The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-10-22

WASHINGTON. Oct. 12.-In his an
nual report to the Secretary of tbs
Navy. Rear Admiral Crowninshield
Chief of the Navigation Bureau
speaks OF the reduction made during
the past year in the strength OF ths
Asiatic feet, which was drawn upor
10 furnish two vessels to re-establisl
the European station and win be fur.
Their diminished in order to permit oil
/ the commissioning OF at least two
training ships and an increase OF the
North Atlantic squadi on by two gun
boats and of the Pacific squadron by
| possibly one. Il is particularly de
sirable to have some small ships for
| Gulf service on the Atlantic side II
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 In
the main was all that could be asked
for. The American fleet in conjunc-
ton with the army in the Philippines,
il is stated. has hampered materially
the inflow of arms and munitions to
the islands.
Much attention has been devoted to
gunnery training and the report says
that the department rs about to I'M
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
interest OF the health Of the sailors.
OF their correct drilling of their COM
~ - hn
should follow the example of every
flrst-class navy and provide barracks
in place of receiving ships. 1t is fig
ured that the government would save
annually by this course nearly $780,
600 or the interest on twice the sum
required to provide barracks for 5000
men. 1t is recommended that Con-
gress appropriate for such barracks
at New York. 100000 and for League
Island and Mare Island, 100000 each
Sailors were enlisted during the
year to the number of $3.50, making
the total men in service 1885. From
this number there were 3,15S deser-
tons.
The beginning of a general staff of
the navy is foreshadowed in a trans
mitted recommendation OF Captain
Sigsbee. the chief intelligence officer.
looking to a combination in the De-
partment of the work of the general
board. the war college and the office
OF naval intelligence. to begin sys-
tematically general stan work.
Touching the naval academy, the
report indorses the superintendent
recommendation that no cadet be I'M
der Is or over Is years of age: that
the course shall be four years. and
that a 3.000-ton practice ship be pro-
vided. Six civilian instructors to take
the place of line officers are recon-
mended In connection with the
naval training stations it is recon-
mended that small brig of $50 to
200 tons be built for the San Fran
cisco station.
report, that of personnel, is reserved
for the last Admiral Crowninshield
already has given warning to Con-
gress of the absolutely imperative
need OF the navy for more officers and
men. Now he adds some startling fig
ures to support his renewed recon-
mendations. He says IL the depart
ment were called upon to man the
ships for service It could not meet
the demand There are not enough
line officers to man the ships. ALREADY
constructed. When In three years the
vessels now under construction shall
have been completed. the number OF
officers necessary to man them and a
few auxiliary vessels would be no
less than thousand. and the prob
lem presented is how these officers
can be assured in the short time re-
naming At present the line OF the
navy under the personnel act and as
fed from Annapolis is increasing only
at the rate OF ten per year In number
(forty officers being retired arbitrarily
each YEAR, which would make thirty
for the three years. According to
Admiral Crowninshieid. the only rem
edy is to increase the number OF ca
diets at the Naval Academy to not less
than 500 It is recommended that be
ginning with the next Congress. there
shall be allowed at the academy two
naval cadets for every representative
for the District OF Columbia. and ten
at large annually, and that the course
be limited to four years.
Another striking recommendation |
Of Admiral Crovninshield under the |
head OF personnel Is that four Vice |
Admirais be created Deducting the |
number Of Rear-Admfral 10 fourteen /
II necessary. II is said that the Unit
ed States often has been in humil-
iating position on important occasions
abroad by reason OF the low rank Of
its naval representatives.
The report closes with an earnest
recommendation for the creation Of