470 



NAVY, UNITED STATES. 



others, known as the North and South Atlan- 

 tic, the European, and the Asiatic, remain un- 

 changed. 



Within the limits of these stations are com- 

 prised most of the ports and sea-coasts of the 

 known world. But the force assigned to afford 

 protection to American interests is small com- 

 pared with that which some other nations 

 send on the same duty. Cruising upon the 

 same seas, and with duties not more various 

 and extensive, France has over 150 ships in 

 commission, of a tonnage of 250,000 tons, 

 while England has crowded into the same 

 area no less than 191 ships, with a tonnage of 

 328,000 tons, with a flying squadron ready to 

 reenforce her power whenever occasion may 

 require. 



Of the 43 vessels which composed the 

 American fleet, not more than 18 were in 

 a condition for real service. And most of 

 them were steamers without sufficient sail- 

 power. "With mere steam-vessels there exist 

 the disadvantages of complicated machinery, 

 worn by constant use, and exposed to derange- 

 ment on foreign seas, more easily disabled in 

 battle and storm, and they afford no school of 

 seamanship to officers or men. Besides, only a 

 few war-steamers can carry coal for more than 

 ten days' use, and even a portion of this time 

 must be consumed in seeking a new supply. 

 The decay of the monitors has served to in- 

 crease the weakness of the effective force. 

 Little care has been bestowed upon them. 

 Hulls, turrets, and machinery, the most'costly 

 and powerful, have been exposed to the" direct 

 action 'of the elements, and not one of the 

 whole fleet could have been ready in time to 

 resist a sudden attack. In the opinion of the 

 Secretary, the condition of the Navy at the 

 beginning of the year was at a low ebb. Call- 

 ing into activity the best professional ability in 

 every bureau and department of the service, 

 the task of reorganizing the material, as far 

 as consistent with present laws, was under- 

 taken. Work was renewed at all the navy- 

 yards, and, as fast as possible, the ships in 

 ordinary were put in condition for service. 

 Those in commission, as fast as they could be 

 spared from their stations, were also repaired. 

 More than half of the Pacific fleet have been 

 repaired at Mare Island; and nearly all the 

 vessels of the North Atlantic fleet have, from 

 time to time, been sent home for that purpose. 

 The work was also renewed, and actively 

 pushed, on all the available ships at the several 

 yards. By this means the various squadrons 

 have been reenforced to some extent. At the 

 same time, to secure the greatest amount of 

 efficiency with the greatest economy, all the 

 steamers which have been repaired have been 

 given full sail-power, and rerigged, so that, 

 without interfering with their speed or effect- 

 iveness under steam, they are now entirely 

 independent of it, and are enabled to cruise 

 wherever required, or, if need be, to go round 

 the world without deterioration of boilers or 



machinery, and without consuming their coal, 

 which is thus reserved for times of necessity 

 and danger. The ship-rig considered the most 

 efficient for cruisers has already been given to 

 40 vessels of this class. The success which has 

 attended this plan has illustrated its wisdom. 

 The capacity of the vessels for every service is 

 proved by trial to have been greatly improved 

 without loss of speed or efficiency when under 

 steam. Many of the foreign coal-stations have 

 been discontinued, and orders were issued to the 

 commandants of squadrons directing them not 

 to permit the consumption of coal for any 

 purpose which could be as well performed 

 under sail. 



The North Atlantic station embraces the 

 entire eastern coast of North America, and 

 that of South America as far as Cape Orange, 

 near the mouth of the Amazon, extending 

 eastward to the 43d degree of longitude west 

 of Greenwich. The squadron on this station 

 consisted, during the year, of the Powhatan, 

 Tuscarora, Severn, Albany, Nantucket, Nipsic, 

 Seminole, Swatara, and two heavy iron-clads, 

 the Saugus and Dictator, with tugs, making 

 12 vessels, mounting 76 guns, and commanded 

 by Rear- Admiral Hoff, who was relieved on 

 September 15th by Rear- Admiral Charles H. 

 Poor. In consequence of the imperfect con- 

 dition of the vessels, a limited force was shown 

 in the West Indies. 



The present commander of the squadron has 

 been directed, while preserving strict neutrality 

 between the contending powers in Cuba, to 

 permit no injustice to citizens of the United 

 States, to prevent interference with American 

 commerce, and to repel and punish any dis- 

 respect or violation of the flag. Some of the 

 vessels cruised among the islands, more partic- 

 ularly in the waters of Hayti and St. Domingo. 

 A part of this island being in a state of revolu- 

 tion, made a more important demand upon the 

 service than it was fully able to meet. 



The South Atlantic station embraces the east 

 coast of South America, from Cape Orange to 

 Cape Horn, extending across from the former 

 point to St. Paul de Loando, and along the 

 southwest coast of Africa to the Cape of Good 

 Hope. This squadron consists of the Lancaster 

 (flagship), Quinnebaug, Wasp, and Portsmouth 

 four vessels, mounting forty-three guns, and 

 under the command of Bear- Admiral Joseph 

 Lanman. 



In consequence of the war existing between 

 Brazil and Paraguay, the Navy has been fre- 

 quently called upon to afford protection to . 

 American citizens and interests in that Latitude, 

 and the Department designs to send there, as 

 soon as practicable, vessels of light draft, which 

 will be able to ascend the rivers of the Argen- 

 tine Confederation and Paraguay. 



The Pacific station is one of great extent and 

 importance, embracing the entire western coast 

 of both North and South America, extending 

 westward to the 170th degree of west longi- 

 tude, and thence along the equator south of it 



