Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-23

- lutle during the past ten years IN
.,.,sor.ne The needs Of the navy ana IN
...-,,,. he steady development TO meet
...,rernents OF the country. Not
,.,.,s,ari.ng tho attention given TO inc
80. 30 IS astonshing TO note the pre-
r.r, Ignorance regarding the service
.-,-,s that Is 20 say. Of the purposes
.,ai.b it was created and the reasons
Goa. r.sintcnance. IL Is far from IN
..f On hear persons who are otherwise
.-.r, we'll informed inquire about me
s.t.s 90 the navy during what are com
--rlv termed times Of peace. W men
co.. l.srn what those duties are they
80, to have met with new reVelauoh'
--,s urinary purpose for which navy
,..-,,,,l is 10 provide protection against
,-r..,on by the enemies Of tho country
,... ..s,,rd purpose IS 10 afford faciilties
-. The invasion OF the territory Of 'he
Inv Tho destruction OK commerce
49,. b,rase,nv Of coasts. the INTERRUPTION
-.......rf.qtion. and an other incidents
...rfflroe warfare are cntfely s uosl
.-.-. freret0, and for offence OF ueie', .-
49,. merely parts Of these t"o mann p''
poses. -,-..tros IN order that
,.-,r- ana exercises carried on during IN
..-..ls of peace may prepare IL 70 PEI
,-D TO The best advantage IT'S Pi0pO'
t-.rtons in periods or W"I' ...-. % enc
r-rirg times OF peace tho posleil's "a -,
. d. rsreiv one o. active hosth'y' W.
-.. attitude OF this branch OF 'hS =,
..reIcs must always be Wafhhe' pms -,
.-.-.ss-ts abroad tho military poWe. "a
%
e.. fee OF tho country, ana - 49, a.,
..-,,rl- from the attacks OF barodilo 70
l..... and from the encroachmehtS g.
,.-t.,1 Doi,er tho rights which that haB
,.---,eerts. wherever CIVILIZATION - p".N
10y 49,, .,or-ess OF Christianity and the
--,,.'.,. 81 commerce are. if impeded' oily
s.fo under the guardianship OF Wv
Wherever governments are ui's.
49, r,-f-..nce. or arbitrary IN their al
,-'-t-,tl.n Tho persons and property
-r strangers arc constantly in ItOL"- -
an o-.r- tho world wherever war lnItlIic7
g.. r9--iors OF civilized man the influence
- io-tefv is weakened. the authority Oh
t-. al rraE-n. and the security or gov
.,-..,rrt unsettled. and there the rights on
,',.t-.i residents demand Of their own
governments free and watchIm proloS-
zion. .-,,.,.,or, IN
S..- civil var IN South America, ana
-.,-'utlou en- tho states OF Central AmeIl-
g. rave called simultaneously for the
..,.s-re OF our cruisers. From isolated
,-..rs OF Islands in the Pacific ocean
~. have been appealed 90 for friendly
srp-ort or generous protection. On O.9
-.t~ss az CIVILIZED Europe. from the Bal
fi, q, the Bosphorus. the security or
american interests and the rights OF
.r.r.,an citizenship demand the presence
D. the American flag. while IN the ha.t-
civilized East our commerce is repeatedly
e.---l.l by outbreaks which can only De
etlurressed by the presence Oh arillou
-rree. Christian missionaries, uIlFon
from their chapel5 and expelled rom
.r.tr schoOlhouses. fee IN frightened dis
may from the shelter OF ther Hoi'. ~.
81 he returned aboard a man-of-war 10 tue
,acefuI endowment Of re-estabAshed Sc
,..-Itv ANY day we may learn that come
,---s1fted representative Of our govern
mont more than ten thousand miles from
f.s capital OF his country has Sought
ASYLUM and found safety under ths cover
o. our naval guns. IN
rra uncertain tenure by which al 'he
Interests of commerce, ciVl4lzatoh' a.4o
r.Hrion are held in the East lndles' inc
Ignorance which clogs and the super
ton which thwarts all plain deallhs VIZ
rarear.o and semi-baTbaric governments
REQUIRE the presence Of our men-ot-Wa.,
AND te-t the best qualities Of tact ana
+rsrnent possessed by our naval oihceIs.
Sin the Pacific Ocean besides the genera
rrotectorate over the persons ana proper
a. OF our representatives ana oltllehs,
,rrrrra and missionaries scattered along
ths coasts and dwelling in the seaporls
@. South America and the Isthmus al" i
among the numerous ISLANDS dotunG il9
broad surface the duties Of the meet IN
cllde "a supervision OF the interests e4i-
rsred IN tho now dWindling whale DUST
r-.s and in the seal fisheries. For the
rfyartq~a OF these interests long
ftretcbes OF coast must be surveyed
p0rts OF resort and harbOrs OF refuge on
Tie mainland and IN midocean must DC
established. points OF danger tested anu
Obstacles 10 navigation removed or marx
al out AT different points, with NtsI
interests lying between. the nag OF INC
republic must be displayed wherever par
bar.am is ignorant OF our power OF cupiu-
lty uumindfu Of our rights.
whatever may be the conditions OF
f,ace or war iu Europe. the pride OF our
needle. as VOL as the interests OF our
commerce and the safety of our ciuzens'
demand that we shall be represented by
"a force suflcient 20 maintain the dignity
O.. tho nation II not 70 assert Its i'm
portauce.
I'M addition 10 those duties which rem
c.r the naval officers familiar with the
waters OF the habitable globe. the navy
has from time 10 time prosecuted, under
.. authority OF Congress. surveys
across tho isthmus which connects the
northern and southern portions OF the
C0llaaut They have been sent 70 Arcuc
REGIONS 10 release from conditions OF
cxtro-ra peril adventurous explorers con-
fined in the inhospitable tract OF space
which rejects the rosy radiance Of Arc
tut.s ln the Coast Survey, IA the Light
House Service. ia the supervision OF
the great harbors OF the country, their
services are in constant demand and
tto duties Of the positions are admirably
performed.
10 answer. az far as possible tho
requirements imposed upon tits the appro-
pirate duty OF the navy. but the fulflment
ot this duty must, Of course. depend
upon the proportion which the means al
Sos command bear 20 the character and
frequency OF the occurrences calling for
attention. and the distances which must
he covered 90 apply the proper remedies.
The nav.gable waters OF the globe. COW
ering an approximate area Of 1900 900
square miles are divided for the purposes
of our naval operations into five cruis-
ilg stations. To each is assigned such
o. our naval force as the circumstances
az the particular station may require.
and the limited number Of vessels at the
o.sposal Of the Navy Department may
permit
Ine North Atlantic (or home) station
covers. generally speaking. the Atlantic
Ocean north Of the equator and west OF
g. degrees west longitude, the West Indies.