The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-12
THE NAVY.
4fln NEW uRr,rxras.

a
hibtts tie Progress which has been made ON
the new 1t6hl crdiset1 authorized bt the Srts-
Of Aug. 6..1Ss2, and March 80, 1858. OF
the tour vefeela under contract one, the Chi
ca96, Of 800 tons, is more than half
nnished; the Atlanta, 8, 600 tons, has been
successfully launched, and her machinery 10
9 ready 1cr Launching; % and I the % Soiphin' tn =
dispatch steamer Of 1 500 tons, is ready fot
delivery. Certain adverse criticisms upon
the designs OF these cruisers aro discussed by
the secretary, who insists that the correct
ness OF tho conclusions reached by the ad-
yisoEy board AND the department. has been
building abroad The machinery 6f the
double le-turreted monitors, Puritan, Tetror
and AmphiIite, contracted for under the
act OF March 8, 1883, is In process Of con-
atTuctton. Nowork has been done during
the past year on their armor, for lack Of the
ses sSs s ienIn femtn. m0n
hnis9ed ct the navy yard in California It Is
recommended that early steps be taken to
complete these vessels. and to provide also
e armament Tor the monitor Miantonomah.
The Recommendation Of tbs naval advisory
Doara; approved by the Department.. com-
prize the construction Of one steel cruiser Of
4 900 tons, one cruiser Of 5000 toms, two
heavy-art1ed kunboats, one light cruising
gunboat, one dispatch vessel armed with
Hotchktss cannon, one armed ram and three
torpedo boats The general designs. all Of
which are calculated to meet the existing
wante OF the service, are now well advanced,
and the construction of the vessels can be
undertaken as soon a. you shall grant the
necessary authority
9m ARCTIC ExpED171oNs.
The actot congress approved Aug z, 1882,
eutaoflzed tho removal to the United States
OF the bodies Of Lieutenant Commander G.
". De Long and his companions Of the Jead.
nette expbditi6n The removal has been sue
cessfully accomplished. The remains were
taken from their grave In the LENA delta, iii
March, 1888. but were retained 1t Yakutsk
until the following winter, the season being
too far advanced 70 admit Of their immediate
Feb. 20, 1884, where they were received
with suitable honors In pursuance of the
Joint resolution of congress- approved Feb.
l3, 1884, . naval expedition was fitted
out for tho relief of Lieut. A. w. Greedy,
United States army, and Of the purity &Eo
scientiac observations at Lady Franklin
bay. The fleet consisted of the steam
eealer Thetis, purchased in England; the
Bear, purchased at st. Johns; Eewfound.
land, and the Alert. which was generously
provided BY the British government Prep
arataons for the expedition were promptly
made made. by the secretary of the navy with the
Commander George w. Coffin was placed in
command of the Alert, and Lieut. W. H. EN-:
cry In command Of the Bear. Tie Thetis
was intIusted to Commander Winfield &
schley, to whom also was assigned the su-
perintendence Of the entire expedition. I'm
mediately upon its arrival at Upernavik
the fleet began the dangerous navigation Of
Melville bay, and in spite Of every obstacle,
reached Iittleton island ON June 20, q
fortnight earlier than any vessel had be-
fore attained that point On the same day it
crossed over to Cape Sabine. where
Lieut. Greeley and other survivors of
his party were discovered. After taking on
board the living and the bodies of the deud,
the relief ships sailed for St Johns, where
they arrived on July II. They were appro.
pr1ately received at Portsmouth, N. H.. on
Aug. i. and ut New York on Aug. 8. One Of
the bodies wos landed at the former place.
The others were put on shore ut Governors
island, and with the exception of one,
which was inferred in the national cemetery,
were forwarded thence to the destination in;
dicated by frienda The organization and
conduct of the relief expedition reflects
great credit upon all who contributed to it's
success In this, the last of the state mes
ssges that shall have the honor to transmit
to tho congress Of the United States, I can
not too strongly urge on its attention the
duty OF restoring our navy az rapidly rs pos
Nble to the high state Of efficiency which
formerly characterized It As the long peace
that has lulled US into sense of fancied se-
curity may at any time be disturbed. 1t is
plain that the policy of strengthening
erations OF use, economy, Of just regard for
our fnture tranquility and Of true apprecia-
tion Of the dignity and honor Of this repub-
uc