Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-12-10
The NAVAL SERVICE.
Secretary Moody Makes His Re-
port On His Department.
IN ADMINISTRATION URGED
The Consoiidssion Of Engineer Corps with
the Line Working weII-The Enlisted
Korce-D eseftlons and How 10
Reduce Thorn.


Reduce Thorn.
Washington, Dec. 5.-Secretary OF
the Navy Moody, In his annual report.
refers at length to the organization Of
the navy department As the naval
establishment grows In importance,
he says, 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 discus
sion concerning the Organization OF
the department It is asserted by
many, both within and without the
naval service, that alterations In the
organic law governing the admins
tration Of the naval affairs would re-
suit In an increased efficiency and
economy. The agitation for change
comes from SO many and such respect
able quarters that 1t cannot be denied
consideration. The proposals for
changes may be classified as follows:
First, alterations In the organization
Of naval yards which will increase the
power and responsibility there over
and for work progressing therein.
Second, the consolidation Of the bu-
reaus in the department.
Third, the creation OF general
etaff which shall be responsible for the
efficiency of the vessels afioat and the
personnel Of the navy. collect and d.
gest military information upon which
plans for active operations may be
formulated and act as the military adj
wiser of the secretary, having no au-
thority except such as may be con-
ferred upon 1t from time to time by
the secretary.
Differences Of opinion still exist as
to the measure Of success which has at
tended the consolidation of the engi-
neer corps with the line. Both the
chief OF the bureau Of navigation and
the chief of the bureau Of steam en-
cheering believe that the consolida-
ton is working well, and I am in
formed that such Is the opinion Of the
majority Of our officers.
1t is gratifying to note that the per-
centage of citizenship In the enlisted
force Of the navy is steadily grow
ing. The number Of enlisted men in
the service June 30, 1908, including
petty officers, seamen and other rat
ings, landsmen for training and APP
prentices was 27,245. OF this number
1913 per cent were native-born and
1919 per cent. naturalized citizens, the
total percentage Of citizenship being
therefore 9O.7 per cent, as compared
with SO per cent at the beginning Of
the fiscal year.
The maximum percentage Of deser-
lions under peace conditions is little
less than II per cent, the minimum a
little more than Q per cent and the
normal between II and IL per cent.
During the fiscal year 1908 the per-
centage Of assertions was 1876, lit
tie above the normal percentage in
time Of peace. Ways and means by
which to reduce the number OF deser-
lions are receiving and will continue
to receive earnest and thoughtful at
tention, but in view Of the history of
the offence, present conditions cannot
be regarded as alarming. The chief
Of the bureau Of navigation expresses
the belief that by the Offering OF
greater rewards to those who remain
in the service, by better provisions for
retirement and by the opening OF the
commissioned grades Of the navy to
warrant officers the service will in the
future offer advantages comparing ia
vorably with those to be found in most
grades Of the country, and that the
consideration Of separation from home
and the discomforts incident to ship
life should not and will not be suf-
ficient to prevent good men from
making service in the navy a perma-
nent occupation.
The effective force was increased
during the fiscal year by the addition
Of rs new vessels-one battleship, four
harbor defense monitors, 10 torpedo
boat destroyers, one torpedo boat and
seven submarine boats.
The expenditures for the support of
he navy have increased considerably
Turing the last fiscal year, larger than
IN any year Of our history except 1864
and 1866, and are certain to increase
.t,u further. The total In 1908 was
1872, 61s,034.
Careful consideration given during
he past year to the question Of the
continuance of naval construction
confirms me In the views expressed in
nv last annual report that the up
building Of the navy should be con-
.inued by the annual authorization OF
lew vessels.