The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-03
ARMY TRANSPORTATION
SAMPSON SUGGESTS POL
ICY ADOPTED by ENGLAND.
Protested to the Navy Department
After Skaters Army Was
Sent to Santiago.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2.-Now that the
question has arisen as to the best method
of providing an efficient system of trans
portation by sea for the army, it may be
of interest to note what the view of the
Navy Department has been all along in this
matter. The attention of the department
was called by Admiral Sampson at an early
stage to the defects of the transport sys-
tenn as revealed in the departure from Tam
pa of the Shafter expedition and the delays
in the landing at Daiquiri Cuba The action
of the Navy Department at the time is
shown by the following memorandum pre-
pared by Captain Dickens, who was at the
time acting as chief of the Navigation Blu
reau in the temporary absence of Captain
Crowninsheld
Bureau of Navigation, July % Memoir
andum for the Chief of Bureau of Navi-
cation:
Sir: The following cablegram was re-
ceived to-day from Rear Admiral William
T. Sampson, U. S. N, commanding North
Atlantic fieet Sir: In view of the close rela-
lions of the army and navy which must exist
in such operations as the present and to
avoid friction, specific regulations govern
ing the combined action of the two services
are necessary. 1 would recommend the adop-
ton at once of the English regulations on
this subject, including transport service,
which exist in full detail. Their experience
has been far larger than that of any other
power, and l think their methods would
be perfectly adaptable to ourselves. If their
regulations for combined action are not in
the department, would suggest asking for
them at once through our naval attache
In looking up information covering the
subject of the above cablegram, l am not
able to find in the office of the naval in
telligence any publication relating to the
regulations covering the combined action of
the two services In consequence of this,
would suggest that cablegram be at once
sent to our naval attache at London, to
forward these regulations to the depart
ment if possible to do so. From the
Queens Regulations and Admiralty In
structions for the Government of Her Ma
jesty's Naval Service, 1893, it is evident
that the transport service is in charge of
the naval branch of their government. On
Page 479, under Chapter 30, Article 1858, it
states as follows:
Whenever any of her Majesty's land
forces shall be embarked as passengers in
any of her Majesty's ships, the officers and
soldiers, from the time of embarkation,
shall strictly observe the laws and regula-
lions established for the government and
discipline of her Majesty's navy, and for
these purposes shall be under the command
of the commanding officer of the ship as
well as of the senior naval officer present !;
and all military officers and other persons
under the equivalent rank of captain, r. NJ,
taking passage, and all military officers in
actual command for the time being of any
of the troops embarked through whom or
ders to the troops (given by the officer of
the watch) are required to pass, shall be
under the command of the officer of the
watch
This shows conclusively, / think, that
the transport service is entirely in the hands
of the naval establishment This article
is followed by several Others giving detailed
instructions. In advance of receiving the
regulations covering the combined action of
the two forces, it might be a good plan,
after due consultation and arrangema nt
with the War Department. to make begin
ming by following the English regulations
SO far as they apply to transport service,
as they could, in all probability, be made
easily adaptable to our service, and also,
for the reason, as Admiral Samson states,
that the English experience has been far
larger than that of any other power. Their
regulations covering these matters are. of
course, the result of experience and of many
active operations covering long period vi
years, and for that reason alone would 1
think be safe to follow, and which, of
course, could be modified from time to time
when applied to our service as Experience
might dictate. f. w. DICKENS,
Assistant Chief of Bureau"