Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-17
NEW NAVAL GENERAL BOARD
An important Order Issued by Secretary
Long.
Admiral Dewey Head OF Board OF
Nine Members 10 Govern Service
In the u. \. Navy.

New York, March ia special dis
patch to the Tribune from Washington
says:
The most important general order Is
sued to the navy since that OF Secre-
tary Borie establishing Admiral Porter
in the navy department after the civil
war, is No. 5ii, published to the service
by Secretary Long, installing Rear Ad-
miral Crownnshield as chief Of stan
and creating a general board for the
purpose Of controlling the heet
This order constituting board OF
nine members. all line officers is UNI
derstood TO be in the nature OF an OPEN
ing wedge In the movement TO eliminate
as far as possible civil govern
ment In the service. Thus far the or
ders which are regarded as essential fea-
lures Of the plan are shown by the MEM
orandum prepared by Capt Henry c.
Taylor, formerly president OF the war
college, who Is looked upon as the Ma
han OF the active list, and upon which
Secretary Longs action is based. Capt
Taylor, In a note accompanying his
memorandum, says.
Inc IltIlbIdilulH Udo bttu WI iNA'H
In reply 10 an inquiry from the secre-
tary Of the navy as TO what concrete
things should be done at present In the
development OF the general stan II.
in response 10 this inquiry, We should
submit a complete plan covering many
years. elaborate in detail and precise
as to dates, we would by this only indi-
cate our own ignorance Of the true ma
90 httf VsA
confidence suggest some measure whose
necessity is now plainly apparent. At
present we perceive certain things:
First-That we have established a
war college, and an Office OF intelli-
gence.
Second-That these two are essential
elements Of a general stan.
Thlrd-That the department appoint
ed a war board when the late war be-
gan, indicating by such action the need
Of general staff advice.
Capt TAYLOR then presented five Or
ders. the first making the war college
and intelligence office naturally depend
ent, their chiefs and first assistants,
with the chief Of navigation, forming a
permanent board OF five and stipulating
! that one-half the intelligence force
shall pass four months annually az the
war college, and one-half the war col
lege force four months at the intelli-
gence office.
The second, which Is practically the
one issued today. establishes a general
board OF nine members, five OF whom
ere named In the first or permanent
board the others being the senior OFF,
Ger OF the navy admiral Dewey, the
commanding officer OF the North Al
lantlc fleet and their chiefs OF stan.
This general board Is TO meet 10 con.
slider the plans OF the board OF five
every November, and at such other
times as may be desirable.
The third order gives the chief OF
naviga ton custody OF the approved
plans, places the combined work OF the
war college and intelligence Office under
his general direction. and orders and
designates him as the representative
of the board in all transactions with
the secretary OF the navy.
The fourth order is drawn with suf'
ficient elasticity eventually 20 sup
plant the naval staff, the marine corps
and all the civilian authorities OF the
department. II provides that "wher
matters Of constructing. arming, equip
ping or manning the feet are necessari.
ly deduced from the war plans, ant
require action Of the department ant
it's bureaus In supplying ships an'
their accessories. they shall be submit
ted to the assistant secretary. who shall
consider them and transmit them Z
the secretary Of the navy.
The fifth order provides for enlarg
ing the force Of the intelligence oiilci
and war college, and places the selec
ton OF officers for both details In "th'
chief OF the bureau OF navigation II
his capacity as chief Of the genera
stafi."
COMMENT on THE BOARD.
New York. March IA special 4
the Herald from Washington says;
Secretary Longs order creating IN
general board caused considerable com
ment among officers on duty In Wash
ingtoi.
The officers who will be members o
the board under the provisions OF IN
order Will be Admiral Dewey Rear
n,irnl A. s. Crowninsheld, Captain {
ID. sirsbee, Captain c. II. Stock on
CaptaIn Asa Walker. and Lieut. Com
rnarder c. II. Peters. Captain Henri.
TAYLOR and Captain r. Z. Chatwic'
viii be designated for membership Of
The board and possibly Rear Afnira
A. s. Parker, though the impression J
tina; an officer Of lower rank VIII b
selected.
Rear Admiral SAMPSON VIII not be
. member Of the board. according TO IN
, treaent Intention OF the department
| The formation OF the board meets WIZ
, the approval OF Admiral Dewey. WI
, was willing to perform duty which 81