Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-24


THIS COUNTRY = RECOMMENDS
AN INCREASE OF THE FORCE TO
20,Cdo MEN AND $500 APPREN-
TICES.
Washington, November 23.-Far out
of the lines of the ordinary annual re-
port of the bureau officers is that Of
Capt. Crowninshield, chief of the bu-
reau of navigation, Navy Department,
which has just been made public. Not
only was the head of this bureau a
member of the war or strategy board,
as it came to be known. but he was
responsible for the execution of the
plans formed by that board and for the
movement of every ship and the as
signment of every officer. Consequent
ly no bureau officer had equal oppor-
tunity to know the moving purposes
and exact history of the war. The re-
port is absolutely free from personali-
ties; there is no reference whatever to
the now happily-ended Sampson
Schley controversy; no criticism of any
officer, nor any commentator that
might be regarded as invidious and dis
eliminating. But the report is con-
fined to the statement of hard facts
with few important recommendations
for the betterment of the naval SER
vice.
THE WAR HISTORY
begins with the simple statement of
certain precautionary orders that were
issued, but even in the absence of com
ment attention cannot fail but be at
tracted to the remarkable foresight
exhibited in the preparation of the Off
cial orders. They begin with an order
dated January 18th last, directing the
commander of the European station to
retain in service men whose enlist
ments were about to expire, and those
following provide for the successful ex-
trication of the European squadron
from the danger to which it was eX
posed on the outbreak of the war, show
how the South Atlantic squadron was
brought up to reinforce Sampson; how
the Oregon started on her famous race
around South America; how stores and
ammunition were forwarded to the
squadrons, and finally they wind up
with the
FAMOUS LACONIC ORDER
ITO Dewey of April oath, "War has COM
2enced between the United States and
kpain; proceed at once to the Philip
pine islands; commence operations at
onte, particularly against Spanish fleet.
You must capture vessels or destroy.
Use utmost endeavor" These orders
show that four months before Cervera's
feet reached this side our whole North
Atlantic fleet was ready for any emer-
gency, within striking distance of one
of the two points from which attack
might come.
Trained gunners to the number of
forty-fve had just graduated from the
course on the Amphitrite, was placed
on the vessels of the fleet and rendered
hibiting the quality of these men, Cap
tain Crowninshield cites the destruc-
ton of three gunboats by the little
Scorpion in Manzanillo harbor, July
18th, of which the commanding officer
reports Orders were given to obtain
the range with two of the siX-pounders,
after which the first she'll from the five
inch gun
BLEW HER UP,
apparently having struck her boilers"
Captain Crowninshield says:
"The completeness of our naval VIC
tory during the war and the almost alb
solute immunity from injury which
our ships and crews enjoyed, naturally
led to a general conclusion that our
gunnery had much to do with the mat
ter. AS matter of fact all reports
bear out this conclusion The percent
age of hits, smaller it is true than that
which has been obtained at target prac-
tice, was modified by three conditions;
in the first place, the demolition of the
enemy's ships has usually been so COM
plete that it is certain that the marks
of many hits were obliterated by sub
sequent fires and explosions; in the
second place, the ranges at which the
combats have taken place have usually
been so much greater than those used
IN target practice that this Difference
will account for a reduction of from
80 to so per cent in the percentage of
hits; and finally the rate of fire was
MUCH HIGHER IN BATTLES
than at target practice. The bureau
had been endeavoring before the war
to increase the rate of target fire and
where all this is considered it will be
found that the hits per gun per min
lte," have been remarkably high. In
fact it appears the experience of each
combat was that our craftsmanship
was so far superior that, at range at
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