The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-18
The Bureau of Navigation.

Upon that portion Of the annual report
of the Chief Of the Bureau of Navigation
which deals with the great and increas-
ing shortage Of commissioned officers in
the navy. we have commented already.
The report deals with many other mat
ters, however, which are Of prime inter-
est to our naval development.
Admiral TAYLOR, believing that coast
defence work can be organized better by
dividing the coast into districts, reports
that he has created two se< ions on the
Atlantic and one on the Pacific: TO the
first two he has assigned Admirals
COOPER and WISE, with headquarters
at Coasters Harbor Island, Newport
and Pensacola, Fla. and TO the last,
Admiral KEMPfF, with headquarters at
San Francisco. These officers will pro-
pare plans for the defence Of their dis
tricts, passing on the questions involved
in choosing and maintaining rendezvous
for torpedo boats the duties of the naval
militia in cooperation with the navy.
the best anchoragcs. the u,e Of commu-
nication and transportation lines and
similar details The plan here outlined
is excellent.
On the subject Of the enlisted person
mel, Admiral TAYLOR reports that on
June 80. 1902. there were q .i33 enlisted
men in the navy; of these, 50 per cent.
were citizens, 70 per cent. by birth, -
per cent. by naturalization. During the
year ending on that date, 1929, apprcn-
tees and men were enlisted out Of 37,O43
who applied; and 3OG3 men and oG3 an-
prcntices were discharged There were
3,s02 continuous service mon in the
navy on June 80 last At that date
there were 1922 landsmen, more than
one-half Of whom had become ordinary
seamen and seamen, while some had
become petty officers in the artificer and
special branches.
The training Of sailors is an important
matter now, for il takes two years TO
make a recruit sailor. and n third year
to fit him for the work required on a
modern naval vessel Admiral TAYLOR
says that all our vessels are training
ships now, the battlcships and first
rates all carrying in excess Of compile
mcnts landsmen and apprentices who
have completed a course in training
ship" He recommends large shore
station for landsmen at New London or
on Narragansett Bay; two small sailing
brigs for Newport. and one such brig for
San Francisco, at which places the ap-
prentices are trained; and two sailing
ships and one brig on which TO train en-
! listed men. Connected with this sub
ject is Admiral TAYLoR's plan of placing
the navy golfers under commissioned
officers, with naval crews, and using
them not only to carry coal, but also as
training ships. He hopes to have half
OF the Golfers under naval command
this year, and the remainder BY June
80. 1904.
The matter Of gunnery practice is dis
cussed by the Chief of the Bureau of
Navigation, who asks for $i20, 900 to use
in teaching the men to use the heavy
guns. This amount is larger than the
present appropriation but certain new
methods of instruction will reduce the
expense Of using full calibre ammuni-
ton so that the sum desired will 90 much
further than like amount would under
present regulations
In view Of the concentration Of the
naval forces on the Atlantic and the
Asiatic stations, Admiral TAYLOR recon-
mcnds that two Nicc-AdmiralS or acting
Vice Admirals be authorized to COM
mand the large fleets. He calls attention
to the inability of the Bureau Of Naviga-
ton to carry out the work committed to
it. Its duties briefly are:
TO administer the Affairs OF the feet In prepars.
| ton for war; to arrange for Its organization and
| mobilization, and for the mano uvrts of our own
nsct and the study OF those OF foreign squadrons
to plan for combined operations with tho army
10 make. study and develop war plaas; to organize