The Washington times., 1902-07-09
Copy of Circular Sent to
Naval Officers on
Shore Duty.
WANTS ANSWERS QUICKLY
Matter to Be Compiled and Sent to
Congress for Them to Determine
Whether Number OF Officers Should
Be Increased to Meet Conditions.

The information Secretary Moody will
get from naval officers on shore duty
in response to his circular letter of in
quiry concerning the reasons fer keep
ing them ashore while so many vacan-
cies exist On ships at sea, will be sent
to Congress in December TO enable it
to determine whether it Is necessary
to increase the commissions or person
Del OF the nary.
While Mr.. Moody believes that great
many naval officers spend too much
time ashore and not enough at sea, he
has come to the conclusion that an in
crease in the number of officers on ship
board means a corresponding increase in
the number OF officers on shore. as the
greater size OF the feet in commission,
the greater must be the wcrk Of a naval
and military character to be performed
at the Navy Department and at navy
yards and shore stations to keep the
feet in a state of efficiency.
In his circular letter Mr.. Moody re-
quests that the answers 20 the ques-
tions he asks about shore details shall
oe sent to the Navy Department by July
-.
The story in The Times yesterday tell
ing of the Secretary inquiries attract
cd Z great deal of attention in naval
circles. and on account of the interest
displayed q copy of the circular. in the
form in which it was sent TO the chiefs
OF naval bureaus is herewith given.
&c.,, oF r;rc,,Jar
Il am advised that the increase Of
ships and enlisted men Of the navy re-
suits in a demand for officers for the ac-
tive duties on board ship, the training OF
enlisted men on shore and other shore
duties of naval and military nature
For this reason the department desires
a reduction of the amount of not less
than 20 per cent in the number officers
employed on work not purely naval or
military wherever such reduction is
practicable. You will please make such
arrangements as will tend to produce
this result, notifying the Bureau OF Nav
jgation of positions that can be vacated
by commissioned officers now serving
therein on the assumption that their
duties may be performed by civilians or
by retired officers OF the navy or merged
with those of other positions.
''The department does not contemplate
sudden action In this matter, but desires
changes where practicable to be made
gradually. The department fully realizes
that many naval duties of the highest
Importance must be performed on shore,
and that the complete equipment OF 4
naval officer demands shore duty OF GER
tain kinds as well as sea service. but
desires the work performed by officers,
whether at sea or on shore, to be OF
naval and military character.
Questions to the Point.
"In order that the department may be
Informed as to the character Of the du-
ties performed by officers Of the navy
now detailed in your bureau, or in con-
nection with it, and the necessity there
CT, you will direct each officer of the
navy on duty in your bureau, or in con-
nection with it, either on the active or
retired list, TO make a statement in
writing OF the detailed duties performed
by him.
You will accompany the statement of
each officer by a supplemental state
ment, giving the follcWlng information.
81. How long have these duties been
performed by an officer of the navy regu-
larly attached to the bureau, or in con-
nection with it, and by whom were they
performed prior to the assignment of
an officer TO such duty?
''2. Which Of these duties cannot be
efficiently performed by civilian en-
ploye. and II not. why?
"3. Which OF these duties can be efii-
ciently performed by a civilian en-
ploye?
- Which Of these duties can be eff
ciently performed by adding them to the
duties OF some other officer whose pres
ence in the bureau, or in connection with
Il. is indispensably necessary?
-. You will furnish for the convent
ence Of the department a list Of officers
on duty May l. 1902, in your bureau. OF
in connection with II.
The department desires that the
above information should be sent in by
or before the 18th of July"