The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-03
Also Recommends General Staff
 for the Navy
OESERTERS ARE NUMEROUS
Sailors Object to Close Confinement on Board, Poor Sleeping Accommoda- lions and the Harsh Treat
 ment By the Officers.

Washington, December 2.-The annual report of Admiral H. c. Taylor chief of the bureau of navigation, recommends the creation of a general staff in the navy the appointment of two vice-admi- rals, one for the Asiatic station and one for the North Atlantic station; a mate rial increase in the number of officers and the addition of number of ships to the navy
 Referring to the Caribbean squadron the report says that the object of it's creation Is to prove at all times force in those waters which can proceed quick " whenever needed to such points as may demand protection for American in- terests. An increase in the number of cruisers forming the squadron to eight, Is urged. five of an improved Olympia type, and. three specially constructed light draught vessels for river work The coast squadron, while planned for the naval defense of the country, should oc- casion require. will be used as a reserve force to strengthen our principal fleet in the West Indies.
 Admiral Taylor calls attention to the | irregular character of the training squad | Aoii, anu urges III the interest or true economy the building of training vessels, | which would be useful in time of war.
 Wants Eight Training Vessels.
 The construction of eight such vessels | is recommended, to be of the size of the l San Francisco with a sea speed of 16 knots, and with large coal endurance, but l with such reduction in armament as to be capable of berthing a large number of | men. For the European station, six new | cruisers are recommended. On the Asi- l atic station, Admiral Taylor says the situ- ation demands there a battleship squad ron a cruiser squadron, and squadron | of small vessels. Admiral Taylor concurs in the recommendation of Admiral Evans that the principal station in the Philip | pines be established at Olangapo, Subig Bay. The report says that the Asiatic l squadron needs six cruisers of an improv- ed Olympia type, and four cruisers of the scout cruiser type, of which latter two I can now be provided. It also is urged that two small gunboats or large launches | be provided immediately for service In | Chinese rivers for the protection of Am | erican interests
 Admiral Taylor expressed the opinion that a large number of cruisers will be necessary in the next few years.
 Time Spent for Repairs.
 Admiral Taylor calls attention to the time spent by vessels of the North At | lantic fleet at navy yards for repairs, saying the battleship Alabama spent 133 days at the New York navy yard, the Kearsarge 104 days and the Indiana 102, which, he says, is too long. He recom- mends that vessels of this fleet visit the navy yards for repairs only once a year. Admiral Taylor treats at great length the subject of assertions, showing that for the year 1903, the percentage was 12.5 Among the various reasons assigned by officers as well as the men themselves, he says, are discontent with the food discomforts as to sleeping accommoda- tions, confinement on board ship without frequent liberty to visit shore; harsh ness in language and bearing on the part | of the officers toward the crew. the dis appointment of the recruit who believed that sea service was a pleasant and easy thing, and the restless spirit existing among some of the men. He estimates that the assertions on account of food, close quarters, restricted liberty to go ashore, and causes incident to the men themselves, at not above per cent of the force, and says that when assertions
 go above that percentage, the department should examine closely the causes which produce the increase.