THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

Southland Times, Issue 1559, 2 April 1872, Page 3

THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

The naval force of the United States is shown by the annual report by the Secretary of the United States Navy, submitted to Congress in December last, to consist of one hundred and seventynine ships, of which twenty -nine are sailing craft and the remainder side- wheel steamers or sailing vessels with auxiliary Bcrews. Of this number, fifty- three armed with one hundred and one guns are in service, as regular cruisers, attached to the stations or fleets, and as receiving, gtore, hospital, and practice ships. These fifty-three ships, with the tugs and tenders, comprise the actual available naval force in commission. Of the remaining one hundred and twenty-six craft, six are undergoing repairs, &c, and are nearly ready for sea ; fifty- three are monitors, all but one of which are laid up ; seventeen are under repair at the various yards, and eighteen are on the stocks unfinished, and thirty-seven are reported as built mainly of unseasoned white oak, unfit for service, not susceptible of repairs to advantage, and laid up permanently. The Secretary " regards the condition of the navy as unsatisfactory and unequal to the adequate protection of our maritime interests, and recommends that measures be taken to enlarge the fleet." He says, " Unless something is done in this direction, our cruising navy, now by no means powerful, indeed, scarcely respectable for a nation of our rank and responsibilities, will soon almost wholly pass out of existence aa an arm of our national power. The disposition of the naval forces is as follows : — North Atlantic Station — Bear Admiral S. P. Lee in command ; vessels, the Severn, Swatara, Nantasket, Nipsic, Kansas, Pawnee, Terror, Worcester, Canandigua, and Shawmut — in all 10 ships, mounting 70 guns. The Terror is an iron-clad monitor. — South Atlantic Station — Rear Admiral Lanman in command ; vessels, the Lancaster, Ticonderoga, Wasatch, and Wyoming, carrying in all 40 guns. — Pacific Station— Rear Admiral Winslow in command ; vessels, the California, Pensacola, Narragansett, Saranac, Mohican, Rasaca, Ossipee, Onward, St. Marys — total armament, 99 guns. — European Station — Rear Admiral Boggs in command ; vessels, the Brooklyn, Plymouth, Guerrierrl, Wachassett, Shenandoah, Juniata, Wabash, Congress — mounting in all .97 guns.