New-York tribune., 1905-11-03
TOO FEW NAVY ENGINEERS
Situation Becoming alarming, SAYS
Rear ADMIRAL Rae.

washington, Nov 2.-Rear Admiral Charles W
pae engineer IN chief of the United States Navy
:, his annual report calls attention ito the critical
enndition of engineering in the navy and points
- .he explosion on the gunboat Bennington in San
Dego Harbor. which, he says, most forcibly en-
hasizes necessity OF serious and immediate at
tentton. Speaking Of the operations of the per-
onne b.li which merged the corps CT engineers into
.he lire of the navy. he says n whoS corps of spe-
sa,,sts was virtually abolished duties
.s-red to the line AS all midshipmen at the acad-
amy had received excellent practical Instructions
n engineering. he adds. examination other than
mat required for promotion demanded of them
for qualifying for the performance of the Joint
auties imposed by the personnel act. The intent,
however he continued, that they should be
ordered at once to the performance OF engineer
duty in subordinate capacities. assistants Of the
older engfner officers
lowing to the absence of specific instructions in
the personnel bill. combined with powerful adverse
Influences within the department. he continues.
asor three years absolutely nothing done by
tbe Younger line officers in acquiring engineering
experience ard later. owing to the large number
n, chips kept in commission and the scarcity OF off,
oers but little in that direction was accomplished
Rut for the availability Of certain retired naval
officers the bureau, the report says, would expert
.uce great difficulty IN finding officers for the vari-
ous responsible positions. both shore and at sea
$50 few officers of the line are taking up en-
cheering seriously that the situation is becoming
alarming" says the engineer IN chief. and he adds:
Were the country suddenly plunged in war, the
navy would find itself in condition to win bat
Ties AS necessary good Workmanship IS the
ability 10 carry our guns to the firing line and to
keep them there amid the havoc created by mod
ern ordnance and this will be done with
amateurs in charge Of the machinery That line
officers can become good engineers has already
been proved, but they must have experience to
become So and that experience must be acquired
In subordinate positions. No young officer out OF
the academy only short time. who would not be
given charge Of the deck except under the super
vision Of a senior officer, should be placed in
been done. Engineering logically belongs 10 Llle
line and the line should be made TO perform that
duty earnestly
Admiral Rae submits plan for quickly supply.
ing the navy with body of efficient engineers.
which provides that all the younger oIncSrs must
have engineering duty and be made TO Tea1s @ t,el ~
subordinate capacity and examinations to strict
per| and navigation. Further the plan provides
for number OF engineering specialists III tIle me-
,nr such officers not to perform duty after
reaching the grade of commander: one IA sFetS =;
suggested as the number of such officers requlFeo
and il is proposed that such officers be recfatea
from the foot of the list OF leutenants the oflcers
so selected TO have course In higher marine en-
cheering for at least one year This pls II Is e
ISIS as follows Two rear adniras, seven captains,
eleven commanders. twenty-nine lieutenant com
nanders and thirty-three neutenants, of which
number sixty-two would be available for sea duts
This" says Admiral Rae. would give srIn-
cient number in each feet TO have thoroughIy
competent engineer as chief engineer oI eacil % %
the larger vessels. and sufficient NUMBER 20 en-,
able the commander in chief at all times 10 nave
available officers qualified to 4 L IN any case III
which expert engineering knowledge IS necesSaIy =
The bureau believes that such system. . -
cally carried out would soon furnish the serVse
with a body OF competent engineers ana piace e1
cheering in the line OF the navy. . 49,.
Admiral Rae says the bureau is opposed 10 ne ne
formation of a separate corps OF engineers IN lie
navy similar 10 that abolished by the personneI act
for various reasons. . d.
LEGISLATION increasing the number OF warrant
rnachnistS Is recommended. and 1t is proposed lhat
they have the right quarters according 10 rams,
and warrant officers OF the line. Other changes IN
the ratings OF the engineer force are recomInenqeo
Estimates requested for a new copper siiop
and for a storehouse at the Newly York yard Also
for two storage buildings at the League lsand
Navy Yard. Estimates have been requested for a
complete establishment under steam engineering at
Guantanamo, Cuba