The Washington times., 1902-10-25
Rear 14dmiyul Calls AHen-
ton TO Present H1e6fefenf
Condition Of tie EMg1-
uee,uns Branch.
Urges That immediate Steps
Be Taken to Gi0e offers
tile Necessary Technical
Training.

ing, is much dissatisfied with the work
ing and the administration of the lay
of March 3, 1899. for the reorganizatiol
of the navy, popularity known as th
personnel act. and does not nince words
in saying SO in his annual report Il
Secretary Moody.
This law provided. among other things
for the abolition of the Engineer Corp
and the transfer of all the engineer off
GERS to the line. AS a substitute fo
the engineers, the law directed that al
line officers Of certain grades be trained
in engineering, as well as in line duties
and that this practice be continued witt
reference to all graduates of the Navs
Academy, so that in time every line off
Ger would become competent to manage
marine machinery.
Left to Machinists.
Admiral Melville complains that this
feature has not been carried out. Hf
asserts that most OF the engineering
work is being left to warrant machinists
who, while practically competent. do 1oi
understand the theoretical workings Of
the engines. In this, he holds, there is
great danger and while there has beer
an Improvement in these conditions il
the past year, the engineering work OIL
board ship is performed ineficientiy
From its present application. the law
he says, has not proven success, and
he appeals for an improvement.
THE result of forty years experience
in the navy and the warnings sounded
by hundreds of persons within and
without the service" says Admiral Mel
vile, compel unequivocal declarations
to be made as to the condition of af-
fairs. Although these conditions are
somewhat better than they were year
ago, they are passing through period
of engineering inefficiency which is not
only subjecting the nation to great ex-
pense but is inviting disaster.
The present condition of affairs can
not and should not be permitted to con-
tinue. The Navy Department and Con-
gress may be spurred to action from
strong influences without the service un-
less greater proportion of the COM
nissioned personnel is assigned to en-
gineering duties. AS the engineering
profession is carefully noting existing
conditions. would it not be wise to do
the work of Strengthening the service
along engineering lines within the naval
gress again take up the matter when
the formation of separate corps of
naval engineers, endowed with military
Iank and authority, will not only be a
possibility, but a decided probability? p"
- Europe Amazed.
In reference to the radical course of
making line officers of the navy perform
military as well as engineering duties.
Admiral Melville remarks that care
full perusal of the naval periodicals of
America and Europe. as well as ex-
tended correspondence and personal in
terviews with hundreds of persons in
ferested in the question, convinces him
shat the best friends of the navy out
side of the service, as well as the ad-
miralty officials abroad, are still amazed
at The experiment that the American
Navy has undertaken.
In fact, he says, they are more doubt
fnl than they ever were before of the
ultimate success of the scheme He adds.
however. that it is only fair to say that
MN csHcers ia our own service are
convinced that the passage of the law
was in the line of naval development
and advancement. But even some of
these officers have admitted that more
substantial results ought to be apparent
by this time.
OF the practice which Admiral Mel
vile says has existed since the passage
of the law of not assigning enough Off
GERS to engineering duty on shipboard,
he speaks in terms of criticism, and
holds that there is great danger in in
supervision of these warrant officers.
He insists that, while they have had
shop training or experience at sea. they
cannot be expected to possess the nee
essary scientific training to enable them
TO take up duties that were performed
in the past by the commissioned Off
GERS of the old engineer corps.
He holds that the belief that warrant
machinists, If competent TO take charge
of the machinery of a modern warship.
will rest content with either the pay o,
the position now accorded them, is sim
ply to invite another half century of in
ternal strife in the navy, such as was
caused by the insistence of the engi- |
necrs that they be given actual rank |
and command.
An Erroneous Belief.
1T has been because the belief pre- I
walls in some quarters that the expert |
ence of single cruise in the engine
room will fit Junior officers for the duty
OF chief engineer" remarks Admiral
Melville '.and that the practical duties
At sea of the old engineer officers can
be taken uo by the warrant machinists
hat there has been retrogression in the
efficiency of the navy. This
Will not cease until at
east one-fifth OF the 500 commissioned
;fficcrs. midship1.on, and warrant Off {
,ers are assigned to engineering duty
Continuing his discussion of this i'm
,ortant subject, Admiral Melville has /.
his to say: {
Many young line officers have shown 4