Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-11-26
OUR STRENGTH AFLOAT.
COuntry's Splendid Resources
of A~ble-Hodied Senmen.

The ability Of the United States to
supply capable sailors was never ex'
hibited more strongly than a few
months ago, when the enlisted force
was quickly and without great labor
suddenly 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 line a body of seamen
rs the naval service would desire even
in peace time, when opportunity for
close selection is necessarily greater
and more are can be given to the eX-
alninations 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.
cials were justified in using the same
scrutiny in enlisting men as in times OF
peace. The result was that the navy
had on all its fighting craft the finest
and most competent body of men prob
ably that were ever atloat in its his.
tory. The records of the enlistments
show that last April the strength of
The service, including all classes, sail.
ors, machinists, coal beavers, and
every other rating on shipboard, mum.
bereo about 1880 men, and on August
Is, when the strength reached its high.
EST point, the floating force had been
doubled, numbering 2+,l22 men. This
war strength is just the size of the
standing army when fully enlisted one
year ago. The additional men came
from all sections of the country, but at
least 5000 we're 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 wal then seemed imminent.
here were only 10000 men in service.
and on June ! 10000, high-water mark
being reached August Is. From then
u began to decrease gradually as dis
charges were made and further en-
listments stopped. At least 30,eO0 men
could have been secured by October |
If enlistments had been kept up at the
'ame rate. On October the strength
81 the navy was 2),275, and it is pro-
posed to keep it at that point so long
Is the peace commission sits. A strong
slort will be made to have the per-
lIanent strength of the enlisted force
not less than that hereafter, Cant.
Crowninshield and Secretary Long
have concluded that the navy as at
present constituted, and considering
the ships building, cannot be main.
tnined with a force Of less than . q. nor
men, and the completion of the pro.
gramme OF construction. now under
way, will require the addition of 5000
men. The two receiving stations are
expected to supply a large proportion
u the enlistments, the purpose OF the
department. in establishing a second
station on the Pacific coast being to as
sist that at Newport in instructing an
prentices, this class being better
adapted to handle modern guns and
equipment Of the new ships than the
BEST of sailors accustomed TO vessels
of the old type. At no time during the
wa were there more than 1900 sailors
IN reserve on receiving ships, and IL
m, serious calamity had befallen us.
making new crews necessary, the navy
would have been barely able to meet
the call instantly. OF the 20, 1000 men
now in the navy all are afoat with the
exception of $50 on receiving Ships
Army and Navy journal.