The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-11-23
OUR STRENGTH AFLOAT.
Some Interesting Facts About THIS
COuntry's Splendid Resources
OF AbIe-DOdied Seamen.

The ability of the United States to
supply capable sailors was never ex-
hbited more strongly than few
months ago, when the enlisted force
was quickly and without great labor
sudde My increased to double its peace
strength within a comparatively brief
period All these men were picked,
equipped for the various duties for
which they were enlisted on shipboard,
and presented as fine body of seamen
as the naval service would desire even
in peace time, when opportunity for
close selection is necessarily greater
and more care can be given to the ex-
aInirations for admission. Had there
been pressing emergency the men
actually enlisted in two months could
easily have been obtained in three
weeks, but the navy was so well
equipped before the war that the Off
Gals were justified in using the same
scrutiny in enlisting men as in times of
peace. Tic result was that the navy
had on all its fighting craft the finest
and most competent body of men prob
ably that were ever af1oat in its his
tory. The records of the enlistments
show that last April the strength Of
he service. including all classes, sail
ors, machinists, coal beavers, and
every other rating on shipboard, num-
bered about IL, 500 men, and on August
Is, when the strength reached its high.
est point, the floating force had been
doubled, Numbering 24,122 men. This
| I, hn e Of hn
standing army when fully enlisted one
wear ago. The additional men came
| from all sections of the country, but at
| least 5000 were the naval militia or
CARNATIONS, which did such efficient
| work on the auxiliary vessels. The re-
mainder came from the great lake re-
zion, the far southwest, the south and
alorg both coasts and were enrolled
at receiving ships by special boards
and otherwise.
A tabulated statement which has
been prepared shows that on April /,
although war then seemed imminent,
there were only 10000 men in service,
and on June ! 10000, high-water mark
being reached August Is. From then
| It began to decrease gradually as dis
| charges were made and further en-
listments stopped. AT least 10000 men
could have been secured by October |
if enlistments had been kept up at the
same rate. On October / the strength
Of the navy was 20,275, and it is pro-
posed to keep it at that point so long
Is the peace commission sits. A strong
| .tfort will be made to have the per-
| nancnt strength of the enlisted force
lot less than that hereafter. Capt.
Crowninshield and Secretary Long
have concluded that the navy as at
| present constituted, and considering
the ships building, cannot be main
tanned with a force of less than 10000
| men, and the completion of the pro-
gramme OF construction. now under
| way, will require the addition of 5000
| ncn. The two receiving stations are
expected to supply large proportion
If the enlistments, the purpose of the
department in establishing a second
| station on the Pacific coast being 10 as
sist that at Newport in instructing APP
prentices, this class being better
! adapted 20 handle modern guns and
| equipment Of the new ships than the
oest Of sailors accustomed to vessels
of the old type. AT no time during the
va: were there more than 800 sailors
in reserve on receiving ships, and if
IN. serious calamity had befallen us,
making new crews necessary, the navy
would have been barely able to meet
the call instantly. OF the 10000 men
now in the navy all are afioat with the
Exception of $50 on receiving ships
Army and Navy journal.