10 be greater than anything We
rave ever imagined. With the private workshop, We
rave I'm this country could build twenty large ships In
" years. The argument that We can 20 on improving
~ building few vessels al time Is poor one Don't
ct us stand in the eyes or the world nation 0i shop
pend imr portion OF our enormous revenue 10 protect
vast domain, which has resources superior 10 any
hcr country. What ptable exhibit for country like
his Is the reporto the Chief OF Lngneer3 OF me Army
who states that there Is not one Of forts that has any
ctcr II is, therefore, indispensable that both should
with take departure To insure that cHccjual
protection to our country winch they nave Tsnt 10 dc
The system Of coudcmning such vessels war as re
ne and ought 10 be abandoned Forty per cent would,
my Judgment be more reasonable limit and by adopt
III are a,o 70 ii tu " Iu ia & Io'yn i I ITO
airs to he limited TO the amount recommended by the
and Misrepresentation and she experiment
try the different types OF prOpccrssnd steering
hines her character has been misunderstood but ohc Is r
i-day for her size, the smches fastest and heaviest
rmcd vessel yet constructed anywhere In Of war
etWecn Great Britain and the United States 10 would be
Jmparatycy easy for the former 10 get possession Of all
lc lakes, and with her powerful navy lay our cities
ndcr contribution destroy them. For this
IOuld pay proper attention 10 dccuccs the shores
the great lakes. I would recommend that OF the n
rOpOscd TOncads he built Lake Ontario and kept =,
nc stocks ready for launching IN case of necessity.
Admiral Porter says that while mapping Outga h
Istcn for the Navy should begin at once build
ass OF torpedo 100 feet In length that could not
NY protect the baTbOrs but could also operate off the
,ass in moderate weather Fifteen Of these boats u
ould be built at once with the iIercshof coil and en-
boat OF this class would make twenty knots an eI
Jur, and Dc mperyious 10 the HOtchiss shell and C
itraileusc The Admiral also says that he has long
Oked forward 10 the time when Congress would take II
me steps wardTeslsctatiDg the merchant marine. u
suggests the establishment of Government Board Of
ade, 10 represent the wants of ana make Il
oh recommendations rs WOuld