The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-11
PRESENT SITUATION OF OUR
NAVY.

VI lth Such a force rs we possess IL
must be evident that it is impossible To
discharge in an efficient manner all the
duties of a navy. Our work in foreign
surveys is limited TO that OF one small
vessel on the west coast OF North
America; our deep-sea soundings are
few and far between, dotted along the
tracks pursued by our ships while going
TO and returning from distant stations;
our commerce is protected; but we are
unable to support any positive policy
that the government might decide to de-
clare I'm reference to, for example, the
Monroe doctrine. To say nothing of
European naval ornaments. il is only
necessary to point TO some of the smaller
powers i'm our own hemisphere that pos
sess ships of war with which we have
nothing fit TO cope.
Our people cannot desire TO assume a
position in the society of naval powers
without supporting the position with
dignity: they cannot wish their navy
10 be cited rs standard of inefliciency;
they cannot wish 10 force their repre-
sentatiyes Ohe officers of the navy into
a position OF humiliation and mortifica-
ton such rs is imposed by being called
on to deprecate criticism Dy labOred eN-
plantations. Better abolish the navy
and lower our pretensions.
But the fact seems TO be that the
rapidity of naval development has not
been properly appreciated. And ii is
otter long interval of indifference that,
attention being at last conferred on the
subject, it is seen how rapid its strides
have been, and how utterly we are dis
tanced in the race. There is evidently
now in the country growing desire to
repair the effects of the past oversight,
and we see congress moving in the mat
ter. AS all political parties now unite
in the necessity OF effort in this direc-
ton, the hope is inspired that the sub
jcct is to be separated from those of
partisan character, and that the rehabili-
tation OF the navy will be put on lis
proper level, and accepted rs national
question in which all are alike inter-
ested
Possessed rs we are now of n navy
such rs has been indicated, the change
that is about TO be instituted involves Il
most violent transition. In reviewing
our work of construction for the past
thirty years we see no type of cruiser.
The only types of ships that we have are
those that date before the war: since
which we have but reproduced the same
in CLASSES of differing Dimensions. From
the sailing ship with auxiliary steam
power we have passed to the steamer
with auxiliary sail-power; but we have
no full-powered steamers, with or with
out sails. As long rs it is considered
necessary to spread as much canvas rs
i, now used, the space assigned TO boil
cro and engines is limited, and we fail
TO achieve full power; a reduction to the
minimum Of sail-power must be accept
ed before we can present Il type of Il
full powered steamer.
With the exception of two vessels of
the Alert class built of iron, we have no
thing but wooden bulls. We have con-
tinued TO build in perishablc material,
requiring large sums to be spent in re-
pairs, and ignoring the manufactures of
the country which could have been aid
ed in their development by the contrary
course. We have permitted the age of
steel to reach its zenith without in
dica.ing that we were aware of its pres
enCe.
With the exception of a few Palliser
converted rifles of S-inch calibre. our
ornaments consist of smooth-bore cast
iron guns which have composed our
batteries for thirty years. These are
now to be discarded, and their places to
be illed with modern steel cannon.
Torpedoes, movable torpedoes, of
which we knownothing practically are to
bc brought to the front, and are to form
part of our equipment. Torpedo-boats
are TO be brought into use. and details
innumerablc are now to be studied and
worked out.
Conceive, then, high-powercd
tCamcr with Il minimum of canvas,
built OF steel armed with modern steel
artillery and secondary battery of IIotch-
kiss guns, fitted for launching movable
torpedocs, with protective deck over
boilers and engines, divided into many
water-tight compartments, giving pro
lection 10 buoyancy, and compare such
ship with the type of the United States
cruiser which we now possess, and an
idea may be formed of the violence of
the transition through which we must
pass. And there is nothing intermedi-
ate TO break the suddenness of this
change; there is no connecting link.
The structure of to-day is placed in di-
rect contrast with that of twenty-five
years ago. This is the position in which
we stand, and we can but accept the
situation, FROM which there isno escape.
-Redr- ADMIRAL T.. Simpson, iB Har-
qcr'S Maga@iatc.
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