US Navy lacking sufficient number of naval engineers according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1916-1917 no. 3

An item reported that the lacking of sufficient numbers of officer engineers serving in the US Navy was such huge that on short notice the Congress would be asked to approve the appointment of civilian engineer. The integration of the corps naval engineers and sea officers had as result that just a few officers were interested in specializing as naval engineer. The intention was to give civilians a temporarily appointment for 3 years with the possibility afterwards to enter the officers corps with as condition to serve exclusively as naval engineer.