Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05
WORK OF THE NAVY
Annual Report Of Secretary
Moody. !.
CHANGES ALL DESIRED
POINTS OUT ADVANTAGES, OF A
GENERAL STAFF.
Citizenship of Enlisted Men - Deser-
tions-An Adequate Establishment
Medical School.


lions Of the navy during the past fiscal year
LAS the naval establishment" says he,
grows In Importance and the amount of
public money devoted to its maintenance
Is increased its proper administration justly
becomes an object of solicitude. There has
BEEN therefore, much discussion concerning
the organization of the department 1t Is
asserted by many, both within and without
the naval service that alterations in the or
ganic law governing the administration of
naval affairs would result in an increased
efficiency and economy.
Changes Desired.
'"The agitation for a change comes from
so many and such respectable quarters that
1t cannot be denied consideration. There
cannot be said to be an agreement upon
the exact measure Of the reform desired,
nor, indeed, a universal agreement that
any reform at all is needed.
Bureau chiefs often, as during my ad-
ministration, admirably adapted by their
character and attainments to perform duty
of TINS KIND, are engrossed In the admins
tration of their respective bureaus, have
little time for other duties, are tempted to
consider all questions from point of view
OF ..leir own bureaus. and Re: tate to as
sumo duties which by law are not imposed
upon them. This has led to the enlargement
of the function Of the chief of the bureau
Of navigation and the creation of the gem
eral board. The proposals for changes may
be classified as follows:
'FirSt-AlterationS in the organization OF
navy yards which will increase the power
and responsibility there over and for Work
progressing therein.
"Second-the consolidation of the bureaus
in the department.
Naval General Staff.
'Third-The creation of general staff,
which shall be responsible for the efficiency
of the vessels afioat and the personnel of
the navy, collect and digest military in
formation upon which plans for active oper-
atoms may be formulated, and act as the
military adviser of the Secretary, having
no authority except such as may be con-
ferred upon it from time to time by the
Secretary. 1t should be understood that the
department does not entirely lack the as
sistance which would be rendered by
general staff. The War College at Coasters
Harbor Island the intelligence office, the
board of inspection and survey, and the bu-
reau of navigation work in intelligent CO
operation with the general board when
was created by my predecessor as the re-
suit of experience in the war with Spain.
1T is not my purpose to recommend spe-
officially at this time any of these proposals
but only to bring them forward TOT the
earnest discussion and consideration when
their Importance deserves. Mere change IS
not reform, and none should be attempted
until 1t appears clearly that conditions
would be bettered thereby.
Citizenship Of Enlisted Men.
ut is gratifying to note that the percent
age of citizenship in the enlisted 1orce Oh
the navy is steadily growing. The NUMBER
of enlisted men in the service June ~, 1905
including petty officers, seamen and other
ratings, Iandsmen for training and appren-
tees, was 27,245. OF this number. 100
per cent were native born and Ivy per
cent naturalized citizens, the total per-
centage of it.zenship being. therefore, 9o.t
per cent, as compared with SO per cent at
the beginning of the fiscal year.
Statistical information relating to the
history of assertions in the navy is at pres
ent available in three groups of years only,
l. e.. 1915, 1877 and 1878, 1887, 1888 ana
1885, and from 1891 to the present time.
AS it happens, however, the data thus ac-
cessible cover the period of marked
changes in the administration OF the en-
listed personnel of the navy and snow that
when such changes are made. either by
material enlargement or reduction OF the
personnel assertions increase in number.
During the last year instructions nave
been given that men who, having absented
themselves from the service without au-
thority voluntarily return shall be treated
not as deserters but stragglers. and, &C
cordingly, tried by summary instead or
general court-martial.
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 1854 and
1865, and are certain to increase still fur
Their It Is interesting to compare the ex-
penditures of the present with those OF the
past though no standard of comparison
exists which Is in all respects satisfactory.
AS nation are able to possess a navy
of al and cost national inter-
ests and duties require. On the other hand,
we should not be tempted by the abundance
of revenue to increase the navy beyond our
needs or expend a dollar unnecessarily.
THE expenditures for the fiscal year 1903
were S82, 61S, ga. By reasonable approx
nation the valuation for that year was
s1O6, 239. 268. S72. Thus there was expended
for this year for each dollar of the national
valuation sO.0OO77. If the average Of the
last century had been reached the expen-
ditures would have been s130.674. 29s.25
Increase Of the Navy.
Careful consideration given during the
past year to the question Of the continu-
ance of naval construction confirms me in
the views expressed in my last annual re-
port 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
Naval Medical School.
1.-The value of the training received at
the Naval Medical School blythe class grad
uating April A. 1908, has been shown by the
work performed by the members of that
class in the active duties 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 in
Washington has been demonstrated, the
building of the Museum of Hygiene having.
with some slight remodelng proved pecu-
liarly adapted for the purpose Of the train
ing school. and 1t having been found prac-
ticable to enlist the cooperation, in
structors. without compensation Of gentle
men prominent in professional scientific
and educational circles, who have delivered
lectures and given demonstra tions before
the classes. The work of the institution
has been accomplished with the assignment
Of but one officer on the active list for duty