The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-02
Discomfort In HOME FLEET.
OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN
ARE AFFECTED.
designations and DrsertlOns the Result
Much HAD Feeling Against Admiral
HigEinsOn. VINO Commands the Fleet
Navy Department Proposes a Remedy

Navy Department Proposes n Remedy
WASHINGTON, Nov. As result OF
an investigation into complaints that a con-
dition of affairs prevailed among the officers
and enlisted men of the North Atlantic
squadron which threatened 10 effect their
efficiency, the Navy Department and the
General Board of the navy has decided
on a policy which, il Is hoped, will bring
about a marked Improvement when the
squadron IL engaged in the winter fleet
manGuvres in conjunction with the vessels
Of the European and South Atlantic stations
The Department announced to-day that
in view of the. hard work which the vessels
to engage in the manTuvres would have TO
undergo, Christmas week would be observed
as a holiday. The fleet will be divided
and each division will go TO some place
in the West Indies, where officers and men
will be permitted to go ashore for purposes
of recreation. 1t is understood also that
Admiral Dewey, who will command the
feet has decided to devote one day week
during the manPuvres 10 rest for officers
and men.
From what Is said in naval circles. how
ever, the causes of the discomfort among
those on the vessels of the home station
are too decp-rooted and of a character too
serious to be removed 10y the mere granting
OF holiday privileges Not only are the en-
listed men affected, but the officers are
also. Some recent resignatio and volun-
tary retirements are attributed TO the
present situation. thus indicating that the
conditions must Toe very bad indeed when
officers are willing 10 quit the service on
account of them.
The Navy Department has been told
that there is a great deal of bad feeling
among his subordinates against Rear
Admiral Francis j. Higgnson, the squad
ron commander. and from what was said
at the Department to-day, it is evident
that some consideration was given to this
aspect of the matter. just what was the
outcome of the Depart ment's inquiry has
not been disclosed. but that Admiral IIg-
GIBSON will retain his command until his
tour of sea duty expires appears to be
certain.
The Department authorities are very
reticent in regard to the state Of things
with the personnel of the North Atlantic
naval force, but there is great deal of
gossip among officers who are aware of
a general agreement that the squadron
Is very unhappy. This unhsppiness, it
is alleged, is not confined To any one ship,
but extends throughout the entire naval
force under Admiral Hgginsou's COM
mand The men, It appears, think they
have been robbed of privie ges which they
had right to expect, and IL is reported
that officers complain that they are not
treated with consideration, seldom get
credit for hard work, and are suffering from
the effect of having under them men who
have become surly and discontented
II is maintained by the Navy Depart ment
that the officers and men have not com
planned of the hard work experien ced
during the summer war games off the New
Eng land coast and that il is Acknowledged
by them that their efficiency has been
improved III consequence. This is prob
ably true, and is even partly acknowledged
by those who hold that the squadron is full
of dissatisfaction. But il Is contended
that the efficiel cy which has come from
different from the efficiency that comes
from willingnes to do duty cheerfully
and uncomplainingly.
The trouble, il Is said, began when the
squadron was in the West Indies last winter
Privileges such a. Jack Tar has been in the
habit of getting We're curtailcd down there,
according to report, and the hardest kind
OF work was not cpmpeI stated for bv any
words Of commentator from the flagship
When the squadron returned to he United
states, the desertions became alarmngly
large, and As there was no Improvement IN
this particular as time went IN the Depart
meIt recently appointed board of officers
TO investigate he trouble and report sug-
gestions as 10 how II might be remediod
Little information a. to what the board
leaned and what its conclusions were
is obtainabe at the Department, where the
mo Int IL snf1 al. ,t i, hot -
the new men recruited from the interior
of the country, who knew not hing of sea-
going ways. We're not satisfied with life on
shipboard AID took French leave to escape
serving the fun term f their enlistm ert1
More recently the Department has made
more inquiries into the reports that the
satisfaction in the North Atlantic squad
ron was general. When the General Board
of the navy was in session in Washington
in October, Admiral Higginson was sum
moned here and consulted abOu, the stua-
ton OF his command and the means of rem
edying it, II was in consequence of the
discussion OF the matter 10y the General
Board that the decisions To make Christ
mas week a holiday for the fleet and 10
devote one day in every seven to recrea-
ton were reached,
II has been customary in the navy 10
give the seamen one or two days liberty
every week when vessels are in port or
engaged in work that would permit them
TO make to port frequently. This prac-
tice was practically discontinued by Adj
miral Hicgnson, however, during the
presence Of the squadron on the New Eng
land coast last summer. During the wcel;
between the ending of the naval searcn
problem and the beginning of the Ioin,
army and navy war game, officers and men
We're forbidden to go ashore, although
nothing was done by the ships in that
period. This was one Of the things that
caused disat isfaction. but there were 9TH
ers, it is reported, that gave greater reason
FOR discomfort. The Navy Department
IL concerned over the situation, but hopes
that there will be n change for the better
when the fleet manuuvres begin in the West
Indies.