New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-01
To Tie An0caici Press.
WASHINGTON Thursday, Mnrch 81. 1861.
TRANSFER OF SAILORS PROM 1HE ARMY TO
THE ARMY.


The Secretary of the Navy in his response
resolution OF inquiry says no transfers Of SER
men from the Army 10 the Navy have been effected
under the recent act Of Congress and hiyTe vessels
~ gar are now awaiting comp,emcnts OF men. Not
only are these vessels waiting for crews but The terms
Of many seamcn now in the service have expired, and
the men detained 10 manage our ships though Justly
entitled to discharge Were they not detained, many
Of TIC vessels blockade duty would have to go ont 81
service This state Of things is be deplorod and Is
in great measure, if not entirely attributable TO
unfortunate legislation For the Enrolment act Of
the last Congress 80 utterly ignored the naval service
nt enlstments in that service not permitted to
be credited on the quotas Of those communities from
which they were drawn when the draft came to be en-
forced In addition to these obstacles the appropriation
for extraordinary bounes for army enlistments while
not dollar was paid to the sailor, operated to dscred1
the naval service and held out strong inducements Tor
the military service The fact that rigid enforcement
the law would De- disastrous In all It's effect upon the
navy WIS 10 obvious that attempts were at once h"ue
IN nrocure such modification OF the draft or The manner
OF It's execution, should prevent the Withdrawal VI
mariner, from their profession and the incorporation OF
absorption Of them in the army, thereb! weakening anu
trimming the navy. But tie military authorities OBJ
eoted as the strict letter OF tie law permitted 10
exmption Of mariners from the draf. credit TO any
place for naval entments nor in the execution OF the
io,y VA, there any relaxation Of the Enrolment act
whereby the navy could b. strengthened and maintained
Earnest appeals were made by the Executive OF several
maritime States and many Of the municipal authorities
ON the seaboard claiming that the naval recruits 0uSht
Justly be credited ON their quotas But they were mol
allowed Consequently the local influences became adj
verse Ia naval enstmenis. and the navy Itself soon DC
gan TO feel the effects Of this policy
Vessels intended TO protect our commerce a'ioat
which should have sailed last Aatumn still without
mcn for our whole force is required for the blockade
There is undoubtedly remonstranco on the part OF
military officers to part with any portion oil Meir CON-
and but the true interest OF the country Is the para
mount consideration. and should govern that question
He recommends, in order to supply the existing de-
cicncy In the navy that mariners OF not less than TWO
ve,rs' service should be- transferred nom the army to
the navy without having any reduction from the prize
money TO which they may become entitled and that so
much of tho auendatory enrolment act us "iihhoius
bouuy fom sailors transferred from the army be re-
peaed Iflcgilation he believes to be the case has
carried marines into the military service, they should
all be taken OFT by the most summary process ana
transferred to tc navy where their natural education
makes them 'nllbpfbSapc' pu' ""'N" '
der them no more valuable than andsmen for the duty
of a soldier
CAVALRY OFFICER TRANSFERRED.
Capt. NJ. J. Ashe, for some months past Chiei
of Cavalry in the Department OF the North-We has
been ordered to Washington to serve in the Cavalry
Bureau.
THE FORCES IN KANSAS AND INDIAN TERRITORY
II anpeaR from an official communication OF
the Secretary Of War; that the strength oil the forces III
Kansas and the Indian Territory subject to the oruer
of Gen. Curtis. Is 10, 900 men.
COLONIES COMMANDING BRIGADBs.
There are IG2 Colonies now commanding
brgades without including those Temporarily CON-