'Engineer's War-Engine'[1] simply an engine devised for destructive rather than productive purposes in contest with others of its kind, and demanding maximum possible offensive and defensive power. The naval officer, whether he will or no, must therefore be an engineer, actually, if not nominally, and whether on deck at the guns or below at the source of power. The design, the construction and the operation of this now complicated and powerful and enormously costly machine are alike tasks in engineering, and whether the mind which produces its part of the work is that of the mechanical and electrical engineer, the naval architect or the ordnance deck-officer. This fact became officially recognized when the famous 'Personnel Bill' was enacted, at the suggestion of a board on which Admiral Evans and the then Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt were strongly influential in supporting the view held by Melville. This radical change was effected and we are still awaiting the outcome.
The education of engineers at the U. S. Naval Academy, commenced nearly forty years ago, is now become an essential feature of the course for all its pupils. The 'fighting officers' of the navy have now all necessarily become engineers, and the future of that service will largely depend upon whether our ships are manned and officered by amateurs or by experts of knowledge, experience, courage and judgment. At present, the number of officers in the latter class is far too small; but this defect should remedy itself promptly. The new Naval Academy is the most complete and perfect institution of its class, perhaps of any class in the educational world, which has ever been seen or conceived; we are sending there for technical and general training as fine a body of young men as can anywhere be found, and the future history of our steam navy is likely to do no discredit to its past, either in the days of Paul Jones or in those of Farragut.
The successor of Admiral Melville is Rear-Admiral Charles W. Rae, a graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an alumnus of the Naval Academy, where he graduated with the first class in engineering organized at that institution.[2] An officer of great ability and of high distinction, he is well fitted to continue a progress based upon modern science as well as upon advanced professional practise, and which was so admirably illustrated during Melville's period of service. The naval service has come to be perhaps the most impressive and extensive field of application of science of modern times.
- ↑ N. A. Review, December, 1897, 'The Engineer and his War-Engine.'
- ↑ This class of sixteen young men, coming from the colleges and technical schools of the country, was organized during the period of service of the writer at the Naval Academy and was one in which every naval officer felt peculiar interest. Its members justified every hope and expectation of the promoters of this new departure and showed admirably the value of a scientific training for their work.
