The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-17

The lack of officers and men for naval
ships becomes more acutely felt as prepa-
rations are being completed for the win
ter cruise OF the North Atlantic aeet in
West Indian waters and the efforts being
made To form a squadron of gunboats.
composed of small vessels intended 10
serve in the Philippines and on the China
station. Secretary Long has asked Con-
gress for 5.ola additional seamen, but
these. it has been found. will be insult
Gent. and he contemplates asking for
more. Officers who have been on shore
but a few months. after long service at
sea are being picked up and sat CT on
other long cruises. As the personnel OF
the navy can only be increased through
the Naval Academy. It is believed that
Congress viii be urged TO permit all ca
Gets at sea nov to be Immediately COM
missioRed and Eaneancies filled at the
Academy BY new cadets
While the navy has grown until it IS
almost double It's strength Of Ave years
ago. the personnel has remained where Il
was since the days CT the Old wooden
craft An idea of the number of ships
building and the date Of their completion,
with the number of men required 10 man
them, is given in q statement prepared
at the Navy Department for the use CT
the Secretary
On July /. 1902. these vessels are ex-
peeted tc he ready for commission. Hi
nois, 400 men, Wisconsin, 469; Ohio, 400.
Arkansas. rs; Nevada. 70; Florida. 125;
wyoming, 125; Denver, 300; Des Moin5s,
Chattanooga, Cleveland, Galveston, and
Tacoma, each 500 men: 16 deStrGyers, $50
BieR; Is torpedo boats $50; submarine
beats, Z. or total of .,956 men alone
for ships building. In addition. q reserve
of ene-teEth for these sick and lncapaei-
lated or on board receiving ships await
ing transfer brings tie total up 20 3, AS
men All these facts have been set bs-
fore Secretary Long, who beliyes that lib
eral provision must be made t;lzs session
for enlistments.
In addition to the foregoing vessels
there are now under repair and cut of
commission the following, all of which
would be commissioned in time of emer-
geney, and many of which Secretary Long
says would be in service now If officers
and men were available: Indiana, eco
men; New York. 100; Texas, $50; Column
bia and Minneapolis, 400 each; Baltimore,
SO; San Francisco, $50: Olympia S.5;
Cincinnati and Raleigh, 500 each; Detroit.
Montgomery. and MaTblehead. 22g each:
Boston, ESQ: Puritan, 231; Terror, 10;
Miantonomai, ia; Alliance. 100; Alert,
80; AIohiean. $50: ten torpedo boats, 4ta
or total OF {. SIS men. with one-teDth re-
serve added, 6ee. making a grand total CT
6511 men
Three hundred officers is The number
estimated by the Navy Department as re-
CURED. IN addition TO the existing force.
On October L last there were 70 vacancies
IN the lire of the navy. These can never
he hIled at the present rate OF graduation
from the Naval Academy. The next class
has SO members IN It's list and viii ne the
largest turned out of the Academy fer
years. Still these newly commissioned Of
fcers, according to the Secretary. VIII not
reduce the vacancies by one-haIf
In this connection though it has no
bearing upon the actual z>:Imber OF officers
available for duty it is urged that the
cadets completing the four-years' course
be commissioned e1signs as 2 matter Of
right and justice.