New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-08
MIR. CHANDELIERS REPORT.
NEEDS OF THE NAVY.
RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO NEW sHIPs-THE PER-
SONNET OF THE NAVY.

WASHINGTON, Dec. I'm his annual report
the Secretary Of the Navy Department gives considerable
attention to the new steel cruisers and the completion OF
the doubleureted monitors but gives no facts addl-
tiona those contained the report Of the Naval Ad
visory Board, which published recently secretary
Chandler concurs the recommendations OF the Al
vsory Board to the proposed additional new vessels
| Upon this subject he says
The immediate object should DO at moderate expense 70
replace won-out cruisers with modern CONSTRUCTORS
fitted for general service, and for this reason tne recon-
srucOn should for the present be continued on e INES
already begun. In presenting the recommendations OF
the Board the Department in addition advises the con-
tine Advisory Board, November z. 1881 and by the
report OF last year. OF one f6 soST and By the
present Board In Its memorandum OF November ~
boats recommended by the first Board of
the kind asked for in the Ordnance ordnance
and the Department believed TO be in pursuance Of
wise plan for that reconstruction OF our naval IorSe
all admit s in form and to some extent lndlspensa
bile 10 national welfare Such plan should conform TO
| the demands OF our national policy.
| NO NEED OF A GREAT NAVY.
| Secretary Chandler says that war with European
power is remote contingency, ana we should cherisn
no ambition to take the lead among the naval powers oil
the world certainly not unt again become foremost
in the possession Of merchant marine" Any differ
ence" he adds which would involve in conflict with
one OF the great powers should be the growth OF time,
other hand In order be prepared not merely by the
potentiay of our immense resources, but also by an
actual armament, to assert at all times our natural,
usabe and necessary ascendency In the affairs OF tne
American hemisphere we need VESSELS nf
| war; and OF such kind that 1t shall be
Brief SSe of being 0de Expanded into S'ph nnc
squadrons. It is well known that we have not the exc
tude into which the fleet has fallen through failure to
provide for its gradual renewal by modern ships Is Justly
available for actual service are insufficient to give train
ing to the officers and seamen, unequal to the present
and prosperous maritime state The specific plan which,
in the opinion Of the Department should be
| ent decaying fleet by modern constructions.
As sufficient for that result, the Department would
therefore advise the continuance or the policy recon-
mended OF building annually at least seven new SHIPS
a he eSanty viii fin and Itself Of modern
safety and honor OF the Nation"
| REDUCTION OF THE FORCE OF OFFICERS.
Upon the subject of the gradual reduction of the
personnel OF the Navy the Secretary says "Under the
most favorable circumstances the work Of rebuilding
new ships progresses steadily 1t will be ten years before
the maximum feet is attained. AS the personnel under
the reduced standard, is sufficient for such fleet, 1t is
II has not Yet fallen 20 the reduced standard There
therefore double sdPeray OF 4thSersi rst IN the
| OF the existing feet, and secondly In the excess
OF the Present list over the REDUCED complement.
ton should be made at once Instead OF being postponed
for the slow and gradual operation OF nature Further
DELAYED and deserving men will be compelled wait for
hasten the reduction It is therefore recommended FIRST
the law be amended as to cause the retirement
OF all officers at the age OF sxty-twO years.
Secondly, 1t is recommended as prompt aud prao-
teal way Of making the reduction prescribed by law
OF nine officers OF nigh rank on the active or retired list
who shall scrunlle thoTougny tle nst OF onieers IN
fixed by the act of August ., namely $40 officers from
and Including the grade OF rearadmra to aud including
the grade OF senior ensign, 1'U medlcal olhcefs
nnetysT pay o Se5 hng f ePs9ger U
active list 70 discharge the current duties OF the service
and to be entitled 10 their promotion after proper
vice and examination az vacancies occur without refer
ence 10 officers not thus selected who shall be consd
cred supeTnumerary and placed on separate list not en-
titled TO promotion, and with leayeoi,aDscnce pay but
subject to be ordered to service with the proper pay OF
retire o reaching the age fixed by law or may retire at
any before reaching that age on their own appnca
i'm each corps IL may advisable authorize the choice
10 be IRON the whole list OF officers In tha cCrpss
rrsesb conforming the final number of that corps TO
that liked by law. 1he immediate creation OF the fore.
Going super numcrary list Is imperatiyely demanded
the naval service Is to beproperly conducted"
NEED OF MAYNARD REFORMS.
NIuch 9,niculty" the report says has been expert
eneed In cfecting navy yard reforms owing to the oppo
stion Of persons interested in the existing system
only TO closing the repair shops yards be hereafter
ker only as naval stations and arsenals but also TO
cenraton ana economy az Tbe as!utance er0 anI
ne sought and effectively accorded. The argll-
ments and facts which show that reforms should
Construction from wooden TO steel ships would Of itself
involve revolution in methods OF work with but little
more than thirty vessels ia commission only five or six
have required repairs at any one une ana by distributing
these among as many navy ts, Inc P MA
mon and charged to the one ship then In hn With the
resuIts which published records have shown.
The question whether all the steel naval vessels of the
fntre shall be constructed by contract Of Of them
Inv Contract and some in the navy yards it is
! determine
of such ships might be judclOusly and economically built
o. the Yards it Is doubtful whether the machinery will
er bs an constructed. All the engines for the British
navy are built in private shops. But concedus
That wherever the ships may be originally built,
H Is desirable Il Government to possess shops fitted
for such repairs may from time TO time DC found netes
sry due truth to declare that the Government re-
par shops under the present system ought not To be in
thoroughly TeOrganized In such way as TO exclude all
| nutcA considerations rom their management, other
wise bad and expensive work VIII De the result We
cannot afford to destroy the speed OF our naval
| engines in order to make votes Tor political
Darty Whatever other Governmental agency may be
Quoted with partsansDlp gfea, naval mUiASnoPl aeal
ing with the null OF modern steel steamship It's htungs
and equipment, and with the complexities OF its machin
cry cannot be successfully managed. No charge Of
fayorng private shipbuilding establishments should
vohops are managed on business principles and with
out regard politics. the construction ana repair OF the
crs who employ discharge their oremen ana all their
artisans according to their skas mechanics and without
caring for their political opinions OF Votes
ESTIMATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The remainder Of the report is devoted largely to the
reports and Lieutenant Harbers search for the
missing Jeanette men, The condition OF the Naval
Academy reported in every way satisfactory The
estimates the year ending June 3d. 1885, are: For
,,norv nurposes Sl63193O7 rs; for increase Of
the NAVY S7,449,5Sl 81. The Secretary favors
Immediate and continued work coast defences, and
AIS FOR authority establish additional cOang stations
IL al an recommends that officers ~ the Navy be EN-
poyed all Government work upon the ocean, ana mat
Iii 1vdrngraphic surveys should be carried on by the
Navsl photographic Office He also urges the establish
ment of a Bureau of Mercantile Marine.