The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-24
Navy Ready
For w ar.
PRAISE FOR ALL.
Report of Chief of Bureau
Of Navigation.

Washington, Nov. 23.-Far out of tine
lines of the ordinary annual reports of
the bureau officers is that of Capt
Crowninshield, chief Of the bureau Of
navigation, navy department, which has
just been made public. Not only was
the head of this bureau = member Of
the war or strategy board, as it came
to be known, but he was sponsible for
the execution of the plans formed by
that board and for the movement of
every ship and the assignment of every
ship and officer.
Consequently, no bureau officer had
equal opportunity to know the moving
purposes and exact history of the war.
The report is absolutely free from per
sonalities; there is no reference what
ever to the now happily ended Samp-
son-Schley controversy, no criticism of
any officer nor any recommendation
that might be regarded as invidious and
discriminating
The war history begins with the sim
pie statement of certain precautionary
orders that We're issued, but even in the
absence Of comment, attention cannot
fail to be attracted to the remal.ka bic
AoA SaAG ~ CAlltDllEu III lilC DlGpttI ttlIJl
of official orders. They begin with an
order dated January II last, directing
she commander of the European station
TO retain in service men whose enlist
Glents were about to expire and those
following provide for the successful ex-
1rication of the European squadron
from the danger to which it was ex-
posed upon 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 We're forwarded to the
squadron, and finally they wind up with
the famous laconic order TO Dewey Of
April "a: War has commenced be-
tween the United States and Spain.
Proceed at once to the Philippines
Commence operations at once, particu-
larly against Spanish fleet You must
capture vessels or destroy. Use utmost
endeavors."
These orders show that four months
before Cervera's feet reached this side
our whole North Atlantic fleet was
ready for any emergency within
striking distance Of one of the two
points from which attack might come.
Trained gunners to the number of Is,
who had just graduated from the
course on the Amphitrite, were placed
on the vessels of the fleet and rem
dered a good account of themselves
Capt. Crowinshield says the COM
pleteness Of our naval victory during
the war, and almost absolute immuni-
~ from injury which our crews en-
Joyed naturally led to a general con-
clusion that our gunnery had much to
do with the matter. AS a matter Of fact.
all reports bear out this conclusion. The
percentage of hits, smaller, it is true.
than that which has been obtained at
aafi f4a
conditions:
First, the demolition Of the enenlr's
ships has usually been so complete that
it is certain that the marks Of many
hits were obliterated by subsequent
fires and explosions; second, the lorg
ranges at which the combats have tax
en- place viii account for a reduction
of from 30 to so per cent in the per-
centage of hits, ana finally the rate Of
fire was much higher il, the battles
than at target practice. The bureau
had been endeavoring before the war
TO increase the rate of target fire and
when all this is considered, it will be
found that the hits per gun per min
ute" have been remarkably high in
fact, 1t appears that the experience of
each combat was that our marksman-
ship was so far superior that at a
range at which the Spanish guns ard
gunners were ineffective. our guns and
gunners We're so effective that before
the range was or could be reduced, the
Spanish ships were either seriously
crippled or their crews demoralized
Capt. CrowinshieId declares that the
experience of the war has been another
demonstration of the importance to
the nation Of sea power. He says; 1T
required navy for this work and an
effective navy" Touching upon the
combined operations Of the army and
navy. the report says that happily all
points of difference which arose be-
tween the commanders during the cam
paign were satisfactorily solved by vic
tory. One glaring defect of the sys-
tenn of Joint operations was found
however in the matter of transport