The Portland daily press., 1883-11-21
THE NAVY.


Annual Report of Admiral Porter.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-Admiral Porter in
his annual report considers that the steam
launches supplied war vessels are unsuitable
for torpedo boats and recommends that attach
ed to the New Hampshire as in every way suit
able for general service. He suggests that the
board of inspectors institute a competitive
trial between the New Hampshire's launch
and others to be held in Newport harbor,
Speaking of Coasters Harbor Island station
for training naval apprentices he says will
never realize reasonable expectations of the
service while the most prominent feature is
pauper establishment which prevents the
government from using buildings which could
be made serviceable to the navy in many
ways and recommends that the buildings re-
ferred to be used for the purpose of establish
ing post graduate class of officers who should
be afforded every opportunity to perfect them
selves in the higher branches of education and
require more practical knowledge of what
they have been theoretically taught at the
Naval Academy. He says if this graduate
system had been adopted ten years ago our ofR-
GERS would not now be involved in perplexities
in regard to building ships and making guns.
sufficient number of officers for any duty where
scientific attanments and practical knowledge
are necessary.
In connection with the steel armored cruisers
designated by the naval advisory board the
Admiral says that as a step towards aboli6hing
privateering powers Europe some years ago
decided to consider coal as contraband of war.
In case of our having war with any foreign
power all coaling stations of the world you Id
be closed against us, hence the necessity that
e.0kA A,rn f-Il \
steam power. 1t is said that the Chicago will
have only 14.000 square feet of canvas and any
seaman knows that small an am mouDt of
canvas can be considered Auxiliary" and
would only propel a vessel through the water
in a very fresh breeze, and with the very
PECULIAR rig of the Chicago with bowsprit and
jibs projecting beyond the bow no vess
would work under sail in smooth water much
less in heavy sea. am certain that no ship
will be first class cruiser unless she has sail
enough to send her IL knots through the
water off the wind and 10 knots by the wind
1t may be said that the comparatiyely mar
row beam modern ships are opposed to carry
ing sail according to ordinary rule, but the
great length OF these vessels with the enormous
weights of boilers and machinery carried low
down gives them a stability not possessed by
old fashioned sailing ships of war and they
could carry top gallant sails when the latter
would have to take reef in the top sails.
The Trenton Is good specimen of full
power sall ana steamship, and is superior, In
peace and war, to any half-sparred cruising
ship we can build. She could cruise for six
months without using coal, and would prove
most formidable commerce destroyer barring
her want of great speed. But after all the
Trenton is not good fighting ship for vessel
of her size. A large portion of the ocean
commerce is now carried by swift steamships
many OF which average 10 knots across the At
lantic, and in time of war the greater part of
an enemy's commerce would be carried in such
vessels. Now ana then comparatively slow
steamers might fall prey to our cruiserf, but
this would not often happen
The Boston and Atlanta are the smallest
size commerce destroyers that should be huilt.
It may sasm absurd 70 apprehend war hstwcep
England and the Unfted States, hnt should