The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-06-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER,
The 1000 Increase of Seamen Came Just
In Time.
Special Correspondence:

Special Correspondence:
Washington, June Z, 1898.
AS soon as the plans for remOdeling
the navy We're begun to be put into eff
feet about 10 or II years ago it was
apparent that at no distant date it would
be necessary to largely increase the force
of enlisted men in the service, as the
work of ship building progressed and
new vessels were from time to time
turned over to the government and placed
in commission, the lack of seamen tC
properly man them began to be felt. Con
gress was repeatedly urged to authorize
an increase of the force, but the recon-
mendatons of the various secretaries
of the navy We're as often ignored until
just before the adjournment of the last
congress when provision was made tol
the enlistment of 1000 additional men
The increase came none too soon for the
naval authorities had just about reached
the end of their rope. SO great was the
demand for men that it was found nee.
essary in order to place new ships in com
mission to transfer to them the men
from such ships as were laid up in the
various shipyards for repairs. This was
a most unsatisfactory arrangement, but
it was the only thing that could be done
under the circumstances. To send the
magnificent new warships this govern
ment is now putting afloat out to sea
short handed would have been worse
than criminal, so that in case the relief
had not been given by congress many OF
our vessels would have to remain tied
up.
Preparations are now being made for
the new enlistment and will include
landsmen. fremen and seamen. The
first named will he enlisted at New York
and the remainder at Boston, Philadel-
phia and San Francisco.
Great care will be exercised in the en-
listment, in order to secure the best
available material. The number of ap-
plications already made to the navy de-
partment shows that there will be no
excuse for leniency in this respect. II
will be the policy of the department to
reject all candidates who are not physi.
cally sound or who show symptoms that
are likely to develop into early disability,
emitting the unfortunate pOssessOr to
retirement or pension. 1t is not pro-
posed to increase the government pension
list by the admission into the navy OF
persons who do not give physical evil
dence of their ability to serve out their
terms under ordinary conditions.
The whole 1000 men will not be en-
listed at once. hut in lots sufficient to
meet the demands of the service. Crews
will first he needed for the battleships
Maine and Texas. The Maine is at
New York and the Texas at Norfolk.
They are now practically ready for sea,
hut probably will not be put in com,
mission before the LIST of August The
torpedo boat Ericsson. in case she makes
a successful trip. will also be put, in
commission in q few months. Another
vessel requiring a crew is the old frigate
Lancaster, now being fitted out at New
York as practical gunnery ship. Nearly
all the vessels of the navy are short Of
their complement, and the authorized in
crease will be necessary in order to man
the big battleshps Iowa. Indiana. Massa-
chusetts and Oregon. now approaching
completion. and that fact will be brought
to the attention Of congress at its next
meeting.