Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-10-17
DESERTIONS ARE MANY.
Admiral Crowninshield's Re-
port to Secretary Long.
ASKS FOR NAVAL BARRACKS
Says They should be Used Instead or
Receiving Ships-Recommends that
the Grade of Vice Admiral be Ke-
Vived-The Naval Reserve.

Washington, Oct. 12.-In his annual
report to the secretary of the navy,
Rear Admiral Crowninshield, chief of
the navigation bureau, speaks of the
reduction made during the past year
in the strength of the Asiatic feet. 1t
is said that the operations on the
Asiatic station were marked by uni
form success and that the conduct of
our sailors and marines in China was
all that could be asked for. The
American fleet, in conjunction with
the army in the Philippines, has ham,
pered materially the inflow of arms
/ and munitions to the islands.
\ new system of recruiting the
navy was adopted, recruiting officers
going to different parts of the coun-
try instead of waiting until the men
presented themselves at receiving
ships. The system is said to have
been an undoubted success.
Much attention has been devoted to
gunnery training and the report says
that the department is about to un-
dertake long cherished project and
establish two gunnery training ships
on the Asiatic station.
Admiral Crowninshield declares that
the time has come when, in the inter-
est of the health of the sailors, of
their correct drilling, of their COM
fort and of economy, the United
States navy should follow the eX-
ample of every first-class navy and
provide barracks in place of receive
ing ships. 1t is figured that the gov
ernment would save annually by this
course nearly $15O,000 or the inter-
est on twice the sum required to pro-
vide barracks for 5000 men. 1t is
recommended that congress appro-
pirate for such barracks at New York
SSO0.O0O. and for League Island and
Mare Island 100000 each.
Sailors were enlisted during the
wear to the number of 9.S96, making
the total men in service 1S,s25. From
this number there were 3,15S deser-
tions.
Touching the naval academy the re-
port indOrSes the uperlntendent
Recommendation that no cadet be
appointed under Is or over Is years
OF age: that the course shall be four
years and that a 3,00O-ton practice
ship be provided. Six civilian in
structors TO take the place of line otti-
GERS are recommended. IN cOhhec-
tion with the naval training station
it is recommended that $l50,0OO be
appropriated to fit out the historic
Constellation at Newport for train
ing ship.
Admiral CrownInshield already has
given warming to congress of the alb
solutely imperative need of the navy
for more officers and men. Now he
adds some startling figures to support
his renewed recommendations. He
says if the department were called
upon to man the ships for war sery-
ice. it could not meet the demand
There are not enough officers to man
the ships already constructed.
Another striking recommendation
is that four vice admirals be created,
reducing the number of rear admirais
to II if necessary. 1t is said that the
United States often has been placed
in a humiliating position on import
ant occasions abroad by reason OF
the low rank of its naval representa-
tives. The report closes with an
earnest recommendation for the ere
alton of a national naval reserve.