The sun., 1916-01-20


l6 officers
Reports and comments similar to
the foregoing says Admiral Fletcher,
come with great frequency before the
commander in chief and could he
quoted in great number. The shortage
of officers necessitates great deal OF
transferring OF officers to other duties,
both witlHn the ship and to other sta
tions. with a consequent loss In the
efficiency of the ship
TOO Many Men Transferred.
THE commanding officer of one of
the battleships IN a recent official re-
port states.
In the eighteen months that have
commanded this ship she has had three
executive Officers, two senior engineer
officers and three assistants, TWO
navigators and two acting, -FOUR hrs'
| lieutenants. seven gunnery OFFICERS
tnot counting two ordered VINO never
repDrted) and twelve turret officers
or an average OF new turret o"'ce'
| in each turret every six months
| Il desire to reiteratc that the shortage
| of officers is the greatest weakness III w
| Atlantic feet and "A matter meritlns the
| serious consideration Of the Department.
Shortage Of Enlisted Men.
| Second in Importance to the shortage
Of officers IL the shortage of men. Inc
shortage OF men is put as OF secondary
| Importance to tnat of officers since mere
/ will ALWAYS he a reserve OF trained men,
| and unframed can be made efficient IN
| much less time than IL reuired 'o' "e
ycloping officers. The shortage OF me"
In the Atlantic fleet. coupled WIN me
shortage OF officers has prevented ,ne
| fleet from attaining the DE gree Vi c'',
| Cheney that is 10 be expected Too much
| emphasis cannot be paced on Wnat
| believe to be the most serious weakness
in the fleet to-day--lack of trained otti-
| cers and shortage of enlisted men. 10
eoualize the shortages In the di1erent
| vessels there results a constant eNchahse
| OF officers and men. tending To pro'ho'e
| INSTABILITY and to weaken the efficiency
| o- the various units Of the Meet.
>crrI, Every ship short.
"Wi,h few exceptions every vessel in
| the Atlantic fleet is sho't OF the cofhpe-
ment of officers and men ne'essar! io'
hattie. The shortage OF enlisted men III
the tettleships alone, as ] reported III
| January Igls exceeds 1000 men
This shortage Of men has been re-
vealed IN every operation of tn" neet ana
| ''N'' b,y.
| throughout the year. ,ho
not improved ana ~ Nv ,,.,,
| fiscal year the sh"r'"sc u. -
| greater tipn N any "'I' s'' -,
| year IN one DIVISION "i 'ou'
ships the division conlnhhoet W W.
inspecti ions reported shortage oi l'S'o
meu or an dveag" shortage o' "''''
| than 200 men in each snip
The shortage nf enIs'ea n'"' ''N,
that of Officers. exists IN AL '!res OF
| ships in the Meet. captain "' one "'
the mine laying Cruisets r"pof'S I've 'N'
listing shortage IN the vessel CONNIE
meut now amounts to - per cent. ~ the
whole AID 81 per cent IN the s'an'"u =
branch resulting IL a serious haHh'''I
IN tho sinus WORK
"puriug III. year the Department re-
,luc.d the allowed complement "' h".
s.rov.rs ,pprox imately - per cent. ana
these importaut vessels are now vpcr-
ating with reduced compliments.
"It is evident that undermined ana
uuderot,,cercd ships cannot be kep' III a
stat, Of preparedness and euic'eh'S u
meet OH equal terms similar types III
other uavles"
ships ThemsroNcs Nrr! ''0""'
- ,,a -, ,n.tcri.l Admiral
Fletcher saNS ...,,,t,....,, -,
,ho haTtl..hiu sauadrons Is worry good
III ~, i,uI and iu nlachlu.rN Th,