New-York tribune., 1901-11-16
law governing her shipbuilding policy. This In
crease Is fixed by law, as follows:
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.

Average Increase in fve years. sos s7422 s.o14
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
Favorable consideration by Congress is invited TO
the following recommendations of the Board of
Visitors of the Naval Academy Of the superin-
tendent and of Rear Admirals Melville and Crown
inshield:
historic associations. be restored and substituted
That the probationary for naval cadets
That an engineering experimental laboratory be
established at the Naval Academy for the use OF
That postgraduate course of instruction in
engineering be authorized "
That no cadet shall hereafter be appointed mt whose
age is under fifteen or over E sightesn on SG9Uoer
That the salaries OF the civilian professors at the
Naval Academy be revised Ill. >,,.,,
Academy sufficiently large to accommodate the
enrire corps of cadets.
The suggestion of the Dewey board to double the
number of cadets is also warmly indorsed. and
the Secretary adds a recommendation that the
President shall be authorized to appoint annually
cadets large
NATIONAL NAVAL RESERVE.
Secretary Long again calls attention to the press
ing need of d national reserve force, from wnlch
to draw for sea service Immediately upon an out
break of war. This subject he says, has re-
ceived attention in previous reports. and recon-
mendatons have been made for the enrolment anu
organization of such a national body, to De under
the general direction of the Navy Department ana
subject call of the Chief Executive IN times
of national emergency.
"The results of the Spansh-American War were
such to assure every one having knowledge Oh
naval matters that steps should at once be taken
to the certain and positive requirement.
which will face the nation upon an outbreak ol
war-the Immediate necessity at that exigent tlrne
If it comes, of large increase In the men OF the
navy from existing reserve-an increase "hlch
must, in the main, be made from the seaIarihs
class who having acquired the habit of the sea-
hor, he
of insuring such reserve than by the measure
now urged
.'Our pressing need is for such a reserve-a oody
to go to the front on board ship at once upon
the outbreak of war, or when ii Is imminent
Next to this will come the defence of the coast
and for such purpose the naval militia Will DO
essential.
.I SEQ reasons for both organizations. and nave
heretofore done all possible TO aid the one NO"
oxisting-the Naval Militia-and to convince Coh-
sress of the necessity for the authorization OF te
other-the national naval reserve
CHANGES IN Law PROPOSED.
Naval officers will be deeply concerned over sec
retary Longs proposed notifications OF 'he
sonnel Reorganization law, especially tnat le i
ing to the abolition of the clauses enabling retre
nsn+ in the next higher grade. On this subject he
says:
Referring the act to reorganizeA IA and and
the n4ps Of Of t the ad e appFove
g. 1899 call your attention to sections I anu re- .
aPe 3 andaT ese enss sections rank
d6ss he tRay Ray he G5 'pe viii
be with the rank and the sea pay b 9s
the saas hed n espeda as shs s in
WHERE the G5 tds Is and much needed Off
Ger premium the retired list at she er ve[ ~
the number required by the non for or more Sec
ard ard ~hen m tb Honerss oS.1 han gives premium to
end ocer whose seFyces 5i1 Sr a1G n0 WIEN
other ofcers equally deserving are retired with no
such favor never favored these Sc sscuonsN hn Of
the ast Naval II 6eas5s s6ab Sgy
AS the Object o. 9S opcer by the
at any time Of others over him. it should be made
apply all officers by an amendmenI = sbEiKlag h @
officers ordered into active seTsce 'e he
time of their active service theEeat,sr sna ,bsn m
they are again detached from active service
THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY
Secretary Long cordially approves the plan. that
has so many able advocates. to remove the NaVai
Observatory from military MANAGEMENT ana pa
its magnificent instruments in the keeping OF skilled
astronomers He says;
Attention is called to the first and very mp6r.anl
report board of visitors TO the Nava ~
atory. 1 earnestly commend its bV
act of Congress in March last believe ITS vista vista
tom Tt and in rank with best institutions
of the land. 1t appears that no 9'ner cS noney
but also that results are not comInensurttS
Of other bod e of be
the best astronomer who has proper IT
g espeeng dasira6e das that should have con
tinuity of tenure and the observatory mas
edly suffered from frequent changes III ''S 'upo
While the average term of service OF superln, perm.
tendents at Greenwich has been twenty-eight years Is
and at Harvard fifteen at the SaTa St rec9r
mend legislation of the last la the %svs ob %
servatory shall be- until further ~ s beIow
s,rasS officer of the navy or a rank NOT peio"
1bsf Of captain be repealed and that on the CON CON
trary be enacted that there sna I1 m is to
he selected As well might the above quote9 S
Fisheries should be selected from nntca1 me e Ii sur
Marine Corps the director OF the UeoioSiO"i '
There is no vital relation between the navy nI anu
the observatory 1t may happen tnas b s1ie &c niare
otesT is ss he woud be appointed the
country entitled to have unmlieS rdmE h, ont the
wboe bodv of civilian astronomers and even any
astronomer in the navy who oTes , mo- the rank of
captain peculiar Only very small RropoT.Gn 99 cap
Of naval officers not below rsred sne rahf for OF naval
servces-a requirement which Is now lncreasins
the list from which seleften e1ident too from the
wording the above quotation from s tne snr,ber
that Congress in passing II hao III niiu LUZ 'Ae'
legislation in this respect
GUNS AND ARMOR
r.o c,o-a,arv trayerses and summarizes the an
,,I ranorts of his chiefs. emphasizing their
most inlportant features. Under ordnance matters
he points out that in order to gain greater energy
o,rs have been increased in weight and dimensions
until it is believed that they nave no" y. so anG
point beyond which 1t is nexpedient 10 go ltng
further increase in their efhclenCy must De oohe.
Ionment M of powders possessing higher ballistc
properties than those now IN use: Inc capacoy os %
armor of the best quality: and at the instance OF
the department the hair an+nnt fo 70 o0H or