The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1903-12-21


force of the navy is steadily growing.
The number of enlisted men in the SER
vice 80, 1903, including petty Off
GERS, seamen and other ratings, lands
men for training and apprentices, was
2, ,245. OF this number, 1913 per cent
We're native born and 10.9 per cent nat
uralized citizens, the total percentage
of citizenship being, therefore, 90-7 per
cent, as compared with SO per cent DIT
the beginning of the fiscal year.
Statistical information relating 20
the history of desertions in the navy
is at present available in three groups
of years only, i. e., 1876, 1877 and 1875,
1887, 1888 and 1889, and from 1891 to the
present time. AS it happens, however,
the data thus accessible cover the
period of marked changes in the ad-
ministration of the enlisted personnel OF
the navy, and show that when such
changes are made, either by material
enlargement or reduction of the per-
sonnel, desertions increase in number.
During the last year instructions
have been given that men who, having
absented themselves from the service
without authority, voluntarily return
shall be treated not as deserters but as
stragglers, and, accordingly, tried by
summary instead of general court-mar-
tial.
AN ADEQUATE NAVY.
'The expenditures for the support Of
the navy have increased considerably
were during the last fiscal year larger
than in any year of our history except
1864 and 1865, and are certain to in
crease still further. 1t is interesting 10
compare the expenditures of the pres
ent with those of the past, though no
standard of comparison exists which is
in all respects satisfactory. AS ma
tion we are able to possess a navy of
such size and cost as our national in
terests and duties require. On the 9TH
er hand, we should not be tempted by
the abundance of revenue to increase
the navy beyond our needs or expend
a dollar unnecessarily.
1.-THE expenditures for the fiscal year
1903 were sS2,61S,O34. BY reasonable ap-
Proclamation the valuation for that year
was s106, ,239, ,266,S72. Thus there was ex-
pended for this year for each dollar of
the national valuation s000o77. If the
average of the last century had been
T6dCH0Q Tie WOQlQ lidFC
been s130,674, ,29S.25.
INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
Careful consideration given during
the past year to the question of the
continuance of naval construction con-
firms me in the views expressed in my
last annual report that the upbuilding
of the navy should be continued by the
annual authorization of new vessels.
The advice of the general board and of
the board on construction has been
sought and received, and will be sub
mitted to the committees of Congress.
NAVAL MEDICAL SCHOOL.
'9The value Of the training received al
the Naval Medical School by the class
graduating April 4, 1908, has been
shown by the work performed by the
members of that class in the active du-
ties of their profession during the few
months that have elapsed since they
entered thereupon. The chief of the
bureau reports that the wisdom and
economy of establishing the school il
Washington has been demonstrated
the building of the Museum of Hygiene
having, with some slight remodeling
proved peculiarly adapted for the pur-
pose of the training school, and it hav'
ing been found practicable to enlist the
cooperation, as instructors, withou'
compensation, of gentlemen prominent
in professional, scientific and educa'
tional circles, who have delivered lee
| lures and given demonstrations befor;
the classes. The work of the institu,
ton has been aeeaEaplished with the as
signment of but one officer on the ac-
tive list for duty in connection there
| with"