The Washington times., 1901-10-12

! summer of 1900 his position in the council
! of allied commanders-in-chie would have
| been of far greater dignity and weight,
and one which would have been much
more commensurate with the power ana
interests of this Government This coun-
try is often placed in humiliating posi-
ton on important occasions abroad by
reason of the low rank of its naval rep
resentatives. Officers take precedence ac-
cording TO rank, and thus our representa-
tives are frequently preceded by those Oh
countries far inferior in power ana pres
tige. The bureau, therefore, recommends
that the grade of vice admiral be re-es-
tablished permanently with four mem,
bers. reducing the grade of rear admlral
to fourteen, If Congress deems this neces-
sary.
The report upon the Naval Academy and
the suggestion of increasing the cadet
battalion to 500 is as follows:
Commander Richard Wainwright mas
remained Superintendent of the Naval
Academy. and attention is invited to MS
report which describes the various I'M
provements now in progress at the AGau-
envy under the authority OF Congress. me
Bureau recommends that the increased
salary for the professor Of physics, ~hich
IS mentioned in the report, be granted, as
well as that for the professor OF French
and Spanish The two gentlemen who
would be benefited by the Increase OF
pay have served the Government long ana
faithfully, one for twenty-four years ana
the other for fourteen years II would
seem that they deserve the sinall increase
recommended The requst for So.poO TO
urocure apparatus for the instruction OF
radets In marine engt Eeering and naval
construction is moderate, and one which
should undoubtedly be acceded 10. Ihe
Naval Academy should be seconu TO no
other institution in this country IN proper
! ecuipment for inyestie ating all engineer
| ing principles, and particularly those
which apply to the construction OF ships
and marine engines. The renewed recon-
mendation or the Superintendent Of the
! Naval Academy on the subject Of the
standard Of physical examination Tor ca
dets meets the approval OF the bureau.
! The Superinteudents recC lamentations
with reference to the cadets and to prac-
tice ship are heartily concurred IN.
In concluding the subject OF the Naval
Academy the bureau feels called upon to
renew its statements OF previous years
as to the desirability OF commissioning
cadets at the end Of the four years
course. instead of at the end OF the SIX
years course. as is now the case ms
is only "A matter Of justice TO the young
men concerned. since 1t places them on
an equal footing with the cadets entering
West Point at the same date, and further,
Justly gives TO them the pay Of officers
whose duties they are now called upon
to perform, and it will be great assist
anCe to the department, since 1t VIII be
enabled to order these officers to more
responsible duty than is now advisable.
The formation Of nationa! naval re-
serve is proposed as follows:
In concluding the subject of the per-
sonnet the bureau feels called upon to
bring to the departments attention the
necessity of establishing a national naval
reserve which should be composed of
able-bodied men VINO are or who have
been connected with a seafaring life, and
incidentally all others who may De deem
ed well fitted in the opinion ot the de-
partment and who can suCce ssfully pass
the prescribed examination.
TO make a naval reserve efficient it is
necessary that the men composing II
should receive instruction on board cruis-
ing men-of-war and for considerable
period each year. The bureau recognizes
the difficulty Of accomplishing TINS. since
to take men from their ordinary protes-
sions they must be offered a suiilclent
compensation to pay for the loss OF tlinc tli
from their regular work. ana the sum
which il would be necessary TO appropriate
10 accomrlish this seems at first sight
large but the bureau believes that II
wutld be money well expended. Lhe grave
error of failing to provide suihcleht PEI,
sonnd which has crept into our naval
policy can in some measure be met by
the establishment OF a suitable naval re
serve. and the bureau recommends that
the department ask Congress at the ear
lest opportunity to provide for national
naval reserve by passing bill similar IN
Iurpurt to that recently recommended by
the general board"
The changes recommended In the ration
are as follows:
Her, .,ftor the navy ration shall con-
sist of the following daily allowance or
provisions TO each person: Ia pounds
salt or smoked meat with ounces of dried
or ounces OF canned fruit and gilis OF
beans or peas or y ounces of Hour; or !
pound OF preserved mrat with 3 ounces of
dried or ounces Of canned fruit. and u
ounces Of rice or ounces of canned veg
etablss or ounces Of desicc5ted Veget-
ablos. together with / pound of biscuit
ounces OF butter. ounces OF sugar
ounces of coffee or cocoa or y ounce OF
tea and ! ounce of condensed milk or
evapratcd crtam: and weekly allowance
of " pound of macaroni. ounces of
cheese, ounces of tomatoes, y pint OF