The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-26
NEEDED NAYALREEORMS
Urged by SeoretoFy Long in His
,A.,.s. Annual ReporI.
TIE PERSONNEL or THE NAVY.

Bin Regulating Promotions should
DO Promptly Pnssed-In.Justiceo of the
Present system ofRewnrds.-Creatio Ion
Of Admiral and Vice Admiral Urged
:. Washington, Nov 26.--The following
ls an abstract of the annual report ol
the secretary of the navy:
Al. The report briefly summarizes the
preparation for the late war. saying
In this connection that the condition
Of affairs in Cuba and the consequences
to the United States and Spain made il
evident that war might come between
them"
The report continuing tells of the pur-
chase Of the cruisers Albany and New
Orleans from the Brazilian government
and the assembling of warships in the
South Atlantic coast, including the or.
der for the battleship Oregon to pro-
coed thither from the California coast.
The incidents of the navy's connection
with the war. all of which are familiar
to the reader, are briefly referred to IN
turn. In noting the purchase of auxi!-
iary vessels for the navy 1t is shown
that 102 vessels were purchased out
right and that five large steamers were
chartered at fixed rates of rental and
Subsequently returned to their owners.
Ia addition TO these the report says the
city of Philadelphia loaned to the navy
department for the nominal sum Of 81
( Ns ice boat No. renamed the Arctic).
The yachts Free Lance and Buccaneer
Mere also loaned for service during the
war. without charge. the former by Mr..
" Augustus Schermerhorn and the lat
Ter by Mr.. William II. Hearst. 90,
~ Prior to the outbreak of hostllties
the number Of enlisted men allowed by
law was 1880. On Aug. 10, when the
enlisted force reached its maxinm, there
were "a t23 men in the service.
is The secretary pays compliment TO the
naval militias obtained from the sew
eral states. He says: During the war
about 1000 officers and men were added
TO the enlisted force of the navy from
the state militias. These organizations
were largely recruited outside of the
seafaring class, and lacked the expert
ence in gunnery. navigation and habits
of the sea- which are essential to imme
Gliale efficient service in the navy. On
the other hand, they were men of high
standard of education and intelligence
and rapidly acquired while on ship
Board the knowledge necessary for their
Eefiiciency."
The department feels. In contemplat-
ing the vast amount of work necessary
lao the successful operations of the navy
fAuring the past year that the country
las well as the service has cause for
tcongratulstion In the results which
have followed and which have been so
generally approved. and In the further
fact that no personal feeling has arisen
Ito mar the glorious victories and mag
lpifcent work OF the service.
Is4ln his recommendations to congress
the secretary says II is the earnest de-
sifs Of the department that the bill re-
Hitting to the personnel of the navy, pre-
lsented to the house of representatives
kby the naval committee at the last
session of congress. be. promptly taken
lup on the reassembling of congress and
passed.
| The number of officers now allowed
by law is 921. Under the personnel bill
law the number will be 1.020.
II The bill provides for regular flow
IO4 promotion from the lower to the
higher grades. and in order to accom-
plish this in event that the retirements
dor age do not create a sufficient num-
her of vacancies board composed of
'Smcers Of high rank will select for re-
;Airment. from among those officers
ashose records show them to he the
10,
Sreate the requisite vacancies.
q The injustice Of the present system
tOf rewarding officers for conspicuous
conduct In battle and extraordinary
heroism Is SO apparent that the depart
Ment desires to SET before congress the
facts in full and to recommend a
trkznge in the present law on this sub
Meet.
q. As a result Of the recent war certain
'0ficers of the navy who deserved re-
ward, and who under existing law could
have 1t in 10 other way, were pro-
,npted over the heads of their brother
at5icers. who, by the reason of the ne
teessity for their services on other duty,
not less important. had no chance TO
Darticlpate in the battles of Manila
and Santiago. This worked hardship
In many cases, aud in some instances
prevented officers who are Of great
desert from the chance of reaching the
highest grade of the navy.
! This method Of reward IS not salts.
factory. 1t Ia believed, to any one. No
duty, for instance, in time of war is
more important than that performed by
the bureau chiefs at the department or
by the officers al the navy yards and
7, stations il our fleets ara to be main
tained y an efficient condition. And
{yet these officers, who have borne great
Responsibilities and worked day and
might, find themselves not rewarded,
out punished to the extent of relative
Reduction in numbers. and of delay in
EpromOtiOn, with the resulting loss of
pay. Bills have been drawn to reform
,these methods, and will be submitted to
congress.
Il The secretary recommends the re-
Nival ofthe grades Of admiral and vice
admiral. The grade Of admiral ceased
to exist upon the death of Admiral
David D. Porter, and that of vice ad-
miral upon the death Of Vice Admiral
Stephen c. Rowan. The secretary rec
thol tiltbC 6lNueS DE revived,
gtSnsporarily as before, to be filled by
appdtat,Teht by the president, with the
consent Of the senate.
n In concluding his report the secretary
Mays: The naval war board, as finally
constituted during active operations in
the recent war. was composed of Rear
admiral Montgomery Sicard, Captain
"A. S. Crowninshield and Captain A. T. |
Mahan tretired), and was constantly In |
session at the navy department. 1t
was equal to every demand and |
Through 1t proper control was exer-
1eised by the department over all move
'ments in the field. At the same time |
all officers there were left ample dis
erection and were never hampered in
their work.
} With such aid as that of this board
In the direction of naval movements,