The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-25

moments notice He IS surrounded by
eight bureau chiefs presumed 20 Ae
specialists and appointed By reason o.
marked sbility. There are over ls naval
officers in Washington on shore, and these
suoordinstes are n general the elect Ct
those doing other than sea service
Another hundred naval officers are sta
tened az Newport. Norfolk. Philadelphia.
New York. Boston and the naval acad-
envy. II did not take Secretary Long
great while 20 find this cut, and so III
stead OF choosing for an assistant Some
body who had previously been connected
with the service he chose Roosevelt with
ability and self-relisnce. R0o,svelts ap-
pointment is therefore regarded by many
as a defiance o. the naval community and
an indication that the naval organization
viii be carefully investigated.
IL is said BY naval experts that there
IS need Of A general overhauling- One %
the subjects 10 be looked into. II Is said,
will be the condition OF the various naval
reserve organizations. The naval reserve
comes under the supervision OF the assist
ant secretary. 1t Is asserted that there is
something like demoraiiza ton in some of
the leading battalIons. The reserve IS
said 10 be developing too rapidly into
quasi-socfsl organization. IN which every
member expects 10 bear a commission in
case OF war. At the annual convention
Of the National Reserve Organization in
Baltimore last year the suggestion 10 en-
courage the enlistment OF more firenien
was frowned upon. because IT was affirm
ed by some that the entry OF such men
would interfere with the social prestige
OF the body. II is said that artisans and
firemen are thus excluded from the re-
serve although with our modern engines
OF war, these are just the men needed.
Then there is the system OF heavy gun
construction, which many experts regard
as obsolete. The British admiralty have
been building wire-wound guns for the last
three years, and these weapons have
proved an unqualified success. The gun
OF wire-wound construction is cheaper.
lighter and shorter than the forged hoop
type. and will withstand higher pressures.
II can be built in less time. so the experts
say, and the leading ordnance experts OF
Great Britain regard the hoped gun as
Anticipated in design. One OF our most
distinguished naval officers declared not
long ago, after an inspection of the Els
wick ordnance shops in England. that
"the American navy is five years behind
hand in heavy gun construction
There is a rich field for investigation in
the manner OF dock design and construc-
ton. 1t is declared by those who are IA
miliar with the circumstances that the
cVisu ACtsoH Vi every iaFdi dock autnor-
lied in the past twenty years has been
attended with incompetency and scandal
Political exigencies and not strategical adj
vantage have determined the location OF
the docks.
II is admitted by every naval expert
that If ever the United States should have
war with Great Britain New England
would OF necessity become our base OF
naval operations. The base of British
operations would be at Halifax for there
alone would the British fleet have close
at hand an unlimited coal supply. and
New England would be the first point of