Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-12-04
NEED0F MANY MORE MEN.
Secretary Moody Says Navy Is Short Handed.
use Of LIQUID Fuel at Sea.

OF the last fiscal year there were up-
der construction for the navy, br
contract the following vessels: Eigh
battleships armored cruisers, mint
protected cruisers, fur monitors,
thirteen torpedo boats. The general
progress of work upon these vessels,
particularly those of the larger cities,
has not been found to be satisfactory.
The battleships were, on the Goth OF
June, 1902, from ten TO twenty. nine
months behind contract time; the
aImofed cCruisers from four tp thir-
teen mouths; the protected cruisers
from six to eight months, While the
monitors were from sixteen TO nlne-
teen months in arrears,
In the cases Of the larger vessels
the causes assigned for slow progress
are the non-dcllvery of structural
material, the inability of shipbuild-
ers to obtain sufficient supply OF
skilled labor, and in some cases,
strikes Other causes have contribu-
ted to the result. The department
has recently taken steps to remove,
as far as practicable, any grounds or
delay over which it can exercise con-
troll, and has notified contractors that
they will be held to accountability
for failure to push forward the Work
Of construction with the diligence, If
such failure shall occur, and particu-
iarly for any delays which may at any
time be caused by preference being
given to private over public wo k.
In the case of torpedo boats and
the deStroyers, the contractors have
assigned as an additional reason for
delay that the contract for their con
struction were so exacting that COM
pllance with them has been well nigh
impossible.
Among the most important lessons
learned in the war with Spain was
that modern navy cannot be i'm
prOvised during war or upon the
Threshold Of war. Mu b money
was then expended in the purchase
OF ships. Many of them served USE
full auxiliary purposes, but 1T may
well be doubted whether they added
materially to the fighting efficiency
of our fleet. The time best suited to
the development and perfection of
our navy Is the time when there Is
neither war nor threat Of war. Hap
PLY the present Is such time, and
it permits dispassionate considera-
ton Of the future.
The country proves, with hardly
dissenting voice, the policy Of
streng thenit g Our power upon the sea.
What may have been an adequate
navy some years ago is totally made
quate for the performance Of the du-
ties growing out of our new possess
ions in the Pacific and Atlantic and
the determination OF congress to con
struct a canal across the isthmus.
If, then, the policy OF strengthen
ing our power upon the sea to the
point where 1t can respond to the ma
iona needs be not abandoned, the
navy has manifold needs. There
M st be additional naval and coaling
stations more ships, fighting and
auxiliary; and an increase of officers
and men. In all Of these respects,
congress in the past has dealt with
the navy wisely and generously, and
/ doubt not that 10 the future 1t will
as accurately register the will of the
people.
The most imperative need of the
navy today Is OF additional LfiiceTs. L
cannot overstate this need. 1t in
vites the instant attention Of con-
gress. The administration Of the de-
partment is embarrassed almost daily
by the lack of officers below command
rank. This condition has heen APP
preaching for some years, and was
clearly apprehended and stated by my
predecessor in Office. 1t Is acute to-
day. and, when the ships already au-
thoIized are completed, it will be des-
UGTdJe uDleSS tDclo 10 edIly dCtlOu'
am Informed that under existing
conditions 355 graduates Of the naval
academy may be expected during
these four years. There is no other
source of supply except number not
exceeding six per annum, which may
be obtained by the promotion Of en-
listed men. Unless, therefore, the
above computation can be shown to
b erroneous, we shall have In the
near future something more than a
thousand officers less than the proper
complement.
Tie officers we need can be obtain
ed from three sources by appoint
ment from civil life, by promotion
from the ranks, or by education and
trimming at the naval academy The
first source has heen 81 uniformly re-
jerted by the opinions Of ALL that |
WI not discuss it. Congress has in