The morning times., 1896-03-16
AFTER ADMIRAL BELKNAP
Engineers Defend Themselves
From His SCOrn.
IGNORED IN HIS ARTICLE
Duty and Rank of the Men Who Su-
perintend the Machinery-Line
Must Divide the HOnOrS.
IGNORED IN HIS ARTICLE

The engineers Of the Navy are disposed
to take sharp issue with Rear Admiral
George :. Belknap and the manner in which
he has "stUdioUsly ignored them as part
or parcel of the fighting force OF the ship.
one Of the engineers, talking TO The
Times yesterday, said that the engineers
had taken offense at the discrimination
Of Admiral BelEnap in some OF his recent
utterauces. There is d great deal Of mis-
understanding, he said, as to what these
engineers are. They are not the engine
drivers, who are admitted 10 be brave
and hard worked lot OF men, but the Of
ficers, who have charge OF the complicated
machinery of the vessel, which Will be
seen at once 10 he most important duty
These engineers have only what is called
a 'rclative rank" or. in the phrase OF the
Navy, they are i'll The Navy but not OF the
Navy.
Admiral B,lkuap recently published an
article in which ne described with much
circumstance a ship going into action and
cudcayored TO give credit 10 all or the
force enGa ged. 1t appears that the en-
giuccrs have been omitted. either design
cdly or by dent. from the category of
those entitled to credit.
PREPARED \ REPLY.
4 reply 70 this publication has been
prepared by an authority on the subject
which viii he out soon, and from which
he following has been extracted:
In Admiral Be!kndp's article, which
wOGld cover quite five pages. nOt one word
appears 10 indicate that there was an
engineers force aboard the ship. We're
il not that the word engines appears in
compliment 10 the builders for the manner in
which the machinery and hull 'withstoOd
thcla bOr nd strain ofgale. crashO OF shetland
shell and torpedo shock and again when
referring 10 The escape or the ma Chinery
from injury by torpedo shock-were II not
fO- these two instances, the art icle would
convey the impression that it dealt with q
sailing frigJte endowed with some myster-
iOUS mower Of motion. instead Of with d
vessel entirely dependent for her efficiency
upon the Officers aud men in charge OF her
machinery. "a nd in herself tie fCrerGuucr OF
the great hattleships OF today.
THAT DOLPHIN BOARD.
The article OF \ dmirJl BeIknap furnishes
u characteristic example OF the attitude
or the Line toward the engineers force
aboard ship. and slluSt rates anew theirentire
lack OF recognition for the element which
has transformed the sailing frigate into tue
'COlumbias' ana 'Indianas' OftOday.
1t may be added that this is not the
only instance in which This author has ap-
pedrei in II unenviable role, for it was he
who was chosen president OF the board TO
report on the Dolphin which vessel was
condemned as 'structUrally weak though
subsequently She proved TO be perhaps the
stauchest vessel in the entire naval service.
Truly. there is a need for Congress to
awake the Line from its dreams of past
ages. and bring IL to a realization or the
fact that in day when ships are
mere aggregations of machinery. IT can no
longer lay sole claim to the honors and
emoluMents OF a naval career"