Year: 1868

The Proposed Naval Board Of AArvey.


Our Savy, It is universally conceded, mus


be the right arm Of the republic in case o. Q
war with any foreign Power. In the last con-


test with Great Britain, and indeed during Our
Revolutionary struggle, our little navy per-
formed it's share Of the flaf.l work most credit.
ably and efficiently. During the rebellion
where for the first tIge it WA called upon to
act since the adoption Of steam as motive
power, it's services were Of incascn liable benefit
to the country, although its duties were prin'
cipally confined to blookading service. With
the exception OF the Kearsarge and i\labama
fight there was not an open sea coHfA OF thai
we can recall in which the best qualities OF
man Ofwar were called out. But in q straA gle
with great maritime Power we should sctt le
tho contest on the ocean, and for that EVEN
we should possess an efficient, serviceable and
powerful navy. Many innocent people who
read over the imposing list Of war vessels that
figuresso grandly in the annual Naval Register
may believe that we really have a perfect buE.
wark OF defence and powerful engine Of
. offence in our extensive navy but they are
sadly mistaken. 1t is humiliatng and- pain
ful truth that ii is not at all what 1t rgxports
70 be- We have lavisbed immense Sums Of
money in building new feet and the result
is our yards are filed with enormous hulks,
crowded with massive machinery, which are
neither valuable as men. of-war nor serviceab1e
in any way which the most ingenious ad-
mirer Of the builders could suggest The
cruisers of the Wampanosg class are wretched
failures. They are neither fast, seaworthy nor
efficient They cannot carry coal, ammunition
or supplies for sixty days cruise. Their
batteries are weak ana their fighting qualities
bad. 1t is even doubtfal whether they could
run away If caught out of sight Of land In
short, they are everything but what we have
right to expect FROM the Immense sums OF
money they have cost ua.


The costly and stupid policy which has
caused this humiliating result is still adhered
TO by the naval administrations, and unless
changed is sure to preduce failures in the
future, as it has in the past. The cause Of all
this is the want OF harmony in the administra-
ton of naval affairs Tfere arc too many
heads designing our ships and engines and no
one controlling influence to bring about har-
mony in the plans. .Old established principles
are ignored, and the wild vagaries of theorists
are adopted, at the peoples expense, in con-
our navy, until we now own the most
costly, extraordinary and worthless lot of nom
descripts that ever nation was cursed with
We must change oil this or we shall be some
day or other caught in. the most disastrous
plight when it Is too late to rectify the errors
Of the past. The proposed naval board Of
survey now before Congress ID grand step in
the right direction. There are many argu-
ments in its favor. First, it will fix and deter
mine the responsibility for all acts of naval
administration, and will pace all the bureaus
and departments Of the service under one
board Of intelligent and professional control.
Thus it will save us in the future from such a.
class of vessels as have'reeently been added to
the navy; for no intelligent or experienced
board Of officers would dream OF approving
plans Of such worthless ships as now ea,-
cumber our yaras.t A wise control Of exPen-
ditures would effect a needed economy in
naval administration. The bureau system as
now constituted, which has proved so iuade-
quate to the requirements Of the service, and
so expensive to the nation, would act under
the control of a competent and professional
head, which coulA direct their energies to one
point-tho efficiency Of tho service, mol to the
exploitation OF private schemes aua she grail


ieatlon OF personal ambition. The, country.
not the heads ei bureaus, would. taen. reap the
sfr,,ifs ofw wh al oFo
out of these departments. 1t would work a
marvellous change If the board could give us
one good system, whore each bureau, especially
that OF steam, feels compelled to give us
dozen bad ones. The working Of the
board Of survey would be Of benefit in
other ways 1t could aid the Secretary Of the
Navy in his decisions, for 1t would embody the.
best experience and professional ability in cur
service. 1t would be free, from bureau iEfiu-
ence, and could give its advice impassionately
and unbiased, with q single eye to me public


welfare. Being constituted Of admirals who
have reached tho highest rank they could attain,


and who enjoy breadth OF view and knowl-


edge Of the wants OF the service only obtained
by experience, II would be unswayed by the
petty prejudces, jealousies and affections Of
young aspirants, and would have no interest


to serve save that Of the country. So there


would be no danger OF Its lending It's aid to


one bureau in its efforts to overtop another.


Each bureau would have Its just position and


weight, and the harmonious efforts of all would


be combined to work out tho best results.
| Altogether, the plan Of the board Is good


one 1t will be supported by vast majority


Of the officers of the navy, and by the people,


when Its object is fully known. or course


there will be great outcry on the part of con-


tractors and seedy engineers, but as they


have had their day they must submit to mani


fest destiny.


! With threatening clouds rising In the Eu.