The Washington herald., 1906-12-01
ONLY NATIVE JACKIES
Admiral Converse Would Ex-
clude Foreigners.
WANTS THEIR PAY INCREASED
Chief of Bureau of Navigation Tells
of Condition of Service and Urges
AmericanizatiOn of Enlisted Force.
Says Men Enjoy Better living than
Anywhere Else i'm the World.

The Americanization OF the enlisted
force of the United States navy is ap-
preaching an actuaity, and If certain
recommendations made in the annual le-
port Of Rear Admiral George A. Converse,
chief Of the Bureau of Navigation of the
Navy Department becomes law, there will
be a further Improvement in the matter
Of having only native born citizens on
board vessels Of the navy
This is a much desired end. and Off
cials Of the Navy Department will be
greatly gTatified when ii is reached. The
figures for the fiscal year ended July /,
show that at that time 93.I per cent of
the total enlisted personnel, 32.163 men.
were native born Americans.
Admiral Converse recommends that
men who re-enIist in the navy shall be
given increased pay, basing his sugges-
tion upon the ground that man who
has served a first enlistment and had the
benefit Of the drilling and training, is
worth more money to the navy than
when he first entered the service. lie
therefore recommends that for second en-
listments there be an increase Of 50 per
month in pay, and s. per month addi-
tional for each subsequent period of
service
Almost Half Re-enIist.
The condition of the enlisted personnel
is excellent The Bureau of Navigation
has done everything within its power 70
increase the comforts Of the enlisted men
and TO induce re-enlistments. The figures
compiled show the gratifying fact that
du ing the fiscal year 431 per cent OF the
total number Of men recommended fOI
re-enlistment did so. With Improvement
an this respect such as is expected. II
will not be long before 30 per cent oi the
enlisted men Of the navy viii be trained
tackles Of one or more periods Of service
There We're many desertons during the
year. the greater number being due, IN
the opinion OF the bureau, TO qualities
innate in a certain proportion Of the men
themselves principally the desire for
change. which is shown by the same
rowing spirit in unskiHed shore OccCpa-
tons. and partly due TO either disappoint-
mcnt I'm not realizing roseate Concep-
ton Of naval life, OF from temporary dis-
satisfaction with existing conditions ane
the service.
It is held in the report that the men OF
the American navy enjoy better living and
messing arrangements than those OF any
other navy in the world. and there are in
cidentai comforts given which are absO-
lutely unknown in other naval establish
ments It is noted that the larger num-
Der Of descrtlOns during the year were
from the new vessels. which give much
more room and comfort 20 the enlisted
men than from the old types. which had
the least number Of Gesertions.
Wants Age Limit Abolished.
one Of the most discouraRing features
of recruiting the navy to the full quota
is the law which provides that appli-
cants for enlistment must show certif-
Gates o. birth. OF in some equally sufi-
cient manner prove their age. Admiral
Converse wants this law abolished. IL Is
intended to prevent the enlistment of
young men under age. The navy has
always been careful about this feature.
and the law is not needed. while on the
other hand many men are unable 20
produce paper evidence as to their age
and consequently do not come into the
service.
one OF the suggestions in the report is
that the system now I'm vogue OF main
talning marines on board ships be abol-
ished.