Arizona republican., 1905-11-03
ENGINEERS
 NAN'S NEED
The Recommendations of
 Admiral Rae
An Important Branch of the Service Which Has Been Neglected-Vide, the Bennington.

Washington, Nov. 2.-Rear Admiral Charles w. Rae, engineer-in chief of the United States navy in his annual report. calls attention to "the critical condition of engineering in the navy and points to the explosion on the gun boat Bennington in San Diego narbor, which he says forcibly emphasizes the necessity for serious and immediate attention.
 Speaking of the operations of the personnel bill, which merged the corps of engineers into the line of the navy, he says a whole corps of specialists was virtually abolished and their du- ties transferred to tne line. As all nddshipment at the academy had been given excellent practical instruction for engineering, he adds, no examina- ton other than that required for pro motion was demanded of them for qualifying for this performance of the joint duties imposed by the personnel act. The intent, however, he cOntin- ues, was that they should be ordered at once to engineer duty in subOrdI- nate capacities, as assistants of the elder engineer officers.
 owing to the absence of specific instructions in the personnel bill, com bmed with powerful adverse influences within the department" ne continues ' for three years absolutely nothing was done by the younger line officers in acquiring engineer experience, and later, owing to the large number Of ships kept III commission and the scarcity of officers, but little in that direction was accomplished. But for the availability os certain retired naval officers, the bureau, the report says, would eXpeuence great difficulty in finding officers for the various respon- sible positions both on shore and Tt sea.
 50 few officers of the line are talk ing up engineering seriously that the situation IS becoming alarming" says the engineer-in- chief, and he adds: Were this country suddenly plunged into war the navy would find itself in no condition to win a battle. As nee essary as good markmanshlp, is the ability to carry out guns to the firing line and to keep them there amid tie havoc created by modern ordnance and this will never be done with amateurs in charge of the nIacllincry. Ehat line officers can become good engineers has already been proven, but they must have experience to become so, and that experience must be acquired in subOr- dinate positions. No young officers out of the academy but a short time. who would not be given charge of the deck except under the supervision of a senior officer. should be placed Tn charge of the engineer department of a ship, as has been done. Engineering logically belongs to the line and the line should be made tc perform that duty earnestly"
 ID quickly supplying the navy with a body of efficient engineers" which pro- vides that all the younger of it's off cers must be given engineering duty and be made to realize their respOnsi- bility, the duty first +o be performed m a subordinate capacity and exam nations to be strict, with engineering ranking with craftsmanship, gunners and navigation. Further, the plan provides for a number of engineering specialists. in the line. whose duty at sea and on shore shah be engineer ing, such officers not to perform sea duty after reaching the grade of com mander.
 One in every ten above the rank of lieutenant. junior grade, is suggested as the number of such officers re- quired, and it is proposed that such
 
 the lists of Iieutenants, the officers so to be given a course III higher marine engineering for at least q year. 1 This plan, it is explained, would give a body of engineering specialists as follows: Two rear admirals seven captains, eleven commanders, twenty l nine lieutenant commanders and thirty-tnree Heutenants, of which | number sixty-two will be available for i sea duty.
 Admiral Rae says the bureau is op~ | posed to the formation of a separate i