The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-28

to acquire the habit of the sea and knowledge
OF the practical mechanical appliances which
found on board the modern man-of-war. This
has been carried out during the past year to
greater degree than before, and the expert
ment has been successful.
"A special course in gunnery, with particular
reference to target practice has for several years
been conducted on board the United states steam
ship hmphitritc. The results have been good.
Certain enlisted men who possess the proper
qualifications given course of instruction
at the Washington Navy Yard to qualify them
for seamen gunncrs With experienced officers
TO instruct them, and with the facilities of the
gun shop at their disposal. these men. as a gen
eral rule. qualified AT the end of the course
of assignment to ships in commission. One hun
drcd and twenty-three men. the majority OF
them qualified. have taken this course during
the past wear.
An additional course for petty officers. sea-
men, and apprentices is prescribed at the naval
torpedo station. This course lasts about six
months. including instruction i'll electrical work.
explosive and torpedo material. torpedo manipu-
lation. diving. and practical work on board tor
pedo boats. Eighty nen have been given the
course during the past year. An electrical school
for enlisted men has been established at the New
York Navy Yard, and has been in successful
operation during the past year
The report strongly recommends revival
of the grade of Vice Admiral. the Secretary
believing that the development of the
navy is such that unity, completeness. and
efficiency will be promoted by including in
it the grades of both Admiral and Vice
Admiral In some legislative minds there
appears to be a rock-rooted and fanatical
provincial prejudice against allowing
American officers rank and pay COM
mensurate with their commands. This is
bad enough in the case of the army. whose
generals are not often brought in contact
with officers holding similar positions in
point of Importance and responsibility with
themselves. General Miles. the general-in-
chief of our forces. is only Lieutenant
General. Even in the small States of Eu-
rope the corresponding officer is at least
full general. and is a field marshal in
all the larger ones, except France. where
the rank has been abandoned with the
death of the last one of those created by
Napoleon III. American naval commanders
are constantly compelled TO take their
ships. sQuadrcns. or fleets into the presence
Of those Of other nations. Their junior
rank, though not so inevitable now as for
merly. is still a source of modification.
With the exception of one full Admiral,
We have only rear admirals to command
fleets, as well as sGuadrons or divisions.
The result is that with anything more than
commodore's command our flag officers
generally find themselves ranked by ad-
mirals or vice admirals in foreign waters.
This is neither for the good CT the navy
nor the dignity and honor of the country.
OF course. We should have vice admirals-
not one, but several So We should hav. a
full general 10 command our army, sew
eral lieutenant generals, as many major
generals as We now have brigadiers. and
abolish the last named grade, as we have
that of commodore.
Secretary Long next presents a matter
which demands immediate and fully rme
dial legislative action. 1t is a great in
justice, closely approximating outrage. that
naval officers serving beyond the seas" On
shore duty should be compelled 10 live on
shore pay, when it was evidently the in
tertioE of Congress TO give them full sea
pay, in recognition of the added expense
of distant service. On this subject the
report says:
Section Is Of the ac; to reorganEe and in
crease he efficiency OF tic personnel Of the navy
and Marine Corps OF The United States provides
that when naval officers arc detailed for shore
duty beyond they shall receive the same paw
and allowances as are or may be provided by or
in pursuance Of law for officers of the army de-
tailed for duty in similar places
1T has been held By the accounting officers of
III. TreasIry-coBtraiy. it seems 10 this depart
ment, to the spirit and 10 the familiar interpre.
tation of the letter of the statute-:liat Porto
Rico the Hawaiian Islands. Guam. and the Phil
ippines. because they are lsw a part of orr own
are mo- .lpxs,n ,-;t
the meaning Of the statue shove Quoted. Conse-
guentiy. officers serving il those islands do not
receye the saline pay a. officers of The army doing
similar duty hut receive the nav as IL sery-
ing on shore within the continental limit, Of the
United Statetkat is. eighty five per cent of their
sea pay. Further. this decision is retroactive in its
effect, and it will accordingly be necessary 10
check against officers who have rendered service
within the island p sessions Of the United States
and who have received full pay therefor. the dit.
ference between sea and shore pay for tie entire
period OF such service
believing ttat il was the intention of Congress
to place naval ofiic,S- assigned such duty upon
an equal footing with army officers similarly sit
uated. il is recommended that tie statute be 50
amended as 10 Afford the desired relief.
in this connection attention is invited TO the
lsTdsiips suffered 10y officers and men of The Ma
rinc Corps detailed TO shore duty in Guam or in
China. The army appropriation act, approved Mag
&C. 1900. provides that ten per cent additional pay
shall be given To officers and twenty per cent addi
tioral pay TO enlisted men serving in Porto Rico,
Cuba. the Philippine Islands. Hawaii. and the Ter
ritory OF Alaska. This proylsioa ia applicable to
the Marine Corps, buI, being specific in its terms
is limited TO the places designated, and is not
operative elsewhere. Consequently, officers and
men of the Marine Corps who were sent to Guam
or China from Porto Rico. Hawaii. the Philippine
Islands, or Alaska lost the increased pay given by
the act of May 2G. notwithstanding The fact that
they were subjected TO the additional expense and
hardshirs attendant upon foreign SERVICE
Referring to the work of the Bureau of
Ordnance. the report states that the
armament for vessels heretofore author
lied, of which forty-eight are now Under
construction, will be ready for instalIa-
ton by the time the vessels themselves
are sufficiently advanced to receive it,
AT last, We are glad 10 learn that the
brown and black powder days of Sampson,
as Chief of Ordnance, are past and gone
The Government is now successfully car
rying on the manufacture OF armor here
tofore contracted for the manufacturers
have delivered 2.s69 tons. leaving / ,iS7
tons yet TO be furnished. Reviewing the
recent armor plate negotiations and their
result. Mr.. Long says:
AFTER prolonged negotiations in which the
services of the thief of the Bureau o. Ordnance
have been OF the greatest value. and in which
the companies met the department in a spirit
Of reasonable adjustment. agreement has been
made with them. and nov awaits signature for
krupp arInor of the first class for four hundred
and twenty dollars a ton The krupp process
involves the ifarvcy patent. the validity of which
is under consideration by the courts. and
il is further agreed that the Government will
assume in addition any liability for the krupp
process not exceeding five pounds. twenty
four dollars and thirty-two cents. ton for Krupp
royalty. and not exceeding eleven dollars and
twenty cents for Harvey royalty. Tie maxim um
price 10 the Government i. therefore four han
drel ~ five, do ar md