The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-12-29
OUR STRENGTH AFLCAT.
Some Interesting Facts About This
Country's Splendid Ees"nrcc~
of Ahle-BodIcd Seamcn.

The ability of the United States to
supply capable sailors was never 80.
hibited more strongly than q 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
which they were enlisted on shiphoartl,
and presented as fine Il body of sea men
as the naval service would desire even
in peace time, when opportunity for
close selection is necessarily greater
and mo E care car be given 20 The en-
aIninations for admission. Had there
been pressing emergency the mC0
actually enlisted in two months cp,!1d
easily have been obtained in three
weeks, but the navy was 50 well
equipped before the war that the ~
Gals we're justified in using the save
scrutiny in enlisGag men as in times #
peace. The result was that The navy
had on all its fighting craft tha finest
and most competent body of mo- Prob
tory. The records OF the euiiStnerits
show that last April the strength Of
the service, including all c!gsses. s.N'-
ors, machinists, ccal beavers. and
ever. other rating on shiphoa,'% NAM
bered about L., 800 men, and OF .tHc5s ST
Is, when the strength reaciicf is high
est point, The floating fore, h:s: been
| ! &, 800
| war strength is just the size Of the
standing army when fully onlis tes3 one
| year ago. The additional men came
| from all sections of the country. but a t
| least 5000 were the naval militia or
| CARNATIONS, which did suc', efIicient
work on the auxiliary vessels. The re-
| mainder came from the gr9.s. lake re-
cion, the far southwest, HE souta and
| along both coasts and Wer~ enrolled
at receiving ships by special boards
| and otherwise.
| 4 tabulated statement which las
been prepared shows that N l!'i. /,
although war then seemed ilnuuacnt.
there were only 12.oGo n,,n IN service,
and on June 10000, hiCh-wat,r uiarN
being reached August -. ErcN hen
it began 10 decrease gradually as dis
charges were made and further en-
listments stopped. At least 30,"01 men
| could have been secured b" rrfnte, I
if enlistments had been kept up al the
/, zan3e rate. On October the strength
OF the navy was 1925. aa3 i is pro
! posed to keep II at that roin, % loag
as the peace commtssio3 sits. \ strong
| effort will be made 10 haNe The per-
| manent strength of III" enlisted ia re
not less than that heTeuf +. I..?r.
Crowninshield and Seer 't1y ;ong
| present constituted, arr cor if"rin q
| the ships building canu3c ir naain-
| tanned with a 70 &c If less than 10000
men. and the completion of the pro-
| gramme of constructions, nov under
way. will require the addition ci 5000
men. The two receiving stations are
exp tied to supply & large proportion
OF the enlistments t't- purpose q the
| department in establishing 4 second
| station on the Faciic "G>,. bgin. o as
| sist that at Newport in instruc:inc aD-
| prantices. this chess BEING better
| adapted to handle TG@d,7-l Cs.4s and
| equipment nf the new sh'r~ than the
best Of sailors accustomed 20 vessels
OF the old type, Al nn'tinp- 3uciLg the
| wa were there more than .G@ sailors
| in reserve OF receiNinG :Aius. urd If
any serious calamity hHJ he '1li,'i rs
| max Nc now crews nCcFS-: ~ The navy
would have been barely a;lr 70 nt@tt
;te call instantly. ~ thc gf"c0 men
now in the navy II are atiu..t vita he
":>s. ption cf $50 III rece.,inr ships
| Army aud Navy Journal
/ r.--c..rrs n:,.J.s, Gov r...-..