The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-16

One OF the most important steps ever
undertaken in the history of the Navy viii
be announced officially in few days in an
order signed by Secretary Long, which is
being prepared for PRONUNCIATION In ad-
diticn to providing responsible duty for
Admiral Dewey, it creates a board of on
GERS of high rank, corresponding to the
general STAFF of European naval powers
The board. will constitute a permanent
| strategic committee whose duties gener-
ally VIII be to keep the Navy up to high
| standard of efficiency in preparation for
war, to arrange plans for the defence in
time of war, and 20 give advice to tie
Government when hostiIities are in pro-
gress as to methods of strategy to be en-
ployed by the Navy. The order provides
| that the general stan shall consist of six
eN otficio members ard three other mem
| bers, all naval officers. The ex o-hcio
members are to be the Admiral of the
Navy, who Will be president. the Chief of
the Bureau of Navigation. the Chef In
telligence Officer Of the Navy and ii pri :
cipai assistant, and the Pres dent of the
Naval War College and his principa. as
sistant.
The officers thus provided for are Ad-
miral Dewey, Rear Admiral A. s. CROWN
shield, Chief OF the Navigation Bureau
Capt Charles d. Sigsbee. Chief Intelli-
gence officer; Lieut.. Commander George
H. Peters. principal assistant in the Naval
Intelligence Office; Capt. Charles H. Stock
ton. President of the Naval War College,
and Capt. Asa Walker, principal assistant
in the Naval War College
The three other members are to be Of
fcers of the grade Of commander or higher,
one of whom will be Capt. Henry c. Tay-
lor. commanding the receiving ship Yer
mont at the New York Navy Yard. The
two others have not been selected but
Secretary Long was thinking of taking one
OF them from the list of rear admirals.
Under the terms of the order, the general
stan must meet in Washington once a
month. and twice year the sessions must
last for at least week. 1t will be kept fully
informed as TO the state of foreign naval
| establishments. the progress in naval mat
tiers abroad. plans to be carried out in
the event of war with certain foreign ma
tions, and all information that would be
of value TO the Government in foreign
conflict. In addition, the general staff is
expected to advise the Secretary of the
Navy in regard to matters pertaining to
cur own naval establishment, but to what
extent has not been defined. 1t IS not
to supersede the Board on Construction
but some subjects considered by that board
will probably also be discussed and re-
ported on by the general staff.
The order is the result of several years
of study by Captain Taylor" said Secre-
tary Long last evening, "and he will be a
member of the board. He has been en-
gagged recently in this work at the Naval
War College The board which will CORE
spond 10 the general staff of foreign navies.
will be kept in close touch with the Naval
War College. which prepares plans for war,
and the Naval Intelligence Office, which
gathers information fo= the Navy. 1t is
on that account that the President of the
War College and his assistants and the
Chief Intelligence Officer and his assistant
will be members. In time OF war 1t will be
a strategic board
Capt Henry c. Taylor the author Of the
suggestions which have eliminated in the
organization of the general STAFF. was Presi-
dent of the War College for several years,
and during his term there brought that in
stitution up to high state of efficiency. In
the war with Spain he commanded the bat
tleship Indiana, and was in charge of that
vessel in the tight with Cervera's squadron.