CLASS D.-Personnel required to full commission all vessels of class C which are held in reserve with nucleus crews in time of peace. While the apparent shortage to commission all serviceable vessels for war is only 161 officers and 338 men, it is borne in mind that there are many duties required of both officers and men ashore in time of war which must be provided for from the active personnel in order that the efficiency and effectiveness of the fleet may be maintained. In regard to officers, the great majority of those now on shore duty would be relieved by retired officers and sent to sea upon the outbreak of war. The bureau has carefully considered the requirements in this particular and believes that a minimum of 160 active line officers should remain ashore in time of war, otherwise the organization would be so disrupted that the efficiency of the fleet would be seriously impaired. In this connection attention is invited to the fact that 133 officers and 3,015 enlisted men have been assigned to gunboats primarily for peace duties. There is no doubt that in time of war these vessels, or many of them, would either be interned in foreign ports or brought home for service on the coast patrol, and manned by the naval militia or other reserve forces. This would release their personnel for service with the fighting fleet. Assuming that two-thirds of the personnel of gunboats were so released, there would in this way become available 90 officers and 2,000 enlisted men. There are at present serving on surveying ships and on fish commission ships 28 officers and 622 enlisted men. These would also become available for the fleet in time of war, making 90 plus 28 equals 118 officers and 2,000 plus 622 equals 2,622 enlisted men. The bureau is therefore of the opinion that there exists at the present time a shortage of 161 plus 160 minus 118 equals 203 line officers required to place in full commission all vessels of the Navy serviceable for war purposes. In estimating the shortage of enlisted men, consideration must be given to the requirements of the service in connection with training stations, tugs, station ships, recruiting, etc., as given in the table below, showing the present distribution of the enlisted personnel in duties other than at sea with the fleet, class E. In case of war the following numbers can be drawn on from the above and Remaining ashore in time of war, 12,518 minus 5,669 equals 6,849 unavailable for sea duty. To this must be added the apparent shortage of enlisted men shown above as 338, making a further apparent shortage of 7,187, from which should be subtracted 2,622, the number gained from gunboats and from surveying and fish commission vessels, making an actual shortage of men to man all vessels serviceable for war purposes of 4,565. From the foregoing figures the bureau concludes that for purposes of placing in full commission all vessels of the Navy serviceable for war purposes at the present there is a shortage of 203 line officers and 4,565 enlisted men. Probable requirements for commissioning new ships within the next year— Carrying out the plan of retaining in full commission the 21 latest battleships and of maintaining a sufficient number of submarine tenders Men. 2 battleships (Virginia class) would be placed in reserve, thus gaining--- 1, 170 2 submarine tenders out of commission, to gain----. Gain_. Shortage. 300 1,470 1,086 384 Surplus after commissioning all new construction next year---After due consideration of the foregoing figures the bureau sees no necessity for asking for an increase of enlisted personnel this year, but believes that It will be necessary to do so next year if the recommendation of the General Board is approved. The question of the shortage of officers is much more urgent than that of enlisted men, as a sufficient number of ex-service men to fill vacancies in war complements can be readily obtained on the outbreak of But as the supply of officers is limited to the output from the Naval Academy it will necessarily be several years before the needs of the service in this respect can be filled if all vessels of the Navy serviceable for war purposes are placed in full commission. war. No estimate is made for colliers, as existing law contemplates manning these vessels from other sources than the enlisted personnel of the Navy. The bureau believes that a naval reserve organized from the honorably discharged enlisted men now in civil life should be created within the next year. Subject to the foregoing remarks the bureau concurs in the recommendations of the General Board quoted in the department's letter and believes that the policy recommended would increase the efficiency of the Navy to a maximum not only in material but in the distribution of the personnel to the best advantage. VICTOR BLUE. APPENDIX C. LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO WERE MENTIONED FOR HEROISM AND BRAVERY AT VERA CRUZ. Rear Admiral F. F. Fletcher, United States Navy. Capt. W. R. Rush, United States Navy. Capt. H. M. P. Huse, United States Navy. Capt. E. A. Anderson, United States Navy. Commander H. O. Stickney, United States Navy. Lieut. R. Wainwright, jr., United States Navy. Lieut. A. Staton, United States Navy. Lieut. J. C. Townsend, United States Navy. Lieut. G. M. Courts, United States Navy. Lieut. (Junior Grade) J. H. Ingram, United States Navy. Ensign T. S. Wilkinson, jr., United States Navy. Ensign L. S. Davidson, United States Navy. Ensign G. M. Lowry, United States Navy. Ensign O. C. Badger, United States Navy. Ensign P. F. Foster, United States Navy. Surg. M. S. Elliott, United States Navy. Surg. C. D. Langhorne, United States Navy. Chief Boatswain J. McCloy, United States Navy. Lieut. Col. W. C. Neville, United States Marine Corps. Maj. A. W. Catlin, United States Marine Corps. Maj. S. D. Butler, United States Marine Corps. Maj. G. C. Reid, United States Marine Corps. George Berton, boatswain's mate, second class. Frederick E. Norman, coxswain. James J. Dermody, boatswain's mate, second class. George J. Smith, fireman, second class. Arthur J. Fogarty, seaman. Harry D. Shipman, coal passer. William J. Glynn, seaman. John Neukom, seaman. James A. Duryea, seaman. Charles D. Cameron, ordinary seaman. Robert Semple, chief turret captain. George E. Bancroft, seaman. Benjamin W. Claggett, hospital apprentice, first class. Harry Smith, boatswain's mate, first class. Roy Holloway, gunner's mate, first class. Paul W. Green, gunner's mate, third class. Fred E. Jorgensen, seaman. George E. Bent, boatswain's mate, first class. Walter E. Stevens, seaman. William J. Genereux, coxswain. Joseph Mueller, coxswain. Frank F. Smalley, coxswain. Samuel D. Barr, chief yeoman. Gustave Brodbeck, chief gunner's mate. Clarence R. Harshbarger, seaman. Frederick Nanz, ordinary seaman. Elmer Van Camp, fireman, first class. Robert M. Ash, fireman, first class. John B. MacDonald, fireman, first class. Augustin O'Neill, chief boatswain's mate. Herman H. Roloff, coxswain. John J. McLaughlin, boatswain's mate, second class. Robert A. England, seaman, Edwin C. Wertman, gunner's mate, first class. John H. Hendrickson, hospital apprentice, first class. James A. Anderson, coxswain. Robert G. Hart, ordinary seaman. John W. Hawkins, ordinary seaman. Edwin J. Cantwell, seaman. Solomon Clay, ordinary seaman. Daniel J. Reilly, boatswain's mate, second class. |