The San Francisco call., 1903-12-03
WOULD CREATE
A NAVY BOARD
Admiral Taylor Says
There Is Lack Of
Capitalization.
Annual Report Recommends
Many Plans to Improve
the Service.

~ O4NB DCNs - ~ ~-----N-~-
report of Admiral H. C. Taylor, chief
of the bureau of navigation, recon-
mends the creation of a general staff
in the navy. the appointment OF two
vice admirals, one for the Asiatic sta
ton and one for the North Atlantic
station, material increase in the num-
Der of officers and the addition Of a
number Of ships to the navy.
An increase in the number Of cruisers
forming the Caribbean squadron to
eight is urged, five Of an improved
Olympia type and three specially con-
structed light draught vessels for river
work
Admiral Taylor calls attention to the
irregular character Of the training
squadron, and urges in the interests of
true economy the building Of training
vessels which would be useful In war.
The construction of eight such vessels
is recommended, to be of the size of
the San Francisco, with a sea speed OF
sixteen knots and with large coal en-
durance, but with such reduction in
armament as to be capable Of berthing
a large number.
For the European station six new
cruisers are recommended. On the
Asiatic station Admiral Taylor says
the situation demands a battleship
squadron. a cruiser squadron and
squadron of small vessels. Admiral
Taylor concurs in the recommendation
of Admiral Evans that the principal
naval station in the Philippines be es-
tablished at Olongapo, Subig Bay.
MORE SHIPS FOR ASIA.
The report says the Asiatic station
needs six cruisers of an improved
Olympia type and four cruisers of the
scout cruiser type, of which latter two
can now be provided. 1t is also urged
that two smaller gunboats or large
launches be provided Immediately for
service in Chinese rivers for the protec-
tion of American interests where the
present gunboats cannot operate owing
to their size.
Admiral Taylor expresses the opinion
that large number of cruisers will be
very necessary during the next few
years. Admiral Taylor treats at great
length on the subject of desertion,
showing that for the year 1903 the per-
centage was 129. Among the various
reasons assigned by officers, as well as
the men themselves, he says, are dis
content with the food, discomforts as
to sleeping accommodations, confine-
ment on board ship without frequent
liberty to visit shore, harshness in Ian
guage and bearing on the part of Of
ficers toward the crew. the disappoint-
ment of the recruit, who believed that
sea service was a pleasant and easy
thing, and the restless spirit existing
among some of the men. He estimates
that the desertions on account of food,
close quarters, restricted liberty to go
ashore and causes incident to the men
themselves, including love of change,
at not above per cent of the force,
and says when desertions go above that
percentage departments should exam
inc closely the causes which produce
the increase. Admiral Taylor believes
that the evil of desertion in the COM
ing year will show signs Of steady
diminution. due to the many allevia-
tions which have been introduced and
to the rewards now offered to the men
who remain in the service.
PERSONNEL OF THE NAVY.
AS affecting the personnel of the
navy, Admiral Taylor refers to the need
of more officers as engineers. Atten-
tion also is called to a defect which Ad-
miral Taylor says is common to most
military service, whether at sea or on
land, namely, the advanced age at
which officers reach the more impor-
tant commands The duty of COM
manding a battleship and fleets of bat
tleships,' he says is one which requires,
together with a large experience and
ability, the energy and nervous endur-
ance which is found as rule among
men much younger than those who will
command our battleships and fleets for
some years to come. AS a remedy for
the present defect he urges the retire
ment of officers when they have
reached a certain age in certain
grade. He suggests that an officer Of
so years of age, who has not attained
the rank of captain. retire, and that
captain who at 55 has not reached the
grade of rear admiral retire. After
urging an addition to the service of
thirty lieutenant commanders and fifty
lieutenants, Admiral Taylor says that
at present lieutenants are doing the
duty which should be done by lieuten-
ant commanders.
Regarding the creation of general
staff, Admiral Taylor says:
THE present organization of the de-
partment is inadequate because it falls
to coordinate the efforts of the several
bureaus to common end, and nowhere
fixes responsibility under the Secretary
for the general efficiency of the fleet
and its preparedness for war. The ne
cessity continues for some authorita-
tive direction under the Secretary Of
the Navy OF the general affairs of the
fleet as a military organization"
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