Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-07-22
TEE AMERICAN savr.


xhkM110
Variocs are the eynnents np0n the
action Of the Secretary Of TIE NsyJ in
regard 20 tie RECESSION Of the stesn-
slhip DoIphtn, baIii b. John Roach for
the q. 8. Navy. The ship has been re-
jected. according ts newspaper accounts.
for several reasons. Secretary Whitney
seems 20 have taken the iEHtistory step
Of quitting the navy Of The United states
in something like sc effective condition
Bot there - ona thing psramoolt %
all other eonsi&ersti.ans, and thsk y
The orRanizing and disc paioing Of fss
crews bslOnQsnR 10 TIE Bhips ~ the
navy. AdnaiFAl Porter, M years grsne
by, delivered sDtss ca tn which ke re
marked: - Yon may IN fe1 month";
build and tq1ip fns ships site All
modern improvements. bus where are
tbs trained men t1at are " man these
shipeT' The dsties OF SEAMAN "a sc
navy are muitIfart0us, which takes Years
Of training 10 make him sfheisni; there
is bis cleanliness, intelligence, sAseF1ty,
obedience ard general aptitude for that
peculiar life On shipb0ard- TIE old
adaRe that the GsiloVs and MAJ OF
war refuse nothing" has been psaoti-
oaIIy obsolete in t3ese DAYS, although,
doubt that some Of toe men eompfis-
ing the crews Of nan-of var are more
deserving Of dancing = iiR a. the end
of q rope without q foot or q pipeE
than they ars Of drawing the pay and
tations of Uncle San.
The writer Of this article has served |
In the navy Of tlIe United States Al |
different periods Bipse tie year 1850, |
and last Ia 1854, and ! ian note ths /
change tkat has takes place in the or i
Ranization and Discipline Of she navy. |
When / FIRST entered The navy Of the
United States there were no national /
vessels that l ever saw that could per
form evoiutions IN drilling sails. or any |
of she branches III saamAaship OF gun !
merry, with greater dexterity than an |
American man-of war; but latteriy | |
have 20 acknowledge that orders we're |
executed To- iubtsriy m8nneE by what /
may be termed diaoTKanizsd mob u 1
comparison 20 what u formerly was
There are several things 80 account for
this change. The education Of the
officer during thu past 30 years has
taken an upward stride Ia all the higher /
branahss Of theory, whils the nautical |
sduoatiou OF the SEAMAN has detsfi0f
'ated, siInpiy fFom the great aln0unt Of |
steam ard meebanssm that are nov 20 |
use on board Of ships. Therefore there |
n n,.thing In c0m aian between the cd. |
ucation OF the officer and seaman; the |
officer generally rejecting all practical |
hinta or reports from the seaman. on |
petty ofilcef. Bat the officer should |
bear In mind that she praesicsl mas
may become 9 theoretical one, but tbe |
theoretical one will never become th.
practical until he ROes through prao' |
ticai tfaininRi f0r the practical man, IA
learning tis professor, acquires = est |
tain amount Of Theoretical kpovlsdee,
although be may be unable % explain
u. Bome psopls may hay, "Oh, The
dsys OF old pfsasisal snaMsanahip ars
over; ne want men that are trained m
all the modern inlpf0JelDenss IN gun
nefy, torpadoes, do" Bat answer that
she aptesi scholars that l fosnd IN all
new improvements are she bJna tide
practical seamen-
During the past ten years training or
school ships have been established By
Congress for naval apprentices; but |
find, with all the training and pains
that have been taken with them, they |
make q very sorry show ID ell branches
of their profession. 1he Amasican navy |
only eo0prises ten or twelve thousand |
enlisted men. Small ~ this force is, u
oRn be made the nueleus Of sixty thou. |
sand % Enan the chips under good Of |
RanlEatlosi. has tie CREST u dehSloaey |
lies 10 the lset OF practical men.
Therefore Secretary Whitney has other |
important Vroblems 20 solve besides get |
ting strong, fast and efficient ships fer |
the navy; for may we'll quote the wofcs |
Of celebrated naval authority; " tie |
battle will be decided By the quick eye. |
GOODNESS and steady nervs Of the iutelli- |
gent seaman thai hapdIe, the lockstFine
that hfes tAe gun" There is cue thing |
the Americans might cs,py with profit |
from John Bail, aud thai IL, after maa
has served the Government for period |
Of n years. give him y,eRsiou OF two
thirds OF bis last psy that he had while
In active service. Az tbs law now staudss
q man will grow gray and blind 10 thu
seryioe, and still he haa got 90 ~ uniIl |
the DOCTOR OF rendezsoaa refuses TO |
shtp him, and then he 1.-THE seamsIl) |
often has goa trouble In making his |
claim good. "a
| am psffecsly eonversant with ell the |
laws and regulations OF the U. 5. Navy. |
Therefore, ehould you hnd spaco In your
eolamns for the foregoing, please pah |
liah. a. u may esliighten those that are !
not acquainted la naval matters.
JoHs BIdL.
saNIsH, Jely is..lss6.