The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-03
MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS BY SEA
ADOPTION OF ENGLISH REGU-
LATIONS RECOMMENDED.
Defects In Our System Discovered
Naval Authorities Should Control
Sea Transportation.

Washington, Oct Now that ques-
ton has arisen as to the best method of
providing an efficient system of transpor-
tation 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
system, as revealed in the departure from
Tampa of the Shafter expedition, and the
delays in the landing at Baiquiri, Cuba.
The action of the navy department at the
time is shown by the following memoran-
dunn prepared by Captain Dickens. who
was at the time acting as chief of the
navigation bureau in the temporary alb
Sence of Captain Crowinshield:
Bureau of Navigation, July 20.-Memo-
randum for the chief of Bureau of Navi-
cation: Sir-The following cablegram was
received today from Rear Admiral Will
lam T. Sampson, U. s.. N, commanding
North Atlantic fleet:
In view of the close relations of the
army and navy which must exist in such
operations as the present, and to avoid
friction, specific regulations governing the
combined action of the two services are
necessary. l would recommend the adop-
ton at once of the English regulations on
this subject, including transport service,
which exist in full detail Their eXper-
fence has been far larger than that of any
other power, and | 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. / am
intelligence bureau any publication relat
ing to the regulations covering the COM
bined action of the two services. In con-
sequence of this, L would suggest that a
cablegram be at once sent to the naval at
tache at London, to forward these regula-
tons to the department, If possible TO. do
so.
QUEENS REGULATIONS.
From the Queens regulations and adj
miralty instructions for the government
of her majesty's naval service, 1893, it is
evident that the transport service is in
charge of the naval branch of their gov
eminent. On page 479, under chapter 80,
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 Off
GERS and soldiers, from the time of en-
barkation, shall strictly observe the laws
and regulations established for the gov
eminent 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 SEN
ior naval officer present: and all military
officers and other persons under the
equivalent rank of captain, r. N, taking
passage, and all military officers in ac-
tual command for the time being of any
of the troops embarked, through whom
orders to the troops (glven by the officer
of the watch) are required to pass, shall
be under the command of the officer of
the watch
This shows conclusively, 1 think, that
the transport service is entirely in the
hands of the naval establishment. This
article is followed by several others, Civ
ing detailed instructions in advance of
receiving the regulations covering the
combined action of the two forces 1t
might be good plan, after due consulta-
ton and arrangement with the war de-
partment, to make beginning by follow
ing the English regulations, so far as
they apply to transport service, as they
could, In all probability, be made easily
to our service, and also, for the
reason, as Admiral Sampson 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
4 long period of years, and for that rea-
son alone, would, 1 think, be safe to fol-
low. and which, of course. could be mod
fled from time to time when applied to
our service as experience might dictate.
Very respectfully,
81. w. DICKENS,
Assistant Chief of Bureau"