Year: 1873

| Neglected Admonitions - Americs vs..
In connection with the question which now
| agitates the country comes the stern demand
from the people-Let the navy show bold
| and determined front But following this
comes the inquiry, What naval force have we
at our command to represent the American
| flag in Cuban waters and forever stop the re-
currence of the brutal outrage which now
startles the world2 The naval service Of
America has long suffered from gross neglect,
the result of which will now be keenly appre-
ciated We venture to assert that if the wise
and frequent admonitions of the Secretary Of
the Navy-and the appeals to Congress have
been earnest and incessant within the past
eight years-had been attended to our ships
returning from foreign squadrons, generally
out Of repair after service, would have been
placed in condition to be available in
| q perplexing situation like the present. Re-
calling now many Of the timely suggestions
made to the government, it is plain that had
the advice Of able and distinguished naval
officers been carried out, we would be able at
this critical period to place in Cuban waters 9
| squadron Of ships -of-war, with officers and
men unequalled in the world-provided, of
| course, that the number of vessels would be
sufficient for the purpose. But what mel
ancholy spectacle presents itself! Between
the false economy on the part of the govern
ment and the idiotic stubbornness Of few
block-headed congressman it is impossible to
get many of our ships ready for sea before
! two or three months. Meanwhile our citizens
righteously call for retribution because their
national flag has been ignominiously dis
| graced.


We have reason to believe that Secretary
Robson is performing his share in the busi-
ness with zeal and promptness; he is not to
blame for neglected hulks and the miserable
niggardliness which has characterized the
administration of naval affairs. The situa-
ton is truly q sad one.


But perhaps it is not too late, even now, to
provide for approaching contingencies True,
it were better if Congress had assembled. The
present situation would teach wholesome
lesson 10 those whose short-sighted selfshness
has largely contributed towards the present
unfortunate condition Of affairs. But one
remedy remains. In view of the important
issue at stake let President Grant order out
every available man-of-war without delay
surely every oficer-and the naval officers of
America are her greatest pride. Still it is
mortifying to think what sorry front the
American navy presents just at this crisis.
In comparison with the Spanish feet it is
sadly deficient both in point of strength and
numbers. Congress is alone to blame. Time
and time again have the most experienced
naval officers in the service urged the pro-
priety of certain measures. But the pluck and
profit legislators invariably interfered, and
the result of their ignorance now unfolds
itself in startling form. Look at
the register of the American navy.
The array seems formidable enough but
the list will hardly bear investigation. The
corroded iron-clads lying at Philadelphia
and New Orleans form the backbone of the
service at the present day. Towards the
speedy fitting out of these faithful safeguards
the attention of the government should be
earnestly directed, and, in connection with the
admirable torpedo system of the American
navy, the results will doubtless prove of credit
to the naval service. This is an important
point to be remembered, for Of the home and
foreign squadrons of our navy that encircle
the globe only twenty-seven vessels are avail
able. Of these only seven are within what
either, for one has gone to tow an iron-clad to
the scene of action, another is in the dock at
the Norfolk navy yard the third is repairing
at Philadelphia, leaving just four active ships
to meet the present contingency-one being
at Aspinwall, one on the way and one will
probably start within forty-eight hours. Well
may we feel the want of preparation; most
earnestly may we implore the government to
prepare, for the hearts of the people are
throbbing with anxiety, and the prevailing
feeling will scarcely brook delay.


| Now let US look at the odds against which
we may have to contend. The Spanish navy,
aside from the vessels seized by the revolu-
tionists, represents strength of seven IRON
clads. One Of these is now in dock at the
navy yard in Brooklyn; another is at present
cruising in Cuban waters. Six of them, in fact,
are available for prompt orders in case they
could be spared from Spain. 1t may be men,
toned, however, that while these iron-clads
are formidable, considering the number of
guns they display they lack the calibre, and,
SO far as their coating goes, might, in naval
parlance, be designated as tin-clads Their
vessels are clad with from three and half to
four inches of iron, but the nine and eleven
inch shot of our navy, delivered at short
range, would readily penetrate their sides.
Still they are not to be underrated as rams or
as to the speed they unquestionably possess;
and it must be conceded that they would
make sad havoc among our wooden ships. 1t