The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-29
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Secretary Moody's Review of Its Work
Needs of the Service.

WASHINGTON, NOV S.-Nlll1am ii.
Moody. secretary of the navy. in his an
nual report to the President, reviews the
work of his department at length. covering
much the same ground that covered by
the heads of bureaus in their reports, all
of which have been made public from time
to time. In summing up the secretary
says:
"A statement of the operations of the
fleet reveals an activity characteristic of
all branches of the naval service of to-day.
Such statement may be found in the re-
port of the chief of the Bureau of Naviga-
ton, and will not be repeated in this re-
mort The cooperation of the army and
navy has everywhere been cordial The
navy has done its share in restoring order
i'm the Philippines. The conditions through
out the islands have so FAR improved that
the constant presence of a large naval
force is no longer necessary. Five gunboats
have been put out of commission or laid
up for repairs.
Indies and Caribbean have required the
constant presence of our ships charged
with the duties of maintaining order by
moral influence protecting the interests of
our citizens and those of other nations COM
mitted 10 us, and of preserving the treaty
rights of the government. These duties
have been performed in harmonious Coop
Grafton with the Department of State.
1.-The navy rendered essential aid In the
relief furnished to the inhabitants of the
islands of Martinique and st. Vincent af-
fiicted by the volcanic eruption occurring
in May last
Ocean surveys have been continued to
the extent which the number of available
officers, men and ships would permit.
''The task which is employing the high
est energies of the navy and receiving the
greatest attention from the heads of bu-
reaus the commanderS-in-chief OF stations,
the commanding and subordinate officers
of squadrons. divisions and single vessels
everywhere is the work of training. To
the development of the greatest efficiency
in all branches of the service the attention,
zeal and thought of those in charge is
mainly directed. This is an era of training.
The reports of the several bureaus are
plans for the improvement of present sys-
TENS of practice drill and instructions.
1.-The training of apprentice boys and
landsmen entering for the first time the
enlisted force of the navy In all that is
comprehended by the term the sea habit;
the training of seamen who have acquired
this. but need greater familiarity with the
specialiZed work of a modern ship of war;
the training of officers and men of the
Marine Corps in the military and naval
duties of that organization; the training Of
officers and men, sailors and marines, In
the essential matter of craftsmanship with
all arms, great and small, including ma
chine and rapid7hre guns, in the care and
handling of ordnance and particularly In
gun pointing;' training in developing and
maintaining the efficiency of the main en-
gines of ships, as well as of all auxiliary
machinery and devices. steam, electrical
and others; the training of young officers of
the staff corps In the specialties of their
profession, as well as in its general obliga-
tions and duties; the training of junior off,
GERS in torpedo work of all kinds, and in
the handling of the smaller vessels, and the
training of more experienced officers in the
capacity to bring out and utilize the full
powers OF the vessels under their COM
mand, whether operating singy or In
squadrons, appears to be the important
present business of the navy.
For these purposes schools of instruc-
ton have been established wherever prac-
ticable, among them being the school for
petty officers of the seaman branch at New
port, and for the artificer branch at the
navy yards-Portsmouth, Va, and New
York; the school at the Medical Museum,
and the torpedo school at Newport. AT
the same time the work of the Naval War
College has received increased attention.
1T is needless to say that the purpose of
all this instruction and training Is to make
| the navy fit for its ultimate design as an
| instrument of warfare. The navy serves
| many useful purposes in times of peace
| which should by means be minimized.
| Nevertheless, it would not exist in any
! thing like its present form If the possibility
| of war were not in contemplation 1t is
/ believed to be the duty of the department
\ to employ the means which Congress has
placed at its disposal to develop every lat,
| ent power of material and personnel and
! see that all branches of the service operate
\ in intelligent harmony. This constitutes
/ that preparedness for war which Is the best
]
! has been remembered at every step that
! the people desire peace and not war, and
| that the navy should be potent that peace
\ may be preserved. This preparedness for
/ war should be complete; a partial or half
/ way preparation will not insure us against
| attack. may even invite it,
Secretary Moody indorses most of the
| recommendations of his subordinates. He
calls attention to the deficiency in officers
| and urges that the number of midshipmen
| at the Naval Academy be increased to meet
! the demand. The number of enlisted men
| In the naval service on June go 1902 was
/ q, 433. OF these S,032 were landsmen for
| training and apprentices. Many of these
/ came from the middle Western States, and
/ at the time of their enlistment were unac-
| quainted with the new life upon which they
/ had entered. Their progress has been emf
| nently satisfactory. All men now enlisted
| are required to be either citizens or to have
declared their intention to become such
| Eighty-nine per cent. of the enlisted force
! are now citizens, and 76 per cent. are ma
| tive born. Ninety-three and three-tenths
! per cent of the landsmen for training and
/ "a per cent. of the apprentices are native
| born. The advance In general intelligence
| and education of the enlisted men presents
| new problems which, with all other cues
| tions concerning them, are receiving the
| critical attention of the department The
| secretary says ii is believed that I'm intelli-
gence, education, adaptability TO the serv-
| ice and fidelity to its interests our men will
compare favOrably with those of any other
navy. An increase in ships is recommend.
ed. but the secretary does not suggest the