Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-18
NavIaatIon Of war veaaeIs.


Referring TO Every Evenings criticism
to the effect that the recent grounding of
two battleships in New York harbor and
the attendant collision between two Others
reelected upon tho seamanship Of the COM
manding officers of these vessels. and upon
the capacity Of the rear admiral in charge
OF the Squadron, the Norfolk Landmark
says:
such may be the technical naval view,
but u seems TO us that Every Evenings
criticism is too hard on Admiral Evans
and his captains 10 stands TO reason
that naval officers who come into the har-
bors of the country only occasionally are
less competent pilots, through no fault of
their own, than the professional local
pilots or the other mariners who regl-
larry sail in and out Of the sumo ports
Many complain that It is unreasonable
70 require the regular liners plying be-
tween certain ports 10 pay tribute 20 local
pilots every time they take their ships into
these ports. lt does look as II The cap
talns Of these liners ought to be able TO
take their ships into harhor in safety: but
It Is as plain as a pillestaif 10 as that there
ought 70 be compulsory local pilotage of
large warships. Congress ought 10 pro-
vide this and relieve naval officers Of the
unreasonable responsibility of plotting
the most expensive vessels In the country
into harbon with which they cannot be 80
familiar as the men who have spent their
working lives on these waters ia the husi-
ness OF steering great ships away from dis
astcr.
hoo. ,,,t .,,.. xtf;i.... , a. 49,. -
think that there Is sense In this view OF the
question ? You cannot recover damages
60 a magnificent warship by oourt-mar-
tialing an officer who has bmndered under
the disadvantage of having to do what
special pilots should be hired to do for him.
There is undoubtedly a largo degree OF
sense in the conclusion of our Norfolk CON
temporary as TO compulsory pilotage of
our war vessels when entering or leaving
ports But
Certainly, those who attempt to 60 to
sea in our large war vessels should know
enough about practical soamanship to
safely conduct the ships entrusted to their
care. If they do not know the channels
they should secure the services Of capable
pilots who know every inch of the sailing
way.
If the Navy Department regulations
permit the employment OF special pilots,
then admirals or captains who are not con-
iident in their own knowledge should
secure the services of such pilots If the
Navy Department regulations do not
permit the employment OF special pilots,
then it is the duty OF admirals and cap
tains 10 so instruct themselves in the de-
tails Of port navigation as 10 be able to
take their vessels in and out OF ports with
out running them aground or smashing
them against one another. II they fail
to do this, the charge of incompetency
clearly lies against them.
At any rate, it is the duty Of the Navy
Department, either by authorizing the
employment Of competent pilots for port
service, or by insisting that the captains
and admials shall fully qualify themselves
for the work, TO arrange for the protection
OF our war vessels. And IL may not be
urged, in the absence Of such provisions,
that the captains and admirals are alb
solved from their full measure Of respon-
sibility. They accept this responsibility
when they assume command of squadrons
OF boats, and they should be held account
able.