The Washington weekly post., 1900-11-27

annual report of the Secretary OF the
Navy, which has been completed and sub
gu.lted 20 the President There are many
other important recommendations, chief
among them being legislation 20 provide
,1r the equitable advancement OF officers
for gallant conduct in battle or extraor-
d.nary herolsm. The Secretary declares
that the present system Is unjust and un-
satisfactory. The passage OF either one /
Of Two pending bills IS urged. and IL is .
suggested thatit be made retroactive, so as /
% iucluGe the unreWarded heroes OF the /
Spanish var.
The report opens with reference TO the .
cooperation with the army in the Phil /
.pp.nes and 20 the eordiallty existing be- /
tween the two branches OF the service. |
Continuing. II says:
In view OF the disturbed conditions in ,
Asiatic waters and Of the demands upon /
The navy, the department early In the year
deemed IL eXpedient TO augment the force /
In that quarter. The cOmmandeT-in-chief
Of the Asistic Station, Rear Admiral Re- 4
mey, was accordingly given an assistant, /
Rear Admiral Kempf TO insure under 4
command OF an officer of rank and exper- |
ience a division of the fleet, II necessary. /
IN quarters distant from the Philippines. I
Almost Immediately thereafter circum- /
stances made IL necessary 10 maintain 4
separate force in Chinese waters. and the 4
junior rear admiral was ordered to pro- |
ceed with squadron to Taku, China
When. therefore, an appeal for help /
came from the legations at Pekin, this 4
government not only had an adequate 4
naval force at the nearest seaport town,
but also was able to send forward name /
dlately force Of marines for the protec-
tion Of the United States Legation. The .
small marine guard assigned to this duty /
under the command OF Capt. John T. N.Y. |
ers, consisted OF fifty-siX officers and men,
made up OF detachments from the u. S. |
> oregon and Newark. They reached the /
Chinese capital In the latter part of May, /
only a short time before the representa- /
lives and citizens OF foreign countries in /
that city were subjected TO siege and cut |
or from communication with the rest of |
the world.
Dramatic story Of Pekin.
''The annals of history present few ex- |
nmpies OF more dramatic interest than |
the story of the beleagured legations in /
Pekin from June 20, 1900 the date on ]
which the German Minister was killed
and the siege began. until August II. when /
the allied forces entered the Chinese cap
itaL Official and unofficial reports, and
particularly the dispatches Of our Minis
ter, show that the American marines bore
their full share In the burdens of defense
during this memorable siege
ITO record the instances of gaIlantrv
displayed by our officers and men at the 4
capture OF Tientsln would almost be
equivalent 10 publication Of the entire
roster.
During the time of these events both
rear admtrals were in Chinese waters
Their prudence and efficiency are highly
cOmmendable.
The need OF officers for sea duty is
steadily growing, and at times the de-
partment is seriously embarrassed by lack
OF necessary officers TO properly man yes
sells required for immediate service
This need will be stin greater when
Vessles authorized or building are com
pleted and ready for commission The re-
port OF the Bureau of Navigation repre-
sents that IL would be impossible at the
present time 10 man our available fleet /
were an emergency 10 occur demanding
such action. Attention is earnestly in
Niled 10 the detailed suggestions of this
report. and 10 the statement that with the
completion OF vessels now under construc-
ilon an immediate increase will be needed
men.
Training of Seamen.
Fer many years IL has been found diff
cult 10 enlist a sufficient number of the
seamen class TO supply the demand To
opViate this difficulty the department de-
cided to train its own seamen from raw
material, and during the past Year has as
s'Tned five vessels TO the special duty OF
htIing landsmen between the ages OF
t"enty-one and twenty-six for the higher
naval ratings.
This method differs from that Of the
apprentice system, In that IL opens the
uooF 10 the enlistment and immediate
raining OF young men who possess little
or no nautical knowledge or sea exneri-
'Ace, ana gives them an opportunity TO
'yq"4ie ule haolt OF the sea and a knOwI-
edge OF the practical mecbanicaI onr,,
ances which are found on board ~. ~
ern man-ot-war. This has been caTrt1,
out during the past year TO a ersa,as
degree than ever before and the exneTt,
ment has been successful
A special course in gunnery. with nor
Ncuiar reference to target practice hos
lor several years been conducted on hoard
lht I. \. ). Amphitrite. The results have
been good Certain enlisted men who
possess the proper qualifications are given
"a course OF Instruction at the Washing
ton Navy Yard 10 qualify them for sea
men gunners. With experienced officers
ln instruct them, and with the facilities
o.. the gun shop at their disposal. these
men, rs general rule, are qualified al the
euu or the course for assignment 10 ships
VI commission. one hundred and twenty
three men. the majority OF them so ouaii-
Ltd, have taken this course during the
past year.
An additional course Tor petty officers
Acamen, and apprentices Is prescribed al
.Ee naval torpedo station This course
SIS hz
NaE IN electrical work, explosive and tor
irdo material. torpedo manipula ton. div
Ing and practical work on board torpedo
boats Eighty men have been given the
course during the past year. An electrical
n1l for enlisted men has been eslab-
!shct az the New York Navy Yard. and
has been IN successful operation during
TIE past year.
" anid reyiye Grade Of Vice AdnsirnL
believing that the development OF the
navy IS such as 10 warrant a full official
tf9anlzation, and that the unity, com
peieness and efficiency Of this viii be
Promoted by including in IL the grades of
both admiral and vice admiral, have the
h'nor 10 recommend that the Office OF
Wee admiral be revived.
Sector l3 Of the act 90 reorganize and
Increase the efficiency Of the personnel OF
To navy and Marine Corps OF the United
h,ales provides that when naval officers !
aIe detailed for shore duty beyond seas
ihfy shall receive the same pay and al
icUances as are or may be provided by OF
'H pursuance or law for officers OF the
army detailed for duty In similar places
10 has been held by the accounting Of
heen Of tho Treasary-eontrsry II seems
70 his department.. TO the spirit and TO
ue familiar Interpretation Of the letter OF (
'As fiatute-that Porto Rico. the Ha-
N4lan Islands. Guam. and the Philip
FItes. because they are now a part OF our
oNh territory are therefore not beyond .