Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-23
NAVY WAS READY
Remarkable Foresight Exhibited in
Navigation Bureaus Report,
PRECAUTIONS With THE FLEET
Captain CrowninshieId Praises the
Gunners OF tle WarshIps.
r H Z \ y Y \ L NJ L I A

The war history begins with the simple
statement of certain precautionary orders
that were issued. but even in the absence
of comment attention cannot fail to be at
tracted to the remarkable foresight eXhib
tied by the Navy Department in the prepa
ration of the official orders. They begin
with an order dated January II last. di-
rectine the commander of the European
station to retain in service men whose en-
lStmSnts We're about to expire. Other or-
dar~ provide for the successful extrication
OF the European squadron from the danger
IL which ii was exposed upon the outbreak
Of the war, show how the South Atlantic
squadron was brought up to reinforce Adj
Uiral Sampson. how the Oregon started on
her famous race around South America:
how stores and ammunition Were forward
Ell to the various squadrOns. and, finally,
they wind up with Secretary Long famous
lRcpnic order to Admiral Dewey of April II
War has commenced between the United
etates and Spain: proceed at once to the
Philippine Islands. commence operations at
once, particularly against Spanish fleet.
You must capture vessels or destroy. Use
utmost endeavOrS.
Ready for Cervera-
These orders show that four months be
fore Ceryera's fleet reached this side of the
Atlantic 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 forty
five, who had just graduated from the
course on the monitor Amphitrite. were
placed on the vessels of the active fleet
and rendered a good account of themselves.
As exhibiting the quality Of these men. the
report cites the destruction of three gun
boats by the little Scorpion in ManZaniliO
harhOr. July Is. of which the commanding
officer reports Orders were given to OBJ
Ia-5fh Of
after which the first shell from the 5-inch
gun blew her up, apparently having struck
her boilers"
The report says: THE completeness Of
our naval victory during the war and the
almost absolute humanity from injury
which our ships and crews enjoyed natur-
ally led to a general conclusion that our
gUnnery had much 10 do with the matter.
As d matter of fact. all reports bear out
This conclusion. The percentage of hits,
smaller il is true, than that which has
been obtained at target practice. is modified
by three conditions. In the FIRST place, the
demolition of the euemy's ships has usually
been 50 complete that it is certain that the
marks Of many hits We're obIiterated by
subsequent fires and explosions. in the sec
OEd place. the ranges at which the cOmbats
have taken place have usually been so
much greater than those which they used in
target practice that this difference will ac-
count for a reduction OF from 30 to 60 per
cent i'll the percentage of hits. and finally,
the rate OF fire was much higher in the bat
ties than at target practice. The bureau
had been endeavoring before the war to in
crease the rate of target tiIe. and when all
this il considered il viii be found that the
hits per gun per minute have been remark
ably high. In fact, 1t appears that the ex-
perienCe Of each combat was that our
craftsmanship was so far superior that at
a range at which the Spanish guns and
EuuueTs were Ineffective our guns and gun
ners We're so effective that before the range
was OF could be reduced the Spanish ships
Were either seriously crippled or their
crews demOralized-'
Importance of Sea Power.
The chief OF the bureau declares that the
experience Of the war has been another
demonstration Of the Importance to the ma
tior Of sea power. He says that from the
first the only apprehension felt in this
country was on account of the Spanish
navy.
1t was Cervera's slips" he says. that
Were feared We did not fear the Spanish
arrny-wOuld not have feared it if it had
been three times as powerfUl-Unless it mad
been supported by navy powerful. enough
TO have formed an efficient convoy aud
brought il to this coast ON the contrary.
the Spanish navy, even without the Spanish
army. would have been a menace though
II had consisted OF but one firSt-c,dss
cruiser Until that cruiser had been block
AIDED. captured or destroyed any unprO-
teCted point on our coast and all of on"
sea-5prue commerce would have been ut
lis mercy. and no army. however efficient.
could hdv, protected us from it. 1t required
81 navy foE 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
between them during the campaign Wer.
satisfactorily solved by victory. one glar-
ing defect of the system Of Joint operation
was found, however. in the matter of trans
porting ana conveying troops. and it is
recommended that, to secure smoother
handling of such campaign, the navy be
10y law charged with the transport SerN ice
The navigation bureau recommends that
Congress authorize the increase Of the ma
Val force to 2btoo men for general service
and 2--Iu apprentices. and an argument is
M BE 10 show the absolute necessity of
some SG"n increase unless the reserves on
the receiving ships are to b. reduced below
a." dancer point. an evil that was very
closely approached during he last war Ia
carry out this recommendation the report
recommends the passage Of House bill 40
lrF5. which also carried with II an in
crease OF - in the number Of line and en-
eiHeer officers and Of loo warrant macbi-
nj all very much needed. This bin gives
army pay tn the navy.
The Nays Needs.
The report does not enlarge upon the
necessities Of the service in regard tn per-
sonnet Captain Crowninshi.ld believing
that the department and Congress arr, both
50 Wei acquainted with the requirements
OF this detail Of naval organization that
the statements Of the Nays need will be
sufficient TO secure action by Congress.
OF the volunteer officers it is said that
they rencered valuable service during the
var. bGt that they can never be the coma!
in professional attachments of their broth
ers OF the regular establishment for lack
OF the exhaustive training impaired to the
latter.
tribute IS paid to the good work of
the naval militia, in manning the coast
defense stations, the vessels of the auxi!-
lary naval force and furnishing mate
rial Tor crews for the auxiliary vessels
serving with the. regular fleet
For duty on board active ships, how
ever says Captain CrowninshieId they
could not be considered as more than mate
rial With some Individual exceptions the
personnel We're found to lack the exne-
rience and training which would have been
necessary for the performance Of the duties
of the ratings held. In the ordinary
course most of these men would have been