New Year Announcement: The Navy, with this issue, begins the sixth year of its life. At the time the magazine was launched, our navy was in process of Perceiving these tendencies, it was decided that the most permanent That, in few words, was the purpose in the founding of this maga- Having no political, personal, or other interests to serve, and being It is frankly realized that it may be a question of opinion whether Letter from London: The Declaration of London; the New Sea Lords Letter from Paris: Organization of the Supreme Command Afloat MOBILIZATION PROBLEM, NAVAL MILITIA, NEW YORK REPORT OF JOINT ARMY AND NAVY BOARD ON MAINE EXPLOSION IN MEMORIAM Robley D. Evans, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, retired, died January 3, 1912 Robley D. Evans was a born leader of men,- brave, fearless, of engaging manners, a master of his profession, and gifted with the art of picturesque expression. He was loved by his men, admired by the public, and liked by his friends. In losing him, the navy has lost one of the few remaining links connecting the old and the new navy. His early service was on ships propelled entirely by sail; his last service was on a ship propelled entirely by steam; and, in his time, he commanded every type and variety of ship. To know that Robley Evans is on the other side, will make easier for many of us the crossing of the Great Divide. Vol. VI THE NAVY WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY, 1912 No. 1 NOTE AND COMMENT ON December 17, having reached the age of 62, Rear He was born in the District of Columbia, and graduated from the Naval Academy in the class of '68. With his retirement, there passes from the active list an officer who, throughout his career, has shown a spirit that should be an inspiration to future generations of naval officers. His fame will go down into history principally for his conspicuous conduct in the battle of Santiago, while in command of the converted yacht Gloucester. In the geneneral engagement he boldly pushed forward with all the speed of his little craft, at once attacking at close range both of the Spanish torpedo boat destroyers, Pluton and Furor, and, although these destroyers received some fire from other ships also, his intrepid conduct conduced mostly to their destruction. For his gallantry, Congress advanced him ten numbers in his grade. In the measure repealing this clause of last year's Appropriation Bill, the Senate provides that officers appointed Chiefs of Bureaus in the Navy Department will, if of lower grade, be entitled to the rank, title, and emolument of Rear Admiral, or to the corresponding title in their respective corps, only while serving on such posts. The Bill is now before the House Naval Committee, and should be, and probably will be, passed. While it is obvious that any officer occupying the position of a Chief of Bureau should have the rank and pay of Rear Admiral, the reasons alleged in favor of the present law have no logical basis in fact. THE proposed plan to amalgamate the Revenue Cutter The Navy Department favors the plan, gamation as the revenue cutters could, under the proposed conditions, do their work better as adjuncts to the Navy in time of war than they can under present conditions; and because the revenue cutters can better participate in maneuvers in time of peace under navy control, than as at present organized. The Treasury Department, however, does not favor the plan, believing that matters relating to the customs and revenue patrols can best be handled by the cutters while under the direct charge of the Department of the Government charged with the responsibility of this work. Accident WHILE the torpedo boat destroyer Warrington, in command of Lieut. W. M. Hunt, U.S.N., was proceeding to New York from Charleston, S. C., she was The struck by an unindentified schooner twenty Warrington miles south of Hatteras, on December 28. Twenty-five feet of her stern was torn away and two of her crew were injured. The Warrington left Charleston with other vessels of the 8th and 9th Divisions of the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet on December 27. The ramming occurred at half-past one in the morning, during a 45-mile gale. Had it not been for the strength and good working condition of the bulkheads, the vessel would have sunk immediately. The revenue cutter Onondaga and scout cruiser Salem were despatched to the Warrington's assistance, the Onondaga towing her to the Norfolk yard, where she was immediately docked. After towing the Warrington to Norfolk the Onondaga proceeded to sea to search for the vessel that rammed the torpedo boat. A three-masted schooner was reported sunk 11 miles off Hatteras the day following the accident, only her topmasts showing, and it is thought this vessel may be the one which struck the Warrington, and may have been so disabled herself that she afterwards went down. It is believed that Congress may take some action at this session to relieve the pay corps of the Navy, the personnel of which should be increased. Need of The amount of money, stores and proviIncreasing sions to be handled are increasing every Pay Corps year, with the regular growth of the Navy. The Secretary has asked that the following be enacted into law: "That the grades of the active list of the pay corps of the Navy are hereby increased by ten additional paymasters in all, 86 paymasters and by 20 additional passed assistant and assistant paymasters-in all, 116 passed assistant and assistant paymasters: Provided, the total increase shall not exceed 20 during the first fiscal year." The paymaster general's statement, transmitted to Congress by Mr. Meyer, is in part, as follows: IT is unlikely that Congress will permit the proposed abandonment of certain yards suggested by the Secretary of the Navy. For political reasons, RepreAbandonsentatives and Senators are desirous of ment of maintaining these establishments, inasmuch. Navy Yards as they provide employment for many workmen whose votes count in elections. Parcels of the ground upon which the Boston Yard is situated passed from the original private owners to the Government, with clauses in the titles which require the land to be used for public purposes. The Department is studying this question of titles, although, if the government should eventually decide to abandon the yard, condemnation proceedings could be instituted and any land disposed of. With reference to the New York Yard, which Mayor Gaynor desires to see abandoned so that the space may be used by the city for docks, and about which he recently consulted with President Taft, it happens that the chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House is opposed to the plan. |