Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-12-05
THE NAVY.
T-fYE NEW krRUuSERSs

The report OF the secretary of the navy ex-
hibits the progress which has been made on
the new steel cruisers authorized by the acts
of Aug. s, 1882, and March 80, 1888. OF
cago, of 800 tons, is more than half
finished the Atlanta, 5000 tons, has been
successfully launched, and her machinery is
now fitting; the Boston, also Of 5000 tons,
is ready for launching; and the Dolphin, a
dispatch steamer of 1900 tons, is ready for
delivery. Certain adverse CRITICISMS upon
the designs of these cruisers are discussed by
the secretary, who insists that the correct
ness of the conclusions reached by the adj
visory board and the department has been
demonstrated by recent deveop in ship
building abroad The machinery of the
double turreted monitors, Puritan, Terror
and Amphiurite, contracted tor under the
act of March 5, 1883, is in process of con-
struction No work has been done during
the past year on their armor, for lack OF the
necessary arpropriations+ ,, fourth mon on
finished at the navy yard in California. 1t Is
recommended that early steps be taken TO
complete these vessels, and to provide also
an armament for the monitor M1antonomah.
The recommendations of the naval advisory
board. approved by the department., COM
prise the construction Of one steel cruiser of
4, 500 tons, one cruiser of 5000 tons, two
heavy-armed gunboats, one light cruising
gunboat, one dispatch vessel armed with
Hotchkiss cannon, one armed ram and three
torpedo boats The general designs, all OF
which are calculated to meet the existing
wants of the service, are now well advanced,
and the construction of the vessels can be
! undertaken as soon as you shall grant the
necessary authority.
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.
The act OF congress approved Aug. z, 1882,
authorized the removal to the United States
of the bodies OF Lieutenant Commander &.
W. De Long and his companions of the jean
nette expedition The removal has been sue
| cessfully accomplished. The remains were
taken from their grave in the Lena dtua. III
| March, 1888. but were retained at Iakutsk
| until the following winter, the season being
TOO far advanced to admit of their immediate
| transportation. They arrived at New York
Feb. 20, 1884, where they were received
with suitable honors. In pursuance OF the
! Joint resolution Of congress approved Feb
-, 1884, naval expedition was fitted
out for the relief Of Lieut.. A. " Greedy,
United States army, and OF the party VITO
had been engaged under his command in
| scientific observations at Lady Franklin
bay. The fleet consisted of the steam
sealer Thetis, purchased in England; the
Bear, purchased at St. Johns, Newfound.
land, and the Alert, which was generously
! provided by the British government Prep
arations fol- the expedition We're promptly
made by the secretary OF the navy. with the
active cooperation Of the secretary of war
| Commander George W. Coffin was placed in
command of the Alert, and Lieut.. ". II. Em-
| cry in command of the Bear. The Thetis
! was Entrusted to Commander Winfield S.
| Schley, to whom also was assigned the su-
perintepdence OF the entire expedition. I'M
| mediately upon it's arrival at UDernayik,
! the fleet began the dangerous navigation OF
! Melville bav, and in spite of every obstacle,
reached Littleton island on June 20, a
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 dead,
the relief ships sailed for st. Johns, where
priately received at Portsmouth, n. H., on
Aug l. and at New York on Aug: s. One Of
the bodies was landed at the former place.
The others We're put on shore ut Governor s
island and with the exception of one,
which was inferred in the national cemetery,
We're forwarded thence TO the destination in
Dictated by friends. The organization and
conduct of the relief expedition reflects
Egreat credit upon all who contributed to its
success In this, the last Of the state mes
sages that shall have the honor to transmit
to the congress of the United States, can
not too strongly urge on its attention the
duty of restoring our navy as rapidly as pos
sible to the high state OF efficiency which
formerly characterized it, AS the long peace
that has lulled lis into a sense of fancied Sc
curity may at any time be disturbed. it is
plain that the policy OF strengthening
this arm of the service is dictated by consid-
erations Of use, economy, of just regard fo1
our future tranquility and of true apprecia
ton Of the dignity and honor OF this repub-