The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-03
SC0LDED BY CROWlNSHlELD
Congress GOt the Idea That Manila
Bay Was the Whole Thing

Bay Was the Whole Thing
Washington. Nov. 2.-There are three
features of interest above all in the re-
port of Admiral Crowinshield, chief of
the bureau of navigation just made pub
lie: First, an arraignment of congress
because of the failure to reward the Of
ficers, recommended for advancement as
result of the battles around Cuba; sec
ond the recommendations for change in
the present system of receiving ships,
and, third, the suggestions touching the
new system of training landsmen.
Under the first head, the admiral
writes: Another condition of affairs
discouraging to proud and ambitious Of
hcers who have risked and accomplished
much is the ragged and irregular result
that seems an inevitable consequence OF
any effort 10 give permanent or substan-
tial official recognition to bravery, gall
lantry or devotion. Before the outbreak
of the war you Secretary Long, address,
ed to the officers of the North Atlantic
fleet, through the admiral, a letter from
which the following is an extract:
Each man engaged in the work Of
the in-shore squadron have in him the
stuff out of which to make a possible
Cushing; and if the man wins, the recog-
milton given him shall be as great as that
given to Cushing. so far as the depart
ment can bring this about.
Every effort of the department to re-
deem this solemn pledge has been baked
OF the officers who served in. the North
Atlantic waters, three have been con-
firmed in the recognition urged by the de-
partment, two because their cases were
presented at propitious moments, the
other because of a misapprehension. The
rest, numbering among them every gall
liant captain at Santiago on July 3, and
all the brave captains OF the ever-ready
gunboats, numbering among them officers
who risked their lives in many desperate
xpeditions-cable-cutt as lpies, seek
ing information, blocking and blockading
harbors, scouting-numbering among
them all those who heSitated not, and in
Guiding at the head of all the able and
determined officer who planned, worked
out and executed the whole campaign
and who finally consummated the one
victory which was vital to the enemy
he and all the rest have absolutely moth
ing. The greatest among these has not
as much as the medal which was given to
each of the hundreds who shared in a
victory won in a more prOpitious hour"
The number of sailors in the navy, in
GLIDING petty officers, at the end of the
fiscal year was 14,501, and $500 Of these
were serving under continuous service
certificates. Over Sc per cent of the petty
officers were native borni over 81 per cent
of the foreign-born were naturalized and
IS per cent of the whole number were
citizens of the United States, while s.
per cent of the remainder had declared
their intention to become citizens. Over
81 per cent of the apprentices were ma
tive born and over Ga per cent of the
whole enlisted force were native-born.
Upon the subject of receiving ships,
CrowinshieId points ont the
great expense of maintaining such ships
in condition. with the result that. after
all they are nothing more than floating
houses. They should give way, he says.
to permanent barracks on shore. For the
he alth of the men, for sanitary and by
gienic reasons, for drills and discipline,
for economy of administration, for the |
proper recreation OF the men and for re-
duced cost of maintenance, repair and
care taking, permanent buildings for the |
men should be constructed at the large |
naval stations. 1t is estimated that |
should the change be made the govern |
ment would save sl4s,G00 per annum. The |
report shows, as the result of Admiral
inspection visit to Europe. |
that not only England. but France, Ger /
many. Italy. Austria, Russia and Japan /
have constructed such barracks. There /
fore, it is proposed to construct barracks /
at the New York navy yard, at League /
Island (for the accommoda ton OF the re- /
serve crews it is proposed to hold for the /
care of the ships to be. laid uo in re-
serve there), at Mare Island and al Bos- /
ton.
Upon the subject Of training Of lands |
men, the report states that the depart |
ment was led to undertake this by reason i
Of a shortage Of men to meet the demands /
Of the navy 1t is hoped that in the fu- /
ture the inflow Of apprentices will be 1
sufficient 10 meet such needs hut mean
time the department has been obliged /
to enlist several hundred young men /
whom IT is proposed to train for five or
ten months on board training ships. With 4
this object. the Hartford has been com 4
rnissioned at San Francisco and with 30 /
young men vii leone around Cape Horn
10 the Atlantic The Lancastershire viii 4
make a similar cruise from New York to
the West Indies. and the steamer Dixie
wiIl take on 4Oo men from the League
Island yard for the same purpose. 1t IS
calculated In this way to provide for the
needs Of the service for the next two or
-hree years
The reports call attention 20 the failure
= the personnel bill - amended. 10 pro-
vide officers sufficient 10 do the work Of
he navy. II is said that there are not
nearly enough officers available 70 train
he men in guunery. Had the course a.
annapolis been reduced from SIX n four
-ears. as proposed In the original bill.
his fault. the admiral Saws. would have
been overcome. Il IS also Submitted. IN
conclusion. that the naval pay Should be
.quanzed with that q the army. and
hat the state naval militia BE- federated
nto national naval reserve
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