The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-18
MELVILLE Sees DANGER
Engineering Force Of the Navy De-
clared to Be insufficient.
The Rear Admiral in His Annual Re-
sfble Disaster to Warships-Thc
Workings of the Personnel Law
Criticiscd-Its Faults Pointed Out.

Considerable space is devoted in the
annual report Of Rear Admiral George w.
Melville, Engineer in Chief OF the Navy,
made public yesterday. to the workings
of the personnel law which Admiral Mel
vile finds in the whole very unsatisfac-
tory. The personnel law provided for the
consolidation of the Engineer Corps with
the line, abolishing the several grades of
engineers.
ITO any close Observer" says Rear Ad-
miral Melville, at is convincingly appar-
emit that either the scheme was a mistake
or that the proper course has not been
taken to carry out its intent"
In his opinion the trouble lies not in the
scheme itself, but in lack Of full APP
probation, on the part OF the Navy De-
partment OF the urgency OF the need OF
haste, not only in providing the fullest
opportunity for the requirement Of prac-
tical engineering knowledge on the part OF
the young officers formerly Of the line. but
in compelling them by orders to embrace
the opportunity to acquire it. Admiral
Melville says there is an immediate and
constantly increasing demand for more
expert engineer officers. and he holds that
the demand can be met only by assigning
at once. both ashore and afioat. and In as
great number as possible. the younger
line officers as understudies and assist
ants to the experienced engineers now in
charge Of the engineering work.
Owing to the assignment OF so many
former engineers to line duty the officers
assigned to purely engineering duty have
been overworked Admiral Melville states
Of hn I1ar 10 bar
has been no officer familiar with engineer
ing work. thus compelling the line officers
nominally in charge Of the machinery of
these vessels to depend entirely on war
rant machinists for expert directions. Ad-
miral Melville says in effect that it is
remarkable that this condition has not
resulted in frequent mishaps and break
downs. Instead of building up a person.
mel for the day of need, stronger than
necessary for the time CT peace. the en-
gineer officers and men. he asserts. are
kept at the point Of elastic limit, and
new war today could not fail to develop a
large list Of physical incapables in the
engineering branch of the navy. After as
sorting that the present engineering force
is insufficient and that in this lies posi-
BILE disaster to naval vessels. Admiral
Melville concludes with the remark:
Il hold up the warning finger and sound
the note of alarm"
Admiral Melville has some quiet fun
with Secretary Longs Recommendation.
contained in his last annual report. that
the Bureaus of Construction. Steam En-
gineering. and Equipment be consolidated
into the Bureau OF Ships. under one head.
He maintains that there is bureau of
ships called the Navy Department.; that
the Secretary of the Navy is the head of
the bureau. He tells the Secretary that
he doesn't need expert knowledge to run
the Bureau of Ships. otherwise the Navy
Department, and will make few mistakes
If he follows the advice of the Board on
Construction. of which Admiral Melville
is member. 1t is an open secret that
Mr.. Long was induced to recommend the
consolidation Of three bureaus into one
partly because of the differences of opin-
ion and chickering's in the Board on Con-
strueticn. and. recognizing this. Admiral
Melville comments on 1t as follows:
That differences should agitate the
Board is not only natural but also highly
proper, and is a most effective protection
against hasty and regrettable action. This
occasional lack OF harmony must not be
confused with any real lack Of efficiency.
nor into a cause for recommendations hav-
ing for their object the reversal OF the
true business principles by combination
of radically different professional duties.
Not only would such q course fail to bring
harmony. but surer result would be in
a speedy decline in the rate Of progress
made in each profession"
Admiral Melville renews his recommen-
dation Of last year that a machinery re-
pairing ship be sent to the Asatic Sta
ton, giving as his principal reason that
the repair work done in the East on Amer
lean warships has been very unsatisfac-
tnry He recommends that 81 1O0 0Ol ha
appropriated for building such vessel