New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
Rr CUSHING STETSON.

Something ike bctSdtlOh nos -
created in naval circles by The IT'D
une's account Of the proposed natlonal
naval reserve suggested by the Navy
Department as an amendment 10
the pending naval appropriation bill
Among chief petty officers and contin-
uous service men, Of whom there are
upward Of 10000 in the service, TINS
feeling was most pronounced. Inc
measure will receive their hearty sup
port. Even few bluejackets on
forty-eight-hour liberty over Christ
mas expressed TO the Tribune repre-
sentative their keen interest in the Dill
The Secretary Of the Navy in his re-
cent annual report has declared 1t 70
be the intention OF the department 70
introduce at the present session o,
Congress bill creating q national
naval reserve.
"In the last ten years" saws the re-
port. "more than $4,000 men, after
serving at least one four-yesr enlist
ment. retired and entered various IN
dustrial pursuits. Plans are
making TO so organize this body Of re-
serves that they will constitute an 10
mediate effective reserve for time OF
war" ., H.
During the last ten years witt. me
active cooperation OF naval oR!ceI'
- gf tho NAVY,
the chief petty officers, VINO head me
Enlisted force. have been trying 70
yyrest from Congress a bill providing
then, with honorable retirement. In
the naval reserve dill about 10 be pro-
nosed bv the present Secretary IS any
provision 70 be made for man dis
abled In the service, or one who after
fifteen or twenty years honorable ser
vice is too old 20 seek another employ
ment2 A..
The Tribune calls attention to the
following letter, which was recently re-
ceived bv a chaplain of a ship IN the
navy yard. The letter is printed Tor
the reason that il is indicative OF con
ditiOns throughout the entire service
The writer has served twelve years IN
the naval service, being steadily pro
NOTED until ne at last reached the
rating OF boatswain's mate, first class
one Of the most important aboard SNIP
Dear Sir: 7 am writing this letter
TO YOU, trusting you will give II your
consideration. My name is
formerly boatswain's mate, first class,
L.. s. n, and | served for some time
on board the United States ship Flor
ida. While aboard | lost my voice, and
though honorably discharged since
August ?. 1914, am unable to re-enlist
on account of physical disability con-
tracted in the line Of duty, and for the
same reason, chiefly, have been I'M
able 10 obtain work OF any kind on
land, till am now helpless and I'M
able to procure living.
Hard Luck Is Shore Reward.
The writer then goes on to explain
prospect he has of getting a small
lob. for which he must wait two
months. and proceeds, "but ! have not
the means TO see me through until
then; i'm fact, / can only 90 as far as
So. the remainder Of my little fortune,
will take me. And ! therefore appeal
herewith 10 you and ask you to lay my
case before those of the crew who may
remember me, and ask them through
you if they can and will IN any way
assist me. 10 see me through my pres
ent misfortune.
81 started down TO the navy yard
this afternoon in orderto lay my case
before you personally, but did not have
the courage, and am therefore writing
to you instead. How hard II Is TO have
to ask for help in this manner you
will realize, | hope, and ] would not
have done so were 1t not my last nope.
The above letter is by no means
an isolated case, as hundreds Of 9th
ers can be cited by any one in the
service. The letter reveals conditions
i'm the enlisted force which naval Of
fcers have tried in vain to remedy.
The present law directs that an en-
listed man must have served thirty
wears in the service before he can re-
tire on a pension. All attempts OF
naval officers and the Navy Department
10 reduce the period Of enlistment have
thus far proved futile. They are met
with the statement that there is an in
irradicable feeling in Congress against
retirement. The conclusion seems well
borne out by the facts.
A bill providing for graded retire
ment. drawn up by Rear Admiral Dill
inpham by direction of the Navy De-
partment, was twice passed with no
opposition by the Senate, only to fail
OF massage in the House. On both oc-
casions the bill was not even reported
from committee.
A naval enlistment runs for four
wears. A. the end Of his first enlist
ment a blueiacket stands indebted 10
the government. il has been estimated
TO the extent Of S3,O00-or, to put II
another way. every enlisted man at the
end of four years is carried as a
$4,000 asset on the government books
sixty dollars is advanced TO him when
ne first enlists in the way of clothing;
the best food which the government
can provide is supplied to him free
and in abundance; corps OF expert
surgeons look after his health; indeed
he rs found in all the necessities OF
life, and besides is paid at least q
living wage.
Expense TO Government.
Acain the enormously expensive
training stations are directly charge
able 10 his account, together with the
cost OF recruiting, and the numerous
technical schools, as of electricity
qunnery. cooking, and the like, whlcr
arc maintained ashore TO the enlisted
mans behoof II follows, accordingly
that every man who fails 20 re-enhs'
represents an actual net loss 70 the
Government Of his book value OF $1,000
and further involves the government
in an equal sum for his successor.