Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-10
THE AMERICAN NAVY.
,ts PLOTTING STRENGTH IN MEN
AND SHIPS.
7evelations Of the Yearly "Register"-
something worthy tine Consideration
ofthe Peor,o-more Ships Needed.

adaiIs lh Eui fHcs inc ENet anu nearer 10
Ia in Central America, which cannot be
tallrcassuring to the minds Of thee who
esy5 been contemplating an indefinite
,-olouaatioG Of the present peaceful sit
nation il may not be amiss to glance at
.ccoadition of the navy Of the United
esies as presented in the last Register
sued bg the Navy Department.
II NAV be noaced that there are several
.,iuiliue6 by which, with or without
scountry's consent, it may be drawn
.5 war with a foreign power. The
mama canal matter, existing in the
Isl delicate relations, diplomaticallv
a,king, with the Monroe doctrine. and
nv strenuously supported by France.
PRESENTS chance some day OF an armed
COLLISION between the Republic and the
United States. But it is hardly necessary
IN call the attention of those who have
carefully scanned the political horizon to
fhp very peculiar anomalous and almost
dangerous position occupied TODAY by the
Tinted States as regards its relations
with the powers of the world. With an
oDen eve TO the WindWard the country
may with profit measure Its strength
an the seas by looking over the
register of the commits stoned and war
rant officers Of the navy of the United
states, including officers OF the Marine
Corps to February, 1885. In the nature Of
things il may be safely assumed that the
ranks Of the service will not show any Sc
riOus exhaustion as to numbers or efli-
eiencv. The Naval Academy at AunapO-
lis is we'll organized and in perfect work
ing0rder. Itdraws from the ranks of the
b.st young men Of the nation. 1t is over
W in The launching season. The law of
tAe survival OF the titesJ uips many a
soaring aspirant for fame on the starry
teghts tr0d by FarTagut. Decatur, Hull
g3nbrdge, Porter and others, but there
rmains always a choice group of clever
Youths who have the brains, nerve and
ambition t0place them in the line of steady
work and OF promised future.
But 10 is sad To contemplate the di-
mmlshiug array Of ''vessels of the United
States navy" as silhOutted in the con-
uacuu- columns of the Register. Such a
hrggarly array, and such vessels! The
day was when the ships Of the American
navy sWarmed along coast line on yigor-
Gus blockade, showed the flag in the
English Channel, and found time to
salute the Belcur Castle, on the Tagus, at
which time the Register showed a gOodly
list of ships of war flying the American
ensign at home and abroad.
OFFICERS OF THE NAVY.
Among the naval officers the old Admit
raj David ID. Porter still heads the list.
Vice Admiral stephen Q. Rowan, char
man Of the Lighthouse Board, vigorous as
ever, holds the second rank. An active
list Of seven, comprising Rear Admiral
John /. WOrden, the President OF the
Retiring Board and the hero of the MOn-
tor and Merrimack fight, Is still on deck
in health and hope Of many years Of ac-
tive service. The others are Edward
Simpson, President of the Advisory Board;
Earl English, commanding the European
station; j. Il. Upshur, commanding the
Pacific station, L. A. Roe ana p. r.
Franklin, under contingent orders to the
European station, and E. 5. McCauley.
There are sixteen COmmodOres on the
list, all apparently well cared Tor, wealthy
and hopeful. They are j. Q. 2. de Kraft
President of the Board of Inspection; Os-
ear c. Badger, com mandant navy yard,
Boston; Stephen b. Luce, superintendent
Naval War College, Newport; John Lee
Davis, acting Rear Admiral, Asiatic
station; Alexander A. Semmes, navy
yard, Washington; William T. TruXton.
special duty in regard to harb0r, Norfolk,
Va; Jonathan Young, naval station,
New London, Conn; William Il. Mayo,
navy yard, Norfolk, Va; James Il. JOu-
att commanding North Atlantic or home
squadron; John II. Russell, navy yard,
Mare Island, Cal; W. W. Queen, not on
duty: Ralph Chandler, navy yard, Brook
lyn; Philip G. johnson, navy yard, Ports
mouth, N. H., Lewis A. Kimberly, Presi-
Gent examining board, and Bancroft
6haradi, member Of examining and retir-
/ ING boards.
twill be observed by the above list that
It has been found necessary to place COM
1manders in command Of squadrOns, in
Eplace Of Rear Admirals, because no OIL
GERS Of the latter grade could be found
available. This shows, at all events, that
he Rear Admirals' list is not overflow
s ing when the sick ard those on special
service calling for the higher rank are
#takeu out.
There are sixty-nine captains on the
st Daniel l.. Braine appearing at the
lead, although since the publication Of
NE register he has become Commodore
4 the retirement on account of age of
hearAdmiral Nichols and the promotion
commodore McCauley. The country
an Keep TO sea so few ships of proper size
Aat only five Of these have active COM
lands ahOat--ViZ., Oscar 4. Stanton,
enaessee; Edward y. Potter, command
" Lancaster; Lester A. Beerdslee, Pow
alan; Charles S. Norton, Shenandoah;
.ooert l.. PhythiaH, Trenton; Augustus
Cooke, Lackawanna, and George IL.
etkins. Hartford. The others are men,
eIa OF various boards, inspectors Of light
ou'es, commanding receiving or training
II l'Is' attached to navy yards or at nome
" ieaVe of absence.
lle active list presents the names of
NaIIH q. aITuu
uVh are generally assigned to duty in
afeus departments of navy yards and
Hthln0use inspectors, at the Naval
gaaeny, Torpedo School, Naval Rendoz-
lug receiving ships, ION special
wee" inspectors Of ordnance and
Wmnand Of ships in commission Of
Aiser class in home and foreign
s The junior commanders have
usllef cruisers and are kept pretty
LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS.
~ Lieutenant Commanders there are
A ol Inc actiye list "a; and here are
llt names Of the young fellows for
af part That started on their profess
'"ieer 40 the beginning of the late
%. They may be found i'm every
-slul eut Qf the service. The grade is
VIVID sharps, ordnance, torpedo
' NAVIGATION, electricity, eXplOra-
a"h n0eed, IN every branch where
W9W, strong sinews, vigorous i'm
hhNYe, pluck and dash are required
H ent great undertakings. Future
n.naers ion case Of war in the next
4Non4 VII come from that and the
.radrs. Among the Lieutenant
hIer3 arr large number Of the
W foluntl er officers who served
',. 'heNHrwilh marked ability and