The record-union., 1897-11-27

The Secretary advises that we add
fifty Ideutenants to the 25O We now
have, and twenty-five juniors to the
seventy-five on the active list He also
advises that the age limit be raised
from p to 26, so as to make it from
Il to 80. He would have the engineer
corps enlarged by seventyfive, though
the Engineerin-Chie asks that the in
crease be such as to make the total
800 instead of 1875. He says that as
far back as 1890 Secretary Tracy rec
commended an increase Of the engineers.
because there We're not then enough
engineer officers in the navy for or
dinary working purposes, and if no
ships We're building an enlargement of
this corps would be necessary
How shall we secure the needed in
crease in the navy? The Secretary sug-
gests that after graduation the service
Of the cadets at sea be reduced to one
year instead of two; that he shall then
be examined as to his proficiency in the
Naval Academy. He, therefore, asks
legislation at the hands of Congress
SO that the age of admission to the
academy shall be from 10 to IS; that
at the end of a four years course the
cadet shall pass his final examination,
when his place shall become vacant;
that he shall then be sent to sea for
one year, returning at it's expiration to
the academy for final examination in
the practical duties of his profession.
This will secure an increase immedi-
ately of thirty seven officers and will
permit the commissioning next June of
forty-nine cadets who will then have
completed their years cruise. The
present academic course is six years,
but only one-sixth of the maximum
number Of yearly entries allowed is
availed of by young men of the nation,
and the number graduating each year
is less than one-siXth of the maximum
allowed by law.
But if this increase is effected, still,
says the Secretary, there will be an in
sufficient number Of officers to provide
for the future needs of the navy and
for body of officers who could be called
into service as reserves, to man the re-
serve fleet and the auxiliary cruisers. He
therefore advises that the President be
given authority to appoint ten addi-
n loft 10, f1e Il !,
If then a sufficient number of officers
shall have been graduated to meet the
necessary increase, the surplus gradu-
ates should be discharged and allowed
to seek other employment, but kept on
the rolls, subject to call of the President,
for q. number Of years.
In 1882, by operation of an Act of
Congress, several classes of naval cadets
who had entered the academy under the
promise, or understanding that they
were to be taken into the service, We're
discharged. 1t may have been necessary
at that time, says Secretary Long, but
it worked a hardship upon the cadets
and was loss to the navy of several
promising men. If now there is made
provision for recall of these men, under
strict examination and severe require
ment as to physical condition and char
acter, some fifteen or twenty of them
would probably return at once, who are
able to pass the examination, and would
become, because of their education,
training and maturity, most useful Off
GERS of the navy.
Referring to the number of enlisted
men the Secretary says we now have
| so few that as new ships are put into
| commission it will be found necessary
to take others out and put them into
the reserve. Such a condition Of things
should not continue. Secretary Her
bert, his predecessor, urged enlargement
cf the enlisted corps. The question is
whether Congress with these repeated
recommendations before it, which are
fortified by the Endorsement of the
Chiefs of Naval Departments, and all
the commanding officers of our fleets, as
we'll as the experienced men at the head
Of the Naval Academy. will grant the
requests so pressingly made.
It will not do to say that such action
is unnecessary because in case of war
we can instantly fill the ships Of our
navy with American citizens. patriotic
and ready to volunteer their services,
and risk their lives in defense of their
country. Far more than is requisite in
the army, it is essential that men of the
navy shall be specially educated and
trained for their duties. Any war of the
future upon the high seas will be short,
sharp. bitter and terribly destructive,
because the modern engines of war are
so vastly superiorto anything of the past.
Neither they nor the ships carrying
them can be handled safely by men un-
trained to their use. War Is no longer
a thing of sentiment and valor alone
II is most largely a thing of technical
skill and thorough competency on the
part of both officers and enlisted men.
One overshadowing reason why the
people should vote yes" on the Fol
som road proposition is that they VIII
save money to every section OF the
county by so doing. If the liberal and
unpreced ented offer Of the State TO Sac
ramerto County is downed, the general
fund. to which all contribute, will be