The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-29
THE HON. W. c. WHITNEY
x,ppsssrs MS JUDGMENT THAT
WAL OFFICERS FAMILIES
.,a Not no rerGitted TO Lave at the
sno"'' S,o,,ons or ON board ship.

,,. roccnt tragedy at Yokohama and
.s,oucnt IMPRISONMENT OF United
s .. naval on ,er on tho charge OF murder.
n'"'o 0,s,om Of having tho families OF naval
wv az their stations has been discussed
nn Varied opinions have bcen expressed.
Anu rnho,dinc and somo condemning 1t.
sv,,h;n a few days THE Sun reporter called on
W. ,Io, william {. Whitney. lately Secretary OF
.,o Navy. and obtanolhi views regarding this
s,,ticct. In order TO secure commemorative
s,.,,uont the reporter asked Mr.. whitney the
sonovinr srecinc question. which was supple
,rcn,ed by others o., "a like tenor:
no YOU or do YOU not believe II expedient
.,.t tho headquarters OF our naval s1uadrons
.hnull be at such points that tho officers can
.sro ,hcr wives there and live with themr"
Mr.. whitney said that the custom had caused
great deal OF trouble in the past and that he
.,d not favor it. and that he did not believe 1t
,,ould DO cxpedicnt to allow commanding
on,cers of vessels. and perhaps others. to take
.n.ir w;vcs and families with til EN- on cruises.
' "whor took charge OF the Navy Depart
.,or, h, said. "a difficulty OF considerable
liv" sions, caused by IN act OF naval ON
W" W.. honrinr upon this subject. had stirred my
. ~, to anger. Then. as now. the fam
;os ~ officers Diet tiled to certain stations
ssrs in the habit of living at tho stations. In
hacos, retsr TO quito colony OF officers
,omIes had been formed ut ono OF the Euro
no,n norts great deal OF gossip developed
.monc the women. and tho wife OF an officer
was foolish enough to criticise sharply some
,.,,o, Of Secretary Chandler. Her remark
Gao in some way repeated to him. and 1t
c,oat,v inccnsed him. lie thereupon issued
an ,rder forbiddinG tho wives OF officers from
t,,nulrp them to their stations. His power
N enforce such an order was. perhaps. open
"a ,pcstion. but it intcrfered considerably
with the custom. One officer who allowed his
uifo TO follow him was transferred from tho
desirable European station to the obJectiona-
Ria spryice on the Guinea coast. l forget tho
mama of this officer. but he held q very high
rank-vas. I think. an Admiral or Commodore.
1T would be all right. perhaps. to allow the
wives OF officers to congregate at certain ports
which are headquarters OF tho squadrons X
they we're all practical. sensible women. In
fortunately all women are neither practical
nor sensible. For every woman who would be
rrudent, reasonable. and easily satisfied there
would be dozen who would find fault and
talk too freely. To have the women and chill
dren aboard ship would DO even more harm
full. In the first place. their presence would
destroy discipline. You cannot have proper
discipline with women and children around,
and discipline Is tho most necessary detail OF
naval life. Again. while it is true that
judicious wife OF tho commanding officer
might beauty and elevate tho tone
OF the cabin and anclorato tho rigors Of life
aboard ship yet 1t is quite as possible
that the woman will lack tact and judgment,
and endless chickering's and gossip will re-
suit. II other officers wives were admitted
aboard also it would almost certainly result in
jealousies and worriments. The officers
minds would never be free from domestic
cares. when they ought to be devoted entire
~ to their official duties. Furthermore. there
Is no room on any Of our ships for women.
However 1t may have been in the early days Of
the navy. when wooden sailing vessels were
used. at present the space on all our ships has
to be greatly economized. Take tho cruiser
New York. for instance. Her officers and crew
number 400 men. They have less room for
their personal use than my house affords. II
you were to investigate you would find that
they have to crowd n great deal to find room
for all. Itwould be impossible to put women
and children into such crowded quarters.
Tho present arrangement divides the ma
iority Of the naval vessels into u number OF
squadrons for different stations. They are the
tlon the Asiatic station. and the Pacific sta
tion. The rule in sending a chip to any Of
these Is to make the detail for period OF three
years This gives rise to great deal Of favor
itism. and when was at the head Of the navy
1fcund that one OF the most difficult problems.
Under our system. however. 1t Is impossible
to avoid It The most desirable station in EIy
time was the European. the divisions being
somewhat different then. This gave the off,
GERS practically q three-years' trip. to
Europe under tho most favorable circum-
stances The ships made their rendezvous at
some interesting point with plenty OF society
and opportunity for enjoyment. Tho least
desirable station Is that along the South
American coast. known as the South Atlantic
station. with little to see or do and great
deal OF uncomfortable weather. The officer
who Is sent to the European station considers
that he has three years holiday. while the
one who goes to South America looks upon
his work as being in the nature OF punish
ment In addltion some ships were detailed
Tor special service. I have considered the
subject. and II were to havo the say would
makes complete change in the details.
Instead OF sending one ship here and
others there would send them oil around tho
world. In three years. time each vessel could
make CAREFUL deliberate circumnavigation,
giving each officer the opportunity to become
July acquainted with the various coasts. bays.
and ports OF tho world. There could then be
no cry OF favoritism. for all would DO served
alike. Besides. the officers would DO greatly
hneralizod by the educating influence OF con-
Mct with different peoples. My idea would be
70 have them spend some time attic leading
ports. SO that their knowledge Of the geo.
cfaphy would BIO perfected by personal obscr-
walton. There Is nothing like travel to broa den
man. Just compare the naval officer
VINO has travelled from station to sta
non. to tho army officer whose time
mas been spent chiefly in camp on the frontier.
10 not wish to shy anything dlsparaging to
ue army. but tho difference between these
TWO Is apparent mt n glance. Tho officers OF
.ne navy do not really suffer very much
through being separated from their families.
az present they are Joined usually by their
families at tho headquarters OF the North
atlantic, Pacific. or Asiatlc station. and they |
zee great deal Of them while tho vessels are |
no' cruising, If my plan were adopted. they
you'd meet ut tho leading ports. where
u'e vessels would remain for some
ume, As far rs the officers nre concerned.
=, should say that they like to have
,he'r families meet them. Tho expense OF
living abroad Ia n an nd I h,t 10