The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-23
xArAn VIEWS ANp xorrs.
The British North Amsrican sausdrsa-
Admirnl Hunee's Fleet.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-Tho reiteration
from Halifax of tho statement that Great
Britain intends not only TO increase her feet in
American waters, but to make two stations
hero, one. with Headquarters at Halifax and n
subordinate one for tho West Indies, possibly
with Headquarters at Bermuda, has excited
soma interest. A similar report was denied
some time ago by the Secretary OF the Admir-
atty as devoid Of foundation. Possibly the
denial referred 10 the statement that the force
would DO doubled. At all events. an increase
is again reported, with the addition that Rear
Admiral Domville, rs successor of vice-Ad-
miral Erskine, 10 expected to have the big
new cruiser Terrible as his flagship. the pros
emit flagship Crescent being r~elegated TO the
West Indies division OF the feet. 1t 10 said
also that the large battle snip Renown will be
attached temporarily to tho feet. How far
this renewed rumur 10 true must again be q
matter of some doubt.
The repairs of Admiral Bunce's vessels are
still going on. and It now seems likely that n
little more time will be allowed to the work.
before the middle of December. The accident
to the Texas adds to the list OF repairs neces-
time at the yard than had been indicated.
Th" brooklyn and Puritan may not be in COM
mission before the new year, and. OF course.
One difficulty experienced Is that OF enlist
ing the men required for the Puritan. There
have been no ships put out of commission
very rec ntly. and enlistments until cold wea-
Their comes are apt to be slow.
A forecast of the work that may be expected
| for the passage OF the bill to increase ths corps
of navy engineers has been furnished by the ad-
vocacy of IL at the recent meeting of representa-
tives OF land-grant colleges and experimental
stations. One of the provisions of the bill Is
that OF gradually makinL ND the new number Of
officers proposed for the Engineer Corps from
| those who have been educated at technical in
stitutes in various parts o. the country. Nat
urally. therefore,, these institutions take an
interest in the bill, which provides for an in
crease in the number OF engineer officers from
Mt the coming short session, with important
matters OF revenue and finance to be acted on.
and the routine supply Hills, there will be
much done with bills for the reorganization OF
the personnel of the navy.
Recent statistics show that there were no few
er than LOAF assertions from the navy during
the year reported on. This Is certainly n
great loss for n service so small as ours. espe-
cially whom the number of warrant officers and
average. is considered. and also tho fact that
nearly a third of tho men, or 81 per cent. were
serving. under the continuous service system,
which has Its advantages: One point To note
is the proportion OF American citizens among
the enlisted men, this being I2. while Sc per
cent. OF the apprentices were American born.
1t is probable that the Iowa " Ill be ready to
Join the North Atlantic squadron next spring
or summer. Tho contract for her was signed
as long ago as Feb. II. 1898, just before Secre.
tary Tracy went out of ONCE, and this would
allow ...ore than four years for her construc-
ton. but her keel was not laid until Aug. 5 of
that year.