Show engineering Is not in competent hands says admiral nov 2 rear admiral charles W rae engineer in chief of the united states navy in his annual report calls attention to the critical condition of engineering in the havy and points ta the explosion on tha gunboat bennington in san diego har hor which ho sas most forcibly emphasizes tho necessity of serious and immediate attention speaking or the operations ot the personnel bill which merges the corps of engineers into line ot the navy he says a corps of specialists aas virtually abolished and their duties transferred to tha line As all mid at the academy bad bean given excellent practical instruction in engineering he adds no examination other than that bequir ed for promotion was demanded of them for qualifying for the performance of the joint duties imposed by the personnel act tho intent how ever he continues was that they should too ordered at once to the performance for mance ot engineer duty in binate capacities as assistants of abo older engineer officers owing to the absence of specific instructions in the personnel bill combined with powerful influences fluen ces within the department he continues for three years absolutely nothing was done by tho younger line officers in acquiring engineering expert anco and later because of the large number 0 kept in commission and the scarcity of officers but in that direction was accomplished but for the availability of certain naval academies the report says the navy would experience great difficulty in finding officers for the various responsible positions both on shore and at sea so few officers of the una abc taking up engineering seriously that the situation is becoming alarming says the engineer in charge and he adds were the country suddenly plunged into war the navy would find itself in no condition to win battles As necessary as good marksmanship mark manship is the ability to carry ont agnns to tho firing line and to keep them there amid the havoc created by modern and this will never be done with amateurs in charge of the machinery that line officers can become good engineers has already but they must have experience to become so and that experience must be acquired in subordinate positions no young officer out of the academy but a choit time who would not be given charge of tho deck except under the supervision of a senior officer should be placed in charge of the engine department of a ship as has been done engineering gi logically belongs to the line and the line should be made to perform that duty earnestly admiral rae submits a plan tor quickly supplying the navy with a body of efficient engineers alch provides that all the younger officers must be given engineering duty and be made to realize their responsibility the duty to be performed first in a subordinate capacity and examinations to be strict with engineering ranking with marksmanship gunnery and navigation further the plan provides for a number of engineering specialists cia lists in the line whose duty at sea and on shore shall toe engineering such officers not to perform sea duty after reaching the grade of commander one in every ten above the rank of lieutenant junior grade is suggested as the number of such officers required and it ia proposed that such officers be recruited from the foot of the list of lieutenants the officers so selected to be given a course in higher macino engineering tor at least abear this plan it ia explained would give a body of engineering specialists as follows two rear admirals seven captains 11 commanders 29 lieutenant commanders and ai lieutenants of which number ga would be available for sea duty admiral rae says the bureau is opposed to the formation of a separate corps of engineers in the navy similar to that abolished by the personnel act for various reasons legislation increasing the number of warrant machinists is recommended and it is proposed that they be given the right to quartets teis according to rank and warrant officers of the line other changes in the ratings of tha entire force are recommended for tho navy yard at blare island appropriations aro requested for the construction of a foundry smithies holler shop coppersmith shop pattern shop and administration buildings the commandant at the maro island yard is quoted as saying the present boiler shop there Is a menace to tha safety of doroe 0 the foe the puget sound navy yard estimates are requested for a pattern shop and building and SO i is requested for the station russia dav carrying the emperors emp errs portrait attacked the jewish yesterday and plundered the the gov arnor allt letl nothing the in hiding Pin raid bov ai the crisis here continues about volunteers have been into hospitals under lied cass detachments alic excitement I 1 alli and there has been much bloodshed |