The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-24
WAR WORK Of THE NAVY.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE
BUREAU OF NAVIGATION.
Remarkable Foresight Exhibited In
Extrication of the European
Squadron. Forwarding stores and
Cnuceutratiou Of Effective Fleets.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s.-Far out OF
the lines Of the ordinary annna- report OF
: The bureau officers Is that Of Capt Crown
.nsnie4d, chief Of the bureau OF naVigsa-
ton, navy department.. just made pup-ie-
Not only was he & member % me war
or strategic board, bat he wss Responsible
for the execution Of the plans formed oy
that board for the movement 81 every snip
: and the assignment Of every oi'icsr. Lon
seuuently no bureau officer had equal OPP
portunsty TO know the history OF the war.
The report Is absolutely free from person
-sali.ies, being confined 10 The statement Of
hard facts, With a few important recon-
mendatlon for the Desserment Of the naval
: service
The war history begi:ls with the simple
statement of precautionary orders that
were issued. but even III the absence Of
commeat, attention cannot fail 70 be at
-sractes. to the remarkable foresight eghio-
tied. TO begin with. is ap order dated
January Ii last. Greeting the commander
OF the European station TO retain III serv-
Ice men whose enl4stmenis were about 10
expire, and those following. providing ior
the successful extricaffon OF thu European
squadron from the danger 10 which II "as
exposed on the outbreak OF the war, sFc"
how the Atlantic squadron was brought
gup to reinforce Sampson: no. the Oregon
America; now stores and ammunition were
forwarded 10 the squadron. and how final
~ they wind up with the famous iaceIilc
order 20 Dewey OF April "A:
/. ..War has commenced between the United
States and Spain. Proceed al once 10 the
Philippine isiaIds. Commence operations
at once particularly against the spanish
feet. You must capture vessels or de-
s,roy Use utmost eIpieav0rs.
Four months before Cervera's feet reach
ed this side. our whole North Atlantic
feet was ready for any emergency. w.taAi
striking distance Of one OF two points from
which attack might come. Trained gun
ners 10 the number OF forty-five. who had
just graduated from the course on the
Amphitrite. were pllced on the vessels Of
the feet and rendered good account OF
themselves
Capt. Crowninshield says:
.'The completeness OF our naval victory
during the war and the almost absolute
Immunity from injury which cur ships and
crews enjoyed naturally led to a general
conclusion that Our gsInnery had much 10
do with H. As matter Of fact, all reports
bear out this conclusion IL appears that
the experience Of each combat was that
our Workmanship was far superior that,
mt a range al which the Spanish guns and
gunners were ineffective. our guns and
gunnsrs were SO effective that before the
range was or could be reduced the Span
ish ships were either seriously crippled or
their crews dsmoralized
Capt. Crownlnshleld declares that the ex-
perience of the war has been another de-
monstration of the Importance 10 the ma
ton of power Touching upon the
combined operations OF the army and navy.
the report says one glaring defect OF the
system OF joint operations was found IN
the matter 81 conveying troops. and it g
recommended, 10 secure smoother handling
or such an orga MIA ton. that the navy be
by law charged with the transport service.
The navigation bureau recommends that
congress must Increase the naval force 10
20.o0o men for general service and 2H1 APP
prenfices
The repor, does not enlarge upon the
necessities OF the service In regard to the
personnel
OF the volunteer officers II Ia said that
they rendered valuable service during the
war. but that they can never be the equal
in professional attainments of their
brothers OF the regular establishment for
lack OF the exhaustive training impaired
20 the latter. a tribute is paid 10 the
general work of the naval militia In man
ming the coast defense stations and the
vessels of the auxiliary naval force and
furnishing mater,a. for crews for the aux
iliary vessels serving with the regular fleai.
The bur eau recommends the passage OF
the Cummings bill. which provides i'm sub
stance. for appropriations for the naval
militia on entirely differ NJ basis. This
would provide for the creation OF ma
ticfal naval reserve entirely under tie con
troll OF the department. recruited from the
seafarng classes. who would be compelled
10 serve In war times under penalty Of de-
sertion Another ommendaiion ls tina.
the system OF rewards by promotion b.
abolished. and that medals of honor DE sub
etitu,ed. SO that officers may be rewarded
without detrimeut To others
Finally the suggestion Of The superiutend-
ent of the coast signal service that this
ehoud be made permanent institution is
approved