Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-12

WASHINGTON, D. c., November IL.
The startling statement is made in the
report of Admiral Crowninshield, CHIEF
of the Navigation bureau, that the
present personnel of the navy would
| form barely one-fourth of the total es-
adjustment necessary to fight first
class European power. 1t barely suf-
feed for the Spanish war, and no long
er can be considered, the report says,
as an effeetive nucleus about which q
larger establishment could be formed
+. in case OF war.
The admiral regards this need of the
navy for officers and men as most ur-
gent. He says that the bureau can
| point to many cases where the service
is being harmed by lack of officers. The
naval academy is suffering for want
of instructors, and the high standard
| of training cannot be maintained.
Every bureau in the department is short
| Of officers, and the service, the report
| predicts, soon will fall behind in the
struggle, first for leadership and then
for equality, with the other services.
The disability of the sea-going corps OF
officers has greatly increased since the
Spanish war, and many of the best
officers are being lost as result of
breaking down from overwork.
The admiral severely criticlzes the in
effective EFFORT of Congress at the last
session to meet immediate needs for
omcers by authorizing the employment
of retired officers. and he demands the
| immediate repeal of that act He
claims that the retired list, intended
as reward for faithful service, other
wise becomes a hardship and punish
ment. The personnel act thus far has
resulted in affording less officers than
were on the active list before IT'S pass
age, as, while authorizing an increase,
| 1t failed to provide the means therefor,
so there are now 131 vacancies In the
list of naval officers, when vacancies
| can be least afforded. Therefore, II is
recommended for the next ten years
| that appointments to the naval acad-
| envy be doubled, the President and rep
resentatiyes in Congress appointing
two instead Of one wherever authorized
now, and in addition Senators being
| given the same privilege OF appoint
ment as representatives Then, to
meet the needs, 1t is recommended that
whenever Congress authorizes an in
| crease OF vessels to the navy, II also
| provide, in the same act, for an In
crease OF officers and men 10 man the
ships. The report says that England.
which this year lays down fifteen war
vessels, voted an increase OF 4.240 Off
GERS and men to the naval establish
ment to man the ships, while Ger
many intends doubling her feet In the
next sixteen years, has provided In the
same programme for increasing the
personnel by 50 officers and 1887 men
each year until the total Increase
reaches 80 ,551. 1t is declared that 1t Ia
now impossible to man the vessels Of
/ our navy already constructed. with the
present force, not to mention those
/ building or authorized. Congress is
urged to make any increase in person.
mel Immediately available.
The training system as now prso-
ticed in the navy, is commended, and
It is declared that by no other means
could the navy secure the sailors nee-
essary to man the feet. Since this
close of the Spanish war the depart
ment has found that the resources
heretofore depended upon to furnish
seamen for the navy are no longer
adequate. Only 237 seamen have en-
listed for the first enlistment in the
past year, so the department has been
obliged to rely upon and develop the
training squadron for landsmen. and
now has about 1000 men under In
struction, who on the average requIrs
about six months training.
Admiral Crowninshield regards It 40
most important commercially that We
keep always a fair representation on
the South Atlantic station, saying that
in no part of the world are our ves~
sells more cordially received, and no.
where can be traced direct benefits TO
trade more clearly than on this sta
ton. AS to the North Atlantic sta.
ton. regret is expressed that the Inn
portant drills OF the squadron are COM
PEELED to be often interrupted by at
tendance OF the vessel at local celebra-
tons, which tend to demoralize tho
efficiency OF the personnel
One chapter deals at some length
with the history OF the Asiatic station
during the year. and the participation
OF the navy and marine corps in the
/ Chinese operations are set out In soma
detail. In connection with q refer
ence to the grounding OF the Oregon,
Admiral crownlnsaield mentions tbs
Continued on second Pass.