The New York herald., 1864-12-08

usvy, Wob0 OU0xro0D - o0t0Ortx0
vice admiral suok HonOrs ana DssIsmss,s st,nulas'
Among snnsss sonnaadsrs b car ssvsi erviss, q
III u" &C nsIs az . = s
rank - that o. any naval of1cer " aay cosptsy.
bay q Mobile more gorisus psshaps W some o ~ incl
dsrs even than the memorable conflict that gave ~ sh<
ana ultimately restored sns ss
sentiment Of the country that the veteran hero who had
our naval annals by these grand successes wa
worshy sne highest donors and should Be promoted 70
highcet naval rank. In Recommending therefore, thai
the oos Of vice admiral should BE- created and the sp
but respond. ss sssvs TO the voios ana Wishes x IL;
naval service and Of the whole country. st atte..
se heretofore been called 10 the fact that the nu
Der OF officers on the active list In the grades of oommo
dors captain commander, and lieutenant commander.
not equal TO the number Of vessels OF tho dR.
officers or these grades small increase was recon-.
tive to Cling The grade Of admiral time Of
Peace Ny letter this subject, with the accompanying
into The regular service Of lew volunteer Officers who
by sea ability service during the war, have merited
shn reward, will be found IN the appendix 70 this report
ENLISTMENT. rA ~ ~
Tho enactmens OF the last OF Congress u regard
to ensments have been In their operation beneficial
the unfortunate legislation OF the preceding session. Not
only The full complement OF required has entered the
Sv. who could not be scv.S
BS the wanI q @ @
enter the army when high bounties given TO the
soldiers and withheld from the sailors Many Thousand
trained seamen under those extraordinary inducements,
enlisted In the army before the legislation for tho two
branches OF the public service was eQuazed. Although
the law now authorizes their transfer 20 the navy very
considerable portion them still remain in the army.
where andsmsn would be or equal service seamen are
EXPERTS and cannot be procured by secured for
an emergency ke tho present any more than engineers
Stimulated by patriotic impulse, mon may volunteer
serve heir country 10 any capactv but they cannot
% made available as seamsn without training aud expo
The organization Of . man ,or.war 10 very dls
rate sailor win soon make himself at homo on
board OF any ships but the division OF duties
the system Of petty o'cerstne exercise at quarters
and In boatsthe discipline, the observ and the
thorough and complete system OF . OF war.
known out Of naval ships. There no means BY
which to teach landsmen to become sailors except on
shipboard and there 10 difficulty in inducing native
Americans to enter either the naval merchant
In other countries the Hed Of adventure is restricted
aware that any State but Massachusetts, has nautical
school, encouragement Is Rvon to the young In every
other calling: but the naval and merchant service, Ia
time OF peace depend almost entirely upon the foreigners
and the homeless for mariners 10 sail their shps These
mep who hardly touch the shores without finding them.
selves the Victims OF andsharks and who scarcely
ceve thought In the vast and generous sanitary opera
,ons put 10 motion ey wealth and nepsscsnt patriotism
cia employ and In DANGER prvation and hardship
have adhered With qnwaveri9s fidelity the dag-never
With view Of doing some measure OF justice TO this
meritorous much neglected Glass; and as pre-
limnary stop towards their elevation apd usefulness
SHIP "a poys. His 10, in faci, a revival With iome
modincations, Of the apprentice system, which, while
IL continued worked benencaly for the sailor and
the country Some requisite 10 elevate the
condition and the character Of th class now when the
sailor Is neither logged taught to become . drunk.
ardtwo important steps In the right direction towards
making him man TO be trusted on sho-s Is wel a.
afoat. @A
Commencing as apprentices on the school ship, Il
would bs well to open to the sor boy tho way to pro.
motion BY giving him an opportunity, he shall deserve
On hs sap SELECTION Of So
nidshipmen annually appointed might be made with
great advantage TO the service aud the country These
apprentices inher preliminary training on the school
ship, win have developed their capabilities and
aptitude fer the profession nnd in transferring them
which attend large portion Of those who appoint
ed under the present system We're each Congressional
sa y s S o.
halr or The mdshipmen, directed TO be made from
these apprentices its effect would DC most benehcent
would popularizo the navy and open to those who
havo enlisted tho highest positions and honos Of the
service. M
Congress having BY the &C, approved Nay q 1884, al
returned to- and established AZ, the Naval Academy
grounds In Annapolis, in the State of Maryland before
' be ss
be commenced for putting the buildings and
Wsq can nem The school and
service viii bs bens6ttsd by having the institution
will be enabled pursue Its under
more favorable TO tho efficient training OF the midsh!p
The able superntendent Commodore George 8. Blake,
has bis connection With the school during It's
unsettled state, and its management, under many ais
advantages has been creditabe TO him aud his assoc
ates.
Preliminary measures have been taken 90 carry into
effect the lost session OF Congress, authorizing
the education at the Naval Academy OF cadet engineers
sse who shall have been engaged al least two years in
the fabrication OF sieam machinery circular has been
issued and prnted in the papers OF the great manu-
ing Cities Inviting applications In conformity 70 the law
Before this plan shall be put In operation u s respect
fully submitted, in view OF the radical changes which
wrought by steam as motive power for navel
vessels whether steam engineering should not be made
constitute hereafter necessary part of the educaon
OF ali midshpmen s. that in future navy every line
officer will be q steam engineer, aud qualified TO have
complete command and direction OF his ship. Hereafter
every vessel Of war must be steam vessel lnose de-
order TO econ omze fuel While crus sing the present nd
future navy will therefore combine sails and steam as
motive power and seamanship and steam engine driving
will each be necessary make the finished professional
officer. Tho officers 70 sail and navigate ship and tho
officers to the steam engine are about equal 10 nun
ber.
whatever attention may have been given by MN MN 70 70
taxing charge of eugnc nor are steam engine dyers
capable OF taking charge OF man OF war navigating her,
fighting her guns and preserving her discipline. When
vessels we're propelled exclusively by sails thore we're
but two officers excepting in 1agshps the surgeon and
pay mastor who were not line officers. But Gndef the
present naval system and additional corps Is In.
troduced many steam engineers being required Tor
vessel an there are ue officers and while cruising uudcr
salt or lying In port, performing any duty wben the
engine 10 al rest half OF tue officers are, by ezsng
regulations Idle and incapable OF participating N dui ..
tn are often and oppressive tue ocers Of
the lne comparatively speaking The engineers would
willingly share these duties they acquainted with
them. But half tbek officers OF steamship
cannot keep watch, cannot navigate her. cannot
exercise tho great guns or small arms, n9r,
except as volunteers under us officer, take
part in any expedition against the enemy. On the oner
hand the other half Of the officers are Incapable OF man
aging the steam motive power Of taking charge OF the
engine room 10 emergency, The commander u
vessel though carefully Taught every duty cf sailor
aud drill officer, understand, OF his knowledge,
whether the engineers and femen competent or not
The remedy for oil this s very simple, provided
the principle recognized aud adopted Of
making officers engine drivers as well as saiioi =
II would not be expctent to interfere with the present
status Of line oEcers engneerstne change would 70
TOO radical but We should begin by teaching each Md.
shpman 10 be able to dschsrge the duties OF line ocers
rtpn st, la A