Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1898-11-24
OUR STRENGTH AFLoAr.
cssstry.s spie.ata Ressssees
OF AbIe-BedI~d seaaes-

The ability OF the United states tc
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 n comparatively brief
period. All these men were picked.
equipped for the various duties for
" hich they were enlisted on shipboard,
and presented a. ine body Of seamen
~ the naval service would desire even
in peace time. when opportunity for
ciose selection is necessarily greater
aAsl more care can he given To the ct
anirationS for admission. Had there
b-en 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 on
Gals mere justified in using the same
scrutiny in eniisting men a. in times Of
peace. The result was that the navy
had on all its fighting craft the finest
and NEST competent body OF men prob
ably that were ever ahoat in its his
tory The records OF the enIistments
show that last April the strength of
ne service. including all classes. sail
ors. machiuists. coal beavers. and
every other rating on shipboari. mum
hereC about 1850 men. and on August
IS. when the strength reached its high
rst point. the floating force had been
doubled. Numbering 2+.I22 men This
n H.. . -
standing army when fully enlisted one
year ago. The additional men came
from al sections of the country. but at
east 5.nO0 we're the naval militia or
CARNATIONS. which did such efficient
work on TIE auxiliary vessels. The re-
m1iuder came from the great lake re-
sioE. the far southwest. the south and
alprg bo;h coasts and were enrolled
At receiving ships by special boards
and otherwise.
\ tabuiated statement which has
5e-u prepared shows that on April I,
although war then seemed imminent.
here were only 1900 men in service.
and on June 2O.O00. high-water mark
being reached August Is. From then
. began to decrease gradually as dis
shlrges we're made and further en-
iistments stopped At least $4,000 men
coald have been secured by October |
Z enlistments had been kept up a the
same rate. On October l the strength
u the navy was 2a.275, and il is pro-
posed TO keep 1t at that point so long
= the peace commission sits. A strong
snOrt will be made to have the per-
Hanent strength of the enlisted force
lot less than that hereafter. Capt.
CTowninshield and Secretary Long
have concluded that the navy as at
present constituted, and considering
the ships building. cannot be main
t'ined with a force of less than 10000
men, and the eompletio 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
1f the eniistments. the purpose of the
department. in establishing a second
station on the Pacific coast being to as
sist that at Newport in instructing ap-
prentices. this class being better
adapted to handle modern guns and
equipment Of the new ships than the
pest of sailors accustomed to vessels
Of the old type. AT no time during the
wa were there more than 800 sailors
in reserve on receiving ships. and IL
ny serious calamity had befalIeu Us.
making new crews necessary. the navy
would have been barely able to meet
tue call instantly. OF the 10000 men
now in the navy all are afoat with the
deception of 80 on receiving ships
Army aud Navy Journal.