The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-06-25

DnpATcH roR THE SPRINGS. - Persons
vo;ue to tho Springs can have the Dispatch
ssnt TO them for any length of time they
MAYA. BOARD TO PROMOTE THE ErFIcI'
ENCY or The NAVY. l
This Board has assembled at Washington,
and we cannot conceive more delicate ana
embarrassing duty than that which has oeen
placed In its hands According to the In,
structious received by the Board from Score
tary Dobbin, its duties are of an advisory
nature. and as an aid to the Executive IN
promoting the efficacy of the Navy. But
this advisory" feature viii not relieve the
Board of responsibility. The Executive viii
follow its advice" or else the organization
of the Board is mere farce. What are
the duties of the members, under the law, &C.
cording to the Secretary's Instructions They
must make careful examination, and report
all officers whoare incapable. mentally, ply
sically and morally, from performing their
whole duty. efficiently and promptly, ashore
and afoatl We venture to say that there is
not one of the Board who would not rather
lie broadside to broadside with the largest
line of battle ship in the British navy, than
sit in such an inquisition upon the capacity,
conduct and character of his brother officers.
1t is due to the country, however, that the
Navy should te weeded of worthless and
inefficient men. and we trust that the moral
heroism Of Board, composed of such men
as Shubrick, Perry, &c, will be equal to their
physical courage.
According to the instructions of the Secre-
tary, there are two distinct classes of officers
to be brought within the examination of the
Board, and one Of these classes is subdi vided
They are required to report the names Of
officers who should be, in their judgment,
placed on the reserved list" and then de-
signate those Of the reserved" who, in their
opinion, for service rendered and for fidelity
in the discharge of duty, should receive full
"lesve-ofabsence" pay, and those who
should merely receive furlough, or half
"leave. of absence pay. .s.
They are required to advance step furth-
er in their examination aud discrimination,
and report the names of such officers as they
"bslieve" have become incompetent "from
any cause implying sufficient blame on the
part of the officers to justify their recon-
mending them to "be stricken altogether from
the rolls" And on this point, the Secretary
suggests the opinion that an officer is to
"blame if he has become incompetent from
neglect of duty and inattention and indiffer-
ence to his profession, az well as from dissi-
patton and immoral indulgences."
To be placed on the reserved list with full
leave-of.absence pay, is considered NO de-
graduation, but high compliment to those
who have faithfully served their country, but
have become unable to perform the severe
duties of their profession. Nor does the Sec
rotary consider that it will be necessarily
degradation, or mark of governmental dis
pleasure, for an officer to be placed on fur
Tough, which is half leave-of-absence pay,
because he says he may have become really
incompetent to the discharge of his duties,
and yet may not have served SO long and
faithfully, and with such credit, as to entitle
served.
In holding their deliberations, "the entire
Board will sit together, deliberate and deter
mine. and by proper means authenticate their
conclusion as to ieutenants, masters and
passed midshipmen after that the lieutenants
will have to retire, and the captains and com.
manders will act in regard to all officers of
the rank of commander; when the command
ers must retire, and the captains will act as
TO officers of that rank. All the examinations
having thus been made, and the proper judg.
ments reached, in the manner contemplated
by the law, the sum total of the opinions will
be certified to the Secretary in such form of
Authorization as he in his regulations shall
See fit to prescribe"
Again we repeat it is most trying and
painful responsibility which is devolv ed upon
this Board. If they perform their duty faith
fully and without fear. favor or affection"
they will achieve the most signal benefits for
service upon which the country depends
for its security and honor, in all future con.
tests with the great powers of the world.
ooSSASoOGS op lAE ALLlES In THE
EAST
1t appears that after all, the reported suc.
cesses of the allies before Sebastopol have
been greatly exaggerated. The desperate
affairs of the 22d and Esd of May, did not
enable the French to gain any position essen.
tiai to the defence of the town. Nothing
seems to be known by those American iour.
mails which are best informed in the siege
operations, what fertilization is meant by the
White Tower, which is reported in the Asia's
news to have fallen. 1t is said that there was
u fort known by that name on the southwest
side of Sebastopol, which was reported six
months ago to have been taken by the allies
but the report was without foundation Thu
Mamelon, which is also said to have been
taken, is one of three earthworks south Of
the Russian main lines, thrown up in Feb.
ruary and March. The Mamelon redoubt
VAS thrown nm nv the Russ;aps CO ,..o -