The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-11-26
NEEDED NAvALREFORMS
Urged by Secretary Long in His
Annual Report.
THE PERSONNEL OF THE NAVY

the secretary OF the navy:
The report briefly summarizes the
preparation for the late war, saying
In this connection that the condition
of affairs in Cuba and the consequences
to the United States and Spain made 1t
evident that war might come between
them"
The report continuing tells of the pur-
chase of the cruisers Albany and New
Orleans from the Brazilian government
and the assembling of warships in the
South Atlantic coast including the or
der for the battleship Oregon to pro-
ceed thither from the California coast.
The incidents of the navys connection
with the war, all of which are familiar
to the reader, are briefly referred to in
turn. In noting the purchase Of auxil-
iary vessels for the navy it Is shown
that 102 vessels were purchased out
right and that five large steamers were
chartered at fixed rates of rental and
subsequently returned to their owners.
In addition to these the report says the
city of Philadelphia loaned to the navy
department for the nominal sum Of 81
it's ice boat No. (renamed the Arctic).
The yachts Free Lance and Buccaneer
were also loaned for service during the
WAL, WllllOul ChdiB lilt AOt ny Ashh'
! f. Augustus Schermerhorn and the lat
ter by Mr.. William r. Hearst.
Prior to the outbreak of hostilities
the number of enlisted men allowed by
law was 1880. On Aug. Is, when the
enlisted force reached It's maxium, There
were 24,1 1913 men in the service.
The secretary pays compliment to the
naval militias obtained from the sew
eral states. He says: During the war
about 1000 officers and men were added
to the enlisted force of the navy from
the state militias. These organizations
were largely recruited outside of the
seafaring class, and lacked the expert
enCe in gunnery, navigation and habits
of the sea, which are essential to imme-
diate efficient service in the navy. On
the other hand they were men Of high
| standard of education and intelligence
and rapidly acquired while on ship
board the knowledge necessary for their
efficiency"
The department feels, in contemplat-
ing the vast amount of work necessary
to the successful operations of the navy
during the past year that the country
as we'll as the service has cause for
congratulaton in the results which
have followed and which have been so
generally approved, and in the further
fact that no personal feeling has arisen
to mar the glorious victories and mag
nificent work of the service.
In his recommendations to congress
the secretary says it is the earnest de-
l., sire of the department that the bill re-
i. lating to the personnel of the navy, pre-
b sented to the house of representatives
. by the naval committee at the last
.f Ia ort1 "
- up on the reassembling of congress ant
, passed.
The number of officers now allowed
= by law is 921. Under the personnel bill
3. law the number will be 1,02O.
6 The bill provides for a regular flow
of promotion from the lower to th'
: higher grades, and in order to accom-
a plish this in event that the retirement
Z for age do not create sufficient mum
= Der Of vacancies a board composed o
/. officers of high rank will select for re
tirement, from among those officer
- whose records show them to be tn
least efficient, the officers necessary t
create the requisite vacancies.
h The injustice of the present system
} of rewarding officers for conspicuou
!. conduct in battle and extraordinar
heroism is so apparent that the depart
k ment desires to set before congress tn
D. facts in full and to recommend
3. change in the present law on this sub
ject.
b. As a result of the recent war certain
q officers of the navy who deserved re
ward, and who under existing law coul
D. have il in no other way, were pro
D NOTED over the heads of their brothe
8, officers, who. by the reason of the ne
oessity for their services on other duty
not less important, had no chance
participate in the battles of Manil
and Santiago. This worked hardshi
= in many cases, and In some instance
~ prevented officers who are of gres
%, desert from the chance of reaching III
m highest grade of the navy.
This method of reward is not salts
er factory, it is believed, to any one. n
NJ duty, for instance, in time of war
n more important than that performed b
a the bureau chiefs at the department {
by the officers at the navy yards an
v. stations if our fleets are to be mali
or tanned in an efficient condition. An
u' yet these officers, who have borne gret
responsibilities and worked day an
,st night find themselves not rewarde
NJ but punished to the extent of relati'
reduction in numbers, and of delay
t promotion, with the resulting loss
pay. Bills have been drawn to refor
. these methods, and will be submitted
congress.
The secretary recommends the +
vival ofthe grades of admiral and vi
admiral. The grade of admiral ceas
to exist upon the death of Admir-
David d. Porter. and that of vice a
miral upon the death of Vice Admir-
Stephen C. Rowan. The secretary re
ommends that these grades be revive
temporarily as before, to be filled
III appointment by the president, with I
consent of the senate.
e, In concluding his report the secreta
or says: The naval war board, as fina
constituted during active operations
Admiral Montgomery Sicard Capts
A. S. Crowninshied and Captain A.
Mahan (retired), and was constantly
session at the navy department.
was equal to every demand, a
through it proper control was eX'
cised by the department over all mo'
ments in the field. At the same I'll
A., all officers there were left ample d
-S cretion and were never hampered
est their work,
-. With such aid as that of this boz
- In the direction of naval movemer
with such most helpful, earnest q
la, Ia fgta - 1~tA aQ h