The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-11-12
Condemns Congress for Compell=
ing Retired Officers to En-
ter Active Service.
NOT ABLETO HAN OUR VESSELS.
Deals with South Atlantic Station.
Over two Theusand Deser-
tions. Other Suggestions.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 1.-THE
startling statement Is made in the re-
port Of Admiral Crowninshield, chief OF
the navigation bureau. that the present
personnel of the navy would form
barely one.fourth OF the total estab-
l!shment necessary to fight q first
class European power. 1t barely suf-
feed for the Spanish war. and no lon
ger can be considered, the report says,
Is an effective nucleus about which
larger establishment could be formed In
case Of war. #sr
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 stand
ard Of training cannot be maintained.
Every bureau in the department is
short of officers and the service. the re-
ror, predicts, soon will fall behind in
the struggle. first for leadership and
then for equality, with the other SER
vices The disability Of the sea-goins
corps Of officers has greatly increased
since the Spanish war and many OF the
best officers are being lost as a result OF
breaking down from overwork.
Congress Severely Criticised.
The admiral severely criticises the In
effective effort Of Congress at the last
session TO meet immediate needs for Of
flcers by authorizing the employment
OF retired officers. and he demands the
immediate needs for officers by author
izing the employment Of retired off,
GERS. and he demands the immediate
repeal Of that act. He claims that the
retired list, Intended as reward for
faithful service. otherwise becomes a
hardship and punishment. The per-
sonnel act thus far has resulted In af-
fordinS less officers than were on the
active list before Its passage, as. while
authorizing an Increase, 1t failed to
provide the means therefor. SO there
are now l3l vacancies In the list Of ma
val officers. when vacancies can be
least afforded. Therefore. 1t is recon-
nended for the next ten years that ap-
pontments to the naval academy be
doubled. the President and representa-
tsves in Congress appointing two In
stead OF one wherever authorized now,
and In addition senators being given
the same privilege Of appointment as
representatives..
England and Germany's Progress.
Then. to meet the needs, 1t Is recon-
minded that whenever Congress au-
thoTizes an increase Of vessels to the
navy, It also provide, in the same act.
!o' an Increase OF officers and men to
man the ships The report says that
England, which this year lays down
htleen war vessels, voted IN Increase
OF i2i0 officers and men to the naval
establishment to man the ship, while
Ge'many intends doubling her fleet In
'he next sixteen years. has provided In
Tue same programme for increasing the
personnel by c!ghty-nIne officers and
'''" men ench year until the total In
crease reach 25,551.
II Is declared that It Is now impossI-
o'e 10 man the vessels OF our navy al
.e"uy constructed. with the present
io'ce' not TO mention those building or
iu'norized. Congress Is urged to make
a'F Increase In personnel Immediately
available.
Training System Commended.
Inc training system as now prnc.
"'eu IN the navy, Ia commended. and It
\ declared that by no other means
.'u'u the navy secure the sailors nee
s'ary 10 man the feet. Since the close
Tue Spanish war, the department
:" found that the resources hereto
"e depended upon to furnish scnmcn
"e navy are no longer adequate.
,H 90 seamcn have enlisted for the
Az h enlistment in the past year, so the
.p"F''nent hns been obliged to rely
~, ,'H and develop the training squad
,~. ~ 'or lnndsmen md now has about
y" men under instruction. who on tho
eainIng.
,'nIFal crowninshicld regards It ns
h.. Important commercially. that we
+. always a fair Representation on
south Atlantic station, saying that
s,' w. part OF the world are our vessels
Il, cordially received. and nowhere
h.. 0e traced direct benefits to trnde
tm clearly than on this station. As
IN. North Atlantic station, regret ia
h, %saSed % that the important drills OF
'uadron ARE compelled to be often