The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-15
ENGINEERS SCARCE.
A Weak Point in Our Navy-MOve-
ments of War Ships.

A Weak Point in Our Navy-MOve-
ments of War Ships.
WASHINGTON, March IA dangerous
deficiency in the engineer branch of the
navy has been brought to light strikingly in
the fact that it is scarcely possible to secure
staff Of engineer officers to bring back to
the United States any of the ships pur-
chased abroad. A short time ago, when
orders were given to rush the work of put
ting the cruiser Chicago in shape for active
service, the engineer in chief proposed that
he would have the ship ready in three
months instead of six, as was estimated.
To do this he would work forces day and
night, and to keep them at work he would
place an engineer officer aboard the ship to
stay there day and night Passed Assistant
Engineer Dixon was chosen for the work,
but he had not been employed more than
a week before it was found necessary to
detach him in order to find an engineer Off
Ger to act as a member of the board ap-
pointed to examine auxiliary cruisers This
state of affairs has been brought to the at
tention of the House naval committee, but
so far it is feared without meeting that de-
gree of success it was hoped for in the
shape of an amendment increasing the
number of engineer officers in the service.
Captain Crowninshield, Surgeon General
Van Reypen, Captain O'Neil and Paymaster
General Stewart. of the navy, were before
the House committee on naval affairs to-
day to explain some estimates they made
to the naval appropriation bill. Nothing
was said about battle ships or dry docks.
The main point of Secretary Longs hearing
was a suggestion to raise the age limit of
entrance to the service of the officers of
the medical corps from twenty-one to thirty.
This, however, has already been done by
the committee. The raising of. the limit
will result in a material increase in the
number Of officers in that branch of the
service. Chief Engineer Melville called for
an increase in the engineer corps of the
navy, which he said was imperatively
needed. He asked that provision be made
for seventy-five more assistant engineers.
It was also pointed out that the number of
assistant paymaster was deficient by about
twenty. An appropriation was asked for.
When the hearing was closed the commit
tee began the consideration of the estab-
lishment of new dry docks and entered into
a long discussion as to the relative merits
of the respective cities asking for the
docks. The meeting adjourned until to-
morrow without taking action.
Representative Elliott, of South Carolina,
called at the Navy Department to-day to
talk with the officials respecting the cloth
ing of the naval militia Under the existing
regulations the department has no author
ity TO expend any of the small allotment of
funds made by Congress for the use of the
naval militia for the purchase of clothing.
1t is all used in the purchase of boats,
equipments, arms, books, signal flags, etc.
For several years the militiamen have been
trying hard to secure modification OF the
law that would permit of the application
of at least a portion of the militia appro-
priation for the purchase Of uniforms. This
has been accomplished at last through the
inclusion in the pending naval bill OF a
suitable amendment. However, this new
clause, under ordinary conditions would
not go into effect before July next. Rep
resentative Elliott is endeavoring to secure
the Department. aid in having the section
go into effect Immediately on the passage
of the bill, in which case a considerable
body of South Carolina militia can be put
into active service at once. The depart
mont is thoroughly committed to the meas
uro.
1t is now stated at the Navy Department
that the Marblehead, which arrived at
Tampa Saturday night, was ordered to that
place simply to take on stores for the North
Atlantic squadron The torpedo boat Foote
arrived at Charleston yesterday on her way
TO Key West to join the hotilla The Fern
sailed yesterday from sagua for Key West,
having, it is presumed. delivered all the
stores for the starving reconcentrados
which so far have been received from the
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