New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-11
NEW NAVAL PROGRAMME.
TWO BIG FIGHTING soUADRoNs PRO
POSED
ONE IN NORTH ATLANTIC AND ONE ~
AsIATIC wATERs-ADMIRAL TAYLOR
APPEALS FOR MORE OFFICERS

Washington. Nov. Decentralization ~ the naval
sorce into two big fighting squadrOns in North At
lantic and Asiatic waters is recommended by Rear
Admiral Henry c. TAYLOR, chief of the Bureau Of
Navigation IN HIS annual report. For the present.
the report says two squadrons all the present
number OF batteships will permit To carry out
this policy Admiral Taylor proposes TO transfer
the battleships in the remaining squadrons 10 one
~ the other OF these heavy squadrons. and COM
pose the Pacific. European and South Atlantic
squadrons entirely of cruisers These changes will
Ne undertaken a the winter manGuvres in
the West Indies ended. After the rearrange-
ment The distribution Of the lighting force of the
navy viii he as follows
hama. the Massachusetts. the Indiana the Maine
me Illinois. the Iowa and the Texas. This force
should be maintained in the future at not less than
caribbean division Of North Atlantic station
The Olympia, the Montgomery. the Marietta. the
Msehlas, the Panther and the Detroit.
Wisconsin, the Monadnock and the Monterey The
n5uueshpS IN ms squadron are to be increased TO
sione "a soon as vessels OF this class are commits
Orleans the yorktown. The Wilmington: the He
lena, the Nicksburg. the Princeton, the Annapolis,
the Don Juan de Austria and the Isla de Cuba.
The Rainbow and q large gunboat division will. as
heretofore, be attached TO the squadron for ser
she Boston. the Marblehead and the Ranger
European station-The Brooklyn. the Chicago. the
San Francisco and the Albany
Rnd the Nashville.
II is also proposed form additional torpedo boat
notillas with destroyer the leading vessel after
fhe plan Of the present group In the West
Indies under the command Of Lieutenant Chandler
The proposed concentrs ton Of the naval forces
Admiral Taylor says. makes 1t desirable to have
officer Of high rank in command OF each Of the
great heavy fleets, and he recommends for these
fVo commands that Congress authorize the ap-
pointment Of two vice-adrnirals or as an alterna-
tive that il sanction the appointment Of two act
ing Nice-admirals
The most crying need Of the navy, according to
Admiral Taylor. is more officers He declares that
the preparations now going for the mobilization
of the feet for the winter manoeuVres in the West
Indies have brought the department face TO face
with a critical condition. due 10 lack Of officers
which. he says. has reached such a point be
dangerous TO the efficiency of the feet. He says
less than the number on board the ships of other
naNles, although, as matter of fact, ships
qulre more officers than the ships Of other naVes
because We are compelled TO man our vessels with
green crews, having little Knowledge of sea
needs Of the naval service require L600 officers.
while the number on the navy list including mid
This table is based on the Lowest possible mum
her Of officers needed battleships, Il. against
average number of officers for similar ships in for
eign navies Of SO in England. % IN France and %
IN GERMANY He figures that the vessels now au-
thoriZed by Congress but not completed will
quire 4sS additional officers. TO whom are TO be
added . per cent for oilcers sick or on shore duty,
and l60 for casualties in the next four years a
total for the vessels building OF 7S3. This
The graduates from the Naval Academy in the next
four years Will be 355, leaving total deficit on
iaTies who would be required in the event Of HOSTILE
ties. IN addition 20 the increase OF hnidshipnen
PROVIDED for by the last Congress. Admiral Taylor
therefore. recommends a further increase of one
midshipman for each member and delegate in the
Columbia and ten annually at large. He also rec
ommends that the number Of lieutenant command3
ers be increased so heutenants Ssenlor grade) 90
and leutenants Gunior grade) and ensigns $50