Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-08

ing over 1000, were destroyed and
large majority of them can never be
replaced.
Rear Admiral Carpar F. Goodrich, ..
s. N, made an address on 1.-The Navy
as 1t Is" at the banquet of the United
States Naval academy alumni of the
middle west in Chicago on the evening
of November IA, in the course OF which
he indulged in some exceedingly PLAIN
talk on the subject of promotion by Sc
lection. According to the Chicago Inter
Ocean he said: 'I have given the best
years of my life to the naval service
We have done great things, but we are
not satisfied with what has been done,
and seek to do still further things that
will add to our greatness. l speak the
truth frankly and / desire that my crtti-
cisms shall not be taken as against the
present administration, but against the
system, when L say that the navy will
not stand for the selection system of
promotions. When you find man who
is in favor of this system you usually
find a man who thinks that he has some
special merit above his fellow officers"
s.
One of the most envied men today is
Frank Lewis, former Brooklynite, who
has been engaged these many years in
the bumboat business along the Atlantic
coast Lewis is the only civilian in the
whole United States who is authorized
to accompany the battleship fleet on its
long and perilous voyage around the
Horn. Lewis is a well nigh Indispensable
though unofficial member of the Ameri-
can fleet that maneuvered and fought in
uban waters during the Spanish-Ameri-
can war. He is the owner of a trim
little launch that he built with his own
hands, and he is credited with having
made more perilous trips to and fro be-
tween the fleet and the shore than any
other one individual either in or out of
the service.
bumboatman is very necessary to
the welfare and comfort Of both the Of
ficers and men of any feet. He is ever
ready to lower his little craft and run
errands for officers and men. He also
discovers the needs and desires of the
man-o' -warsman and makes extensive
purchases of fresh fruit, cigars, candy
and other luxuries that cannot very well
be included in ships supply.
s.
Capt. William J. Barnette, U. S. N,
has been assigned to relieve Rear Ad-
miral Asa Walker retired, as superinten-
dent of the naval observatory. Capt.
Barnette will continue his duties on the
general board.
Additional dry docks for the navy are
most urgently needed, according to Rear
Admiral Hollyday. chief of the bureau of
yards and docks of the navy, and he calls
attention to the rate at which the navy
afloat is outgrowing the present and au-
thorized facilities ashore If appropria
tions for them are not forthcoming, says
the admiral. the need therefor will be
felt by the time they could possibly be
completed.
1t is urged that steps be taken with a
view to the establishment of first class
dry dock at Pearl harbor Hawaiian isl
ands, where the necessary land has been
acquired. The proposed dock will cost
81, ,O0O, ,OO0, and an estimate of $5OO,00O to
begin work is submitted. Another esti-
mate of $555 500 is made for the naval
station at Olongapo on Subig bay in the
Philippines.
Floating coal depots in the British
navy have proved so satisfactory that
the admiralty have decided to build more
OF them. The largest now in use has a
capacity of 1900 tons. A new one with
a capacity of 2000s<tons is to be con-
structed and moor in such a position
that two batueships at a time can fill
their bunkers at II.