The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-22
NEW SYSTEM IN NAVY
Return of the Fleet From. Globe -Crclihg Trip
 Will See Beginning.

thought I was an enemy of the Marine Corps because I was So insistant: l think I was It's best friend. The new arrangement will make it possible to develop the Marine Corps to its high est proficiency and usefulness. The marines are the best body of soldiery we have and. there will be most excel lent results from this ehangs."
 Admilar Evans expressed the opinion that there would be no new difnculties about recruiting the Marine Corps. as a result of this new departure.
 The men who will have taken the fleet around the world will return home the most peculiarly skilled and qualified naval leaders In the world. They will hope for recognition of their services. and there Is already plenty of evidence that in their absence their friends are busy looking after their interests. On the other hand, the bureau officers who have been without recognition of the competition for their comfortable berths and desirable distinctions. and have been making the most of their opportunities to get their positions nailed down.
 ship's Sad Experience.
 One of the most interesting and sug- gestive features of the cruise of the fleet has to come light in current naval gossip. It Is based mainly on letters received from people with tho fleet and relates to the sad experiences of the hospital ship Relief.
 The Relief Is the most unpopular In stitution in the navy. There is no ex- ception. There is not even a second in the unpopuiarity race. The Relief has everything beaten.
 This Is because of the order, made last winter. that the Relief should be commanded by the chief medical officer The idea of q doctor commanding a ship was ridlculed. and endless fun was poked at the possibilities of such a sit- uation. But the officers of the Medical Corps had long been struggling to get recognition along with officers of the line. and they got 1t. The Relief was sent away, following the fleet in charge of a naval doctor"
 It turns out that the Relief has had some sorrowful experiences on her way The line officers didn't approve the no- ton of a doctor in command. They didn't mutiny. They knew better. But they have found multitudinous ways of making life miserable to the people In charge of the hospital ship. There is a sub rosa charge that something very like a cable has been formed, with the purpose of proving that a doc- tor can't run a ship properly. Wber- ever the neet has been, the Relief has usually limped along rather behind the procession.
 All kinds of Troubles.
 She has had troube getting supplies. getting coal getting consideration of ali Kinds. Nobody was to blame; 1t al- ways just happened; but 1t always just happened. too, that the Relief was the particular vessel which suffer- ed. Responsibility could never be plac- ed on anybody in particular. The sug- gestion that there was a service con- sipracy would disproved in a minute for want Of evidence.
 But the fact remains that the Relief has been burdened with woe from the day she sailed, and that everybody in the. navy--except the the doctors. of eourse-is tiekled half to death over It all. The poor old Relief finally limp ed into Manila. and report is that she will give up the struggle and stop off there.
 One story is that this Is perfectly regular and according to prearrange- ment; but the other is that the Beliefs cruise has been a, hopeless failure, and that her future effort to continue with the fleet is considered useless.