The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-27
The Army and the Naval War College.

Tho recent news that Army officers are to
form part Of the next class at the Naval
War College at Newport is in q high degree
important, and gives promise that the next
session OF the college will be even more
fruitful OF good results than past sessions
have been. Tie Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy, Nj, CHAlLEs II. ALLLE, is to DC
credited with the plan soon 10 be put into
operation. Mr.. ALLEN has always been
interested in the War College, although his
interest has not always taken a form that
commended itself wholly to those who had
worked for the college longer than he had;
but his success in obtaining the coopera-
ton Of the War Department Is most graft
flying to all friends OF the institution.
With the agreement Of the War Depart
ment to assign officers to the class, a new
epoch in the history " the War College
opens. Hitherto its instruction has been
for naval officers only. How valuable that
instruction is may he gathered to some
extent from the naval history of the Span
ish war. Both directly and indirectly n
large part Of the results Of that war was
due to the Naval War College. 4 war with
a greater naval power than Spain, however,
is needed before the full value Of the War
College will be apparent to non.military
observers. Just as VoN MoLTyE had his
upper right hand drawer" with its on
velope containing the plan Of the Pruesian
Great General STAFF for invading France. 50
the Naval War College has its drawer with
plans for modifying the Navy, and for
action after mobilization. Each year
additional plans of action are prepared. and
each year the War College assumes moro
clearly the appearance Of 4 Naval General
staff.
Meantime, the Secretary OF War has been
looking with ervy at tho college. The
Army, it is true, has three postgraduate
schools FOR officers; but it has nothing like
the War College Of the Navy. So, at tho
suggestion Of the Assistant Secretary O,
the Navy, he has arranged to send to the
hospitable naval institution a number OF
Army officers to take part in the coming
summer session,
AT the War College there is no set routine
OF class work. The officers sent there are OF
al age when they do not haze one anether,
when they work for professional reasons
rather than because they are watched by
teachers. Tho stan Of the college. officers
vino have been working during the interval
between sessions Of the college, prepare
problems in naval strategy and tactics, sit
ustions in international law, &C.; and the
student officers solve thom, working in tho
college building, or oA tho waters OF Maria
gansott Bay by the aid of the launches and
torpedo boats ut the naval station. Lect-
ures are given by members Of the staff. and,
in their turn, bymembers of the class; dis
~tingui5hed officers, not permanently at the
college, and distinguished civilians as well.
deliver lectures or prepare monographs to
be read before thr class. The Army officers
detailed To the War College Will tint thon-
selves busy. oven though ,h,re i, no fixed
class work; and will give as well rs receive
Instruction.
In many ways the new plan should be-
extremely helpful to both Army and Navy.
II will do away with some Of the jealousy
between the two branches of the scryice-
q jealousy which exists, even tboueh il.
existence is denied II will tend To show Ia
each branch tn" limitations Of it, overs
when operating in combination with the
other bidnr''' AMI -,', Naoly t. Irad To
definite regulations r|.,ornira .,irn com.
Dincd operations, lt may lead To a cbauy,
that will charSr ilu Navy with the trans.
portation and declaration oftroops. L. will
lead to the working out Of further piaos Of