The sun., 1891-04-12
MANNING THE BRITISH NAVY.
II Is Under-omcered and Under-manned-
Where arc the Needed Men to be Found

II Is Under.omcered and Cnder-manned-
Where arc the Needed Men to be Found
LONDON, April 1.-The late debates IN tho
House Of Commons on tho naval estimates
have shown that some OF the most important
points were not touched upon by the speakers.
Lord Salisbury and Mr.. Goschen, having got
tho money from the nation. are applying 1t to
tho construction OF fleet which England hopes
and trusts will prove as serviceable as 1t 10 to
be large. and they have so regulated the anan-
cial procedure while tho ships are building
that nothing short OF . revolution can prevent
the nation from possessing. In 1894. that ad-
ditionnl naval hull which has been deemed In
dispensable for it's security. Beyond this, as-
surance has been given repeatedly that at the
time OF launching neither shot nor she'll will be
found wanting. aud that guns big and small
will be ready for actions How far this official
assurance will be confirmed by fact Is difficult
to judge. considering that at present the
Sharpshooter. Spider. and Blonde lying at
Devonport, are Runless and that tho Swift
sure. tho future flagship at that port. Is to be
provided with old-fashioned gun carriages:
that at Chatham the Blake. Sanspareil. Shel-
drake. Andromache. and SalamRnder are with
out their ornaments and that the Nelson is
now being refitted with the old muzzle leaders.
and that very much the same state OF things
prevails at Portsmouth.
Only last week two officers inspected man
of-war at Portsmouth. They found that her
working crew numbers fifty men in alternate
watches OF twenty-five; but when the watch
was mustered 1t consisted OF one mani
No wonder that English people who know.
have their misgivings as to whether the entire
fleet In 1894 will be able to leave port each
vessel with her full complement OF officers.
blue jackets. marines, and stokers and yet
leave . sufficiently large reserve OF all classes
to flll up Immediately the probable vacancies
incidental to war.
In the mean time. 1t were we'll to state what
other reasons there are for such appreben-
sions. Although naval mannuvres. as con-
certed this year can throw only discredit on
this means Of educating the naval British
forces. they have yet been useful as an evil
dence of the fact that the British navy is un-
dermanned-not In seamen and stokers only,
but in. the insufflcioncy Of executive officers;
Granting that their efficiency was not marred
by want OF either men or Of officers II Is very
sysn \ for ,9e soape o monhs Wthonn
iLiorcsments: When the first Lord OF the Ad-
mratS stated IA the house Of the
vessel" lie was thinking Of, pence and ma
%ss.s Of very 9Esasa has dgrsSn o tie sGn mo
RilizatioP Of the entire navy in time Sf war r.
navy With the saR u
Se hTi could no ROB Per to
Paul. And without drawing on the retired
M on ins naval It Is S 6s
VESSEL" " This is the tie reason !hs Instruction
have, afforded with regard TO mobilization.
is only partially valuable. for In case Of war
set ee ns shs o
as an average Instance Of The Peter sna Iaul
adm1a Bards 's"s ana eHd Admiral
ersaty un1es aes differed % ia the navy Is. ~"
ants, 10 gunners boatswains. Al medical, q
oiileeis ae Were en" 70 these set ships IN
order that they might 80 to sea, This does NO, no,
manders, employed il lieu Of lieutensnts, as
the list Of CAPTAINS and Commanders 10 kn2wn wn n
the IL lower w % rSnE that officers are scarce. -
Before passing ON n s VEL ,b to nots whence
nsss Tsss H5 'fs ioa
ships. two gpnnsry ships; two torpedo ships.
'sSe sss bx
which actually, formed part Of the pobilized
ants and few midshipmen were drawn from
the naval reserves
Now. with the exception OF the vaorous and
tho training brigs. mono Of these vessels could
IN time OF war. spare a. single man. 1t cannot
be presu led that the Voltage. Ruby. or Calypso
could each do With ono lieutenant less In war
than In peace. and that one their gupnery
Lieutenant. y is clear that the gunnery and
instructors. for who would thon tench recruits
the handling oi such complicated w"apo 8 as
modern gun. and torpedoes. not 10 mention
the first rudiments Of drill? Nor could the
complemeqt OF officers IN the guard ships be
asSits and sttsaa to mui.iiarions M @ duios thSi