First, certain percentages of authors in various categories were deduced; these are shown in Fig. 1.
These percentages present the interesting fact that line officers in the last three years contributed less than 40 per cent of the published articles. However, if the naval staff officers are combined with the line officers, we find that the percentage of articles from all active regular officers rises to nearly 45 per cent. If we include the authors from the Marine Corps within the naval category, and also officers from the Naval Reserve and Coast Guard, thus making up a group who in war time would engage in active naval operations, the percentage is increased to over 63 per cent.
The two articles from the enlisted personnel of the Navy were written by two chief petty officers. Two of the three articles by women were from widows of naval officers. One commissioned officer of the Coast Guard submitted an article, the other four from this source were from two boatswains.
Figure 2 shows the number of authors who submitted single articles, two or more articles, three or more articles, etc., divided into four graphs, one for all authors, and one each for line officers, civilians, and Naval Reserve officers.
Eighteen per cent of all authors published two or more articles, or- 55 authors were responsible for 157 articles, approximately 40 per cent of the total number of 399. Nineteen per cent of the line officer group submitted two or more articles; 13 per cent of the civilians; 27 per cent of the Naval Reserve officer group.
Figure 3 indicates the percentage of authors from the line (active) classified by grade. The numbers ln Parentheses give the percentages of officers in the various grades, according to the Navy Register, 1936. It is interesting to note here that officers from the three higher grades, constituting about 12 per cent of the line officers, contributed 30 per cent of the articles from this group.
Excluding Naval Academy classes prior to 1907 and later than 1934, authors represented every class except two. Non-Naval Academy graduates had 10 articles
published, more than 7 per cent of articles from the line.
The survey of authors from the staff disclosed the following:
Authors | No. of Articles | Percentage |
Supply Corps | 11 | 35 |
Medical Corps | 8 | 26 |
Construction Corps | 8 | 26 |
Civil Engineer Corps | 3 | 10 |
Chaplain Corps | 1 | 3 |
The Medical Corps authors composed approximately 47 per cent of the staff officer authors; the Supply Corps, 30 per cent; the Construction Corps, 11 per cent; the Civil Engineer Corps, 7 per cent; and the Chaplain Corps, 5 per cent. Of course, it must be realized that staff officers contribute articles also to their respective professional journals.
A rough check of the line officers who were included in this survey and who have been before selection boards disclosed that approximately 65 per cent of these officers have been selected. This figure points to the conclusion that an officer’s literary efforts have little effect, one way or the other, on his chances for selection.
In making this brief survey the biographical sketches of the authors published in recent editions of the Institute Proceedings were most valuable. To make possible future statistical studies it is recommenced that these sketches definitely, if possible, include the business occupation of the author, and always the date of his graduation, if from the Naval Academy, and whether or not he has contributed previously to the Proceedings.
It would be interesting, I believe, to many members to know the statistics of articles rejected and accepted from various groups. Many readers also are unaware of the selection-board treatment that their brain-throbs receive at the hands of the Board of Control, to insure that the high standard of the Proceedings is maintained. May we not expect an article along the lines of this suggestion?
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The advantages of rapidity of gunfire have been contested for a long time. Yet it seems evident that a greater rapidity of fire is equivalent to a proportionate increase in number of guns, and that the superiority will be accentuated in proportion as the effect of the fire makes itself felt. The opponents of rapid fire do not deny these advantages; but they fear a squandering of ammunition that would empty the magazines in a short time and leave the ship without defense. This apprehension is justified on condition that at the time when ammunition is found wanting the enemy still has guns to fire; otherwise the shells that remain in his magazines will be of no use to him. Rapidity of fire is an element of strength and also of danger. We should not deprive ourselves of the strength in order to avoid the danger, but should seek another solution that will allow keeping the strength and escaping the danger.—Daveluy, Genius of Naval Warfare.