Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-13
Mr. MOODY !! RETURNS
Secretary of the Navy Back
From His Trip.
INFORMATION t GAINED
SITES FOR COALING STATIONS
VISITED AND Examined.
Plan for a General Staff Submitted
but He Will Not Discuss
It Now.

facts and figures regarding American naval
property in the West Indies, Secretary
Moody returned to Washington this morn
ing from an extended cruise aboard the
Dolphin in the Caribbean sea, and resumed
his duties at the Navy Department. With
the Secretary were also the other MEM
bers of his party, Postmaster General
Payne, Senator Proctor Of Vermont. Rep
resentatives Cannon, Foss and Gillette.
Judge Dunbar of Boston, Private Secretary
Fishback and Mr.. Pearl Of Haverhiu. Mr..
Moody's law partner. Except for a trip to
Newport News on the 10th instant to at
tend the launching of the armored cruiser
West Virginia and for an inspection of
the Norfolk navy yard, the Secretary ex-
poets now to remain in Washington until
August.
A Profitable Trip.
The Secretary's West Indian trip was
alike pleasurable and profitable. With his
party he visited the sites of the proposed
American coaling stations at Bahia Honda
and Guantanamo, and made a thorough in
spection of the property. He regards both
sites as having the possibilities for develop
ment into excellent stations which can be
amply fortified.
The Secretary has collected detailed data
concerning the property, some of which
he Will incorporate in his next annual .e-
port along with recommendations for the
improvement of the stations The Secre-
tary's itinerary also included an inspection
tour to San Juan and Culebra and visits to
other parts Of Porto Rico and to Samana
bay. -
General Staff Proposition.
Secretary Moody was supplied on his
cruise with the details of the general staff
proposition, to the study of which he and
the members of his party gave careful at
tention. The Secretary is not yet prepared
to commit himself regarding the project,
though he intends discussing it at length
in his next annual report. The Secretary is
now aware of the fact that there are men
in Congress of powerful position and in
fluence who at present are irrevocahly op-
posed to the creation OF a general staff,
and that fact must be taken into cons:dera-
ton In any recommendations which may
be submitted upon the subject. Before
leaving Washington the Secretary was dis
posed to disapprove the general staff meas
ure unless radically modified. 1t is under
stood that he has In mind several modifica-
tons which he will insist upon should he
finally determine to submit the scheme to
Congress.
The Plan Outlined.
The plan for the proposed general staff
Of the navy, as outlined by it's advocates,
is as follows:
y
contemplates the abolition Of the title of
the bureau of navigation and assigns the
performance of it's duties to the general
stan to those which now devolve upon that
bureau, without trangressing upon the
powers or authority of other naval bureaus.
The necessity for congressional legisla ton
rests in the statutory authorization of
chief of the general staff and subordinate
officers who shall have rank appropriate
with their responsibilities for the efficiency
of the personnel and of the fleet In commits
sion. These officers will direct, under the
Secretary of the Navy, the military affairs
OF the fleet and be responsible to him for
its readiness for war. The efficient ad-
ministration of great organizations requires
a natural subdivision of the various duties
under responsible heads, while a co-ordi-
nation Of these several subdivisions under a
single head is equally necessary This can
be done by means of a general staff in
the navy without interfering with the work
and responsibilities of bureaus, other than
that of navigation, and without in any de-
gree diminishing in any way the power of
the Secretary of the Navy. To him the
chief of the general staff will be directly
responsible in the same sense and to the
same degree as is now the chief of the
bureau Of navigation.
Character Of Present Duties
THE latter at present has charge Of nu-
merous subjects Of diversified character.
He is for instance. among other duties, ex-
pected to advise the Secretary in the matter
OF the assignment to duty of commissioned
officers. to exercise a supervision over the
education of midshipmen and the post
graduate instruction Of officers, to PROVIDE
for the enlistment and distribution of men,
to conduct petty officers schools. to ar
range for the training of the enlisted force,
to prepare ships Compliments OF officers
and men, to keep the records Of the COM
missioned and enlisted personnel. to organ
1ze fleets and squadrons,: to mobol1ze ana
distribute the floating force, to provide tar
get practice and drills to Superintend ma
neuvers, including those with the army; to
make the plans for furnishing a fleet with
all necessary supplies, to provide the Naval
War College with its means OF investigation
and research, to acquire information OF
value in service matters, TO study and de-
Velop strategy and tactics; In fact, to have
an intimate knowledge of and take the re-
sponsibility for all that. relates to the disci-
pine and distribution of the personnel ana
the efficient preparation Of. the fleet for
war.
Conduct of Campaigns.
TT will be admitted that in order to have
a perfect and cornplete organization there
should be an officer to assist the secretary
who would be responsible to the secretary
for the proper conduct OF campaigns It
Is, therefore. proposed that the various
duties of the buseau Of navigation be SUBJ
divided : and placed 4,unders subordinate
heads and that "a chief OF general staff
be created who. undar tina direction Of
the Secretary, provides for TIE efficient CO.
of these subdivisions. There
would thus be provided a head and group
Of officers who would be responsible to the
Secretary for the proper distribution OF
the fleet and for the execution OF the war
plans which they have. prepared. The au-
thority of the chief of the general stan
would be the same as that now provided
for chiefs OF bureau. mo permanent de-
tails to the general STAFF will be considered
and no such enauring tenure is contem-
plated Of1cers,NHill still go to sea. Tho
hest school for the officer is the ship. No
radical change of administration is nee
essary or desired; the present system IS
very good and slight modification would
make it excellent
Strike Over at Saratoga.