Year: 1870

MIR. RObesOa's Recommendation for the I'm.


proveuient Of the Navy-Hearty Concur


renee of the Naval Oniccrs-Better Mon TO


be Obtained-Tse California and Two Corr


vettes TO be Manned for Sea.


The recommendations In Mr.. Secretary Robeson,s
report concerning the effort to Improve the charac.
ter Of our seamen meet with the heartiest concur
renee OF all the officers OF the navy. who have care
fully studied the question through long years Of SER
vice. It is clear that IL would be desirable TO raise
the standard OF ability and efficiency Of
the sailors In our navy, and Mr.. Robson, in
recommending the allowance Of an outfit OF clothing
to each man enistng, in order that be may begin
service clear OF debt, has unquestienaby suggested
one means or attracting to the navy better class OF
meu. This act OF justice would certainly remove q
serious source OF discomfort and desertion. Two
other causes which prevent the very best men from
enlisting are the low pay ana the regulation
which cuts on the on-shore liberty OF the men.
The sailors OF the present day read newspapers
and often wrto to them and are not so ignorant as
those of oden times when men were content TO
remain board ship for months without liberty on
shore ana were quite comfortable under the re-
stralnt. Besides, they naturally ask increased
wages. In every other walk OF life people receive
larger pay than they did fifty years ago, and their
expenses are correspondingly greater. Our sailors
paratve increase in pay. While the the cost cost
Of clothing has gone up hundreds per cent mJacS's
ciotnin8 couiu De PAID LOT 0y the government and
liberty given him for run on shore once month
there would be little left to induce him to feel dis
contented or 10 desert. The best ana happiest
crews are those on ships where the commanding
ofrcers grant shore leaves with the greatest llDe
rality. II Jack can go on shore frequently he
and remains cheerfully on board ship performing
ms regular duties without growing or dodging. II


u only when he Is confined for long periods board
ship, without his run on shore, that ne becomes a
confirmed Rrowler, dissatisfied with everything and
ready TO take French leave on every Opportunlty


III, then. government Will furnish clothing TO the
| men and grant them as frequent liberty days as
Is not inconsistent with the proper performance OF
| the ships duties there Will be no trouble In
enlistlng and keeping much more efficient
set OF men IN the aggregate than are now to be
found In the service. We hope Secretary Kobesons
recommendations will be adopted by Congress, aud
that the others above suggested NAV be tried in
srder that our naval service may made attractive
10 the very best class OF sailors in country and
thereby be made as efficient and brilliant as becomes
one oil the historic navies OF the world.


The return OF the frigate Delaware, late fagshlp
OF vice Admiral stephen q. Rowan. COMMANDING
the Aslatc squadron, VIII permit the department TO
enlist a number OF men for ships ready for sea,
equal TO that discharged from the Delaware alter
lowed by Congress Is only eight thousand five hun
dred IL has been found impossible TO man the ships
now and for some time past ready for sea, which
were greatly required In the various foreign statlous
The fii complement OF men necessary to send TO sea
tEe corvette California, second rate twenty one
guns 400 tons, TO go into commission OF Boston on
the l0th proximo, can now be supplied, and q couple
OF corveles OF the third class also be manned.
Ihe Calll0rni3 IS TO proceed to the Pacific as nag
ship OF Rear Admiral Wmslow, now on the station,
under command OF Captain John NJ. B. Clltz, an ON
Ger or great capacity ana brlllianey. The presence
OF the California lii the Pacific will be hailed with
pleasure, az our squadron there IL not at present
large enough properly 10 perform the duties or the
station.