New-York tribune., 1894-04-15
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
DISCUSSING THE CHANCES or THE
NAVAL ACADEMY GRADUATING CLASS
INCREASE IN THE ENGINEER CORPS RECON-


Naval academy begin t. think seriously about
their chances for positions in the Navy. II is a
common opinion that whom boy goes % Anna3)hs,
nN only his education bat also his Nfe work are
provided for. This is by no means So When the
cadets graduate from the Academy only those for
whom there actual vacancies can enter the
service.
This year there are SS cadets IN ;hc graduating
casa. oc whom % in the liae division and >
in the engineer division. Two will enter the con-
struc;on corps. Where the vacancies VIII come
from for all the others IS the problem. At present
there only fourteen vacancies in The line. and
there four IN the Marine Corps with two more
In view. This leaves eleven cadets 20 be provided
with duty honorabl, discharged from tho scr
vice with years sea pay. In order 20 provide
bcrths for these candidates g. proposed that some
OF the hopeless cases the sick lis, % the Navy
be ordered before the retiring board! thus. II they
can not do active service themselves. they a. least
will not keep the positions away from others There
also the retirements Of some officers In view by
reason OF their reaching the age limit or else I'M
der fhe forty yoars service law. Iy this means 1t
is estimated that all but one Of the cadets can be
provided for.
Another proposition that has been made is 10 ad-
NIT an extra number Of cadets ir'o the engineer
corps. II is a hard task for the Navy Department
to keep the engineer corps in proper shape. There
Is 4 steady falling of in the number OF officers in
this branch of the service. owing 10 the frequency
Of designations Of those who can and ID secure
much more remuncratve positions In civil lifc. and
owing the neglect Of Congress TO recognize their
appeals for improvement of their standard In ihe
military service Of the Government. AMI also owing
To the Application OF the present law relating 90 the
method of filing vacancies. The number admitted
annually from the Academy IS not sufficient to make
up the natural loss by reason of deaths retire
ments and rcsignations EngineCr-in-C Chief Melville
has urged this matter 10 fhc attention oi congress
in his annual reports for the last six years ana IN
1855 ne sad: THE bureau is constantly embarrassed
IN finding officers for necessary duty ON account 't
The insufficient numbers IN the corps. The numbers
allowed to SHIPS have been reduced as low as
prudence Will permit. and in some cases even lower
than circumstances would secm to justify. owing 10
the inadequate training and insuaic cnt number OF
the petty officers which throws much Of the WORK
that should properly be done by them on com
misslonci officers Marine engineering -
a highly developed specially in which progress ana
chang. arc constantly taking place. To Keep thor
ough.y posted and proficient requires study ana
acluainiancc with the latest practice which under
many OF the circumstances of ordinary duty, Is a'-
most impossible 1 therefore again recommend the
establishment of course Of higher instruction IN
engineering which young engineers should b" obliged
anl oder ones permitted % attend
IL, also urged the repeal ~ tie law limiting
appolrtmcnt 20 the corps 90 graduates OF The Naval
ACADEMY adIng. The great technical schools or
the country are turning out every year large num-
lers ~ young men specially trained 90 'he elem nts
of mechanical engineering Who ony require N-
por.cnce at and the course ~ p'-'sridhhie IN
s,rnctlon recommended 90 make them valuable ens-
necrs in the Navy. recommend thai congress 10
asked to provide under suitable conditions, for the
admission of n certain number OF such Young mon
AS prove on examination 90 have Tho proper attain
/ rncnis They should serve two years Oh probation
As cadet engineers. and then he examined WIN 'h'
c3nlilaics from Annapolis for c'mmissI ms a. 49,
sis,au; engineers. ihe examinations % he r'niru-
I tive | cannot SOC Why o. youn- man Who Its him
sell without expense 10 IN" Government t"F i'
/ naval service should not have Tire sam" ch'n." =
enter IL as more favored oHc. whose Dlurtt1n ht'
! hon rail for by the Government Formerly thi'
/ system existed. and excellent r'n were ''"lh'
! when the examinations were male "s rsli % '''S
4 would bc under the scheme have outlined ih'
| is tho suggestion for the ultimate Improvement 80
b, corns nut whether or not others than graduate
! ~ the Academy be- admitted 10 some future uin"
tho engineer CORPS could gain -'nr"'ai IN ttI'hsi
now. II an extra number u CADETS from The gradual
'n, class should Doe admitted into u ms year 'N''
Is II some of the graduates should BE- ir"n'i''''I
| from the line 20 th" engineer '''IF. -f'' "'' "
f. proposed. IN fact
Thor. are uo,y iwcn'y-one vacancies IN tA' gral'
n, assistant, engineers but only nye members of ih'
graduating class ar. IN the engineering DIVISION. ~
course Il would be necessary 10 have an act 'l '"
grcss in order 70 c0"ct ihs rnfi'r nom one ,,'
- another. but for tho "clfar" of IN" 81, -
Neu as the individual cadets b. s"ein' -r-!rtn' tnA
/ . bee
4 ariuous Inc knowledge required j. 'AtensHt' ',,i
and difficult and the examinations f'f prom" 'h -, ~,
severe And vet the corI3 is kept sn1l ana lI' 'H'
/ GERS are Obliged o. WORK c.I"claiy h"'' "'e'"'
/ the lack ~ sufficient numb'i+
TIE RETIREMENT Or LiErTENANr BATES.
| Secretary Herbert has recently mad" a decision q"
much Interest to the Marine Corps. II was ia tn'
Gaze Of Lieutenant George 7. Bates of inc M"i''
CORPS. who was a candidate FOR promotion To IN
grade of capfaln II was year ago that lie"
tenant Bates went befor. the Examining Board i'
promotion out ~ hc was deficient n SOM Ii"
| fcsgionhl matters h!- cHdulnt'o We fHh.Pt.'ii,
Tor a wear During nat year he became phy sicall
unfit for duty. ana thIS va Il.'i ' , - tb,. nm
| s,t. lie therefore. under the laws sP'iin!"s e''
Marine Corps. must % on ths rr'iir, s,, mus
he it,I'4, ~. DO s.ryc. thc officer Is cntitic
10 De retired the rank OF the mex .s.'i , !,
I,s, Al this time however. there lS %! vacancy -
Jh V,rinr Corps IN the gradc next above that o
icanant Hates-that is in the grade Of captain
~ thr prob,em was. what should be- don" WIN I;l' y
tenant E@'ss: G c2Ga sae of Of a saT cor'ary cr
bcrt has solved the problem by d'cdi'F titt ~ ~
nni 1g,1, yacancy occurs in thD grade Of captain Th
decision establishcs Wcc.i'hl iY' NAV. u,
IN ii'' the Army. where it is siid thai n3mbgtr
cases nave occurred almost Identical win thi7 one
KEARsARGE MEN TO join THE NAil.iG"'
A draft Of who formerly composed IN
orn,, ~ the Kearsargc started for Norfolk yes
,erdov They are 10 be sent to the ne" 'Iu'''
raleigh. when she goes into commission on l"''
! I,. Thc cincinnati it Is said. Will not be read
ia on into commission this month"; "a ',1 N1lro VIZ "
her is not far enough advanced ne N"t !, 49, np
NJ ~ 20, vct gou. into the drydock, ana IL ~ H'
iin9,yf lust when she VIII. II VIII be tne G.,ouE
~ben The material for the Machias ana me Cn", i
s "roi' va for fhe work which VIII have To bc con
t The yard TO bend the frames and otherwlsT Pr ~
,rn ,hem will not make u necessary 10 uo.N ,t W
pai' ,t,,in vessels TO longrhcn them Tor soH' WI
t ,rbis material for the Machias ana the '"s""
"Li"btv or more wOrkmen hav" rcctnly n,'iI !, @ ar
oef in The Construction poparimeh, IN IT., ln =
o ,,,,r" a. the lack Of money. The appoprI"u"n =,
~. month IS go small that all oi the "''h ''"'
. not be kept at work
COMMODORE EHBENs CASE.
The question Of doing justic" to Coinmopo'r nm
: 1,rben is again being discussed. Commodore hroen
now acting rcar-admiral. Whhe ne 'o''''"" " -
! t,r,opean Squadron but when he goes on inc y
'' ~. =, fou 4, will be only cOmmodOr