River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-12-04
THE NAVY.
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THE NEW CRUISERS.
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 >, 1882, and March 80 1888. OF
the four vessels under contract one, the Chi
caoo of 500 tons. is more than half
finished; the Atlanta, 200 tons, has been
successfully launched and her machinery is
now lifting; the Boston, also of 5000 tons,
is ready for launching; and the Dolphin,
dispatch steamer of 1, 800 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 Developments in ship
building abroad. The machinery of the
double-turreted monitors, Puritan, Terror
and AmphiGrite. contracted for under the
act of March B, 1888, is in process OF con-
struction. No work has been done during
the past year ON their armor for lack of the
necessary appropriations A fourth mon
itor the MDnadnock, still remains un-
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 Mantonomah.
The recomnet lations of the naval advisory
board approved by the department., conf
prise the construction of one steel cruiser of
J. 500 tons one cruiser of 5000 tons, two
heayy-armed gunboats one light cruising
=
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, 1857,
authorized the removal to the United States
of the bodies of Lieutenant Commander G.
no end If Loan
nette expedition. The removal has been sue
cessfuly accomplished. The remains were
taken from their grave in the Lena delta, in
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 We're received
with suitable honors. In pursuance of the
Joint resolution of congress approved FEB.
10, 1884, q naval expedition was fitted
out for the relief of Lieut. A W. Greedy,
United States army, and of the party WHO
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 for the expedition were promptly
made by the secretary OF the navy. with the
active cooperation of the secretary OF war.
w
command of the Alert, and Lieut. w. H. En-
cry in command of the Beau. The Ihetis
was intrusted to Commander Winfield ).
Schley, to whom also was assigned the SUI
perintendence of the entire expedition I'M
1nediately upon its arrival at Upernavlk,
the fleet began the dangerous navigation of
Melville BAY and in spite of every obstacle,
reached Littleton island on June y, 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 dead,
the relief ships sailed for st. Johns, where
they arrived on Julv II. They We're appro-
priately received at Portsmouth n. H, on
Aug i and at New York on Aug. s. One of
the bodies was landed at the former place
The others We're put on shore at Governors
island, and with the exception of one,
which was inferred in the national cemetery,
were forwarded thence to the destination in
dicated by friends The organization and
conduct of the relief expedition reflects
great 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 us into a.ense 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 consld-
erations of use, economy, OF Just regard for
our future tranquility and of true apprecia-
ton OF the dignity and honor of this repub-
lie