The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-05
NAVAL GENERAL STAFF
ITS NECESSITY URGED ON CONGRESS
BY SECRETARY MOODY.
Report of Secretary Shows Increase
of American Citizens i'm the Service
and Better Workmanship.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The report OF
William II. Moody, secretary of the navy,
was submitted to the President to-day
The secretary indorses the recommended
tons of his bureau chiefs, as published
heretofore in the subsidiary reports, and
urges their adoption. After outlining the or
ganization of the department the secretary
urges certain changes which he believes
will make it more effective. Chief of these
Is the need of a general staff, on which
point he says:
1.-The creation of a general staff, which
shall be responsible for the efficiency OF the
vessels ahoat and the personnel or the
navy collect and digest military informa-
ton upon which plans for active operations
may be formulated, and act as the military
adviser of the secretary, having no autnorl-
ty except such as may be conferred upon
it from time to time by the secretary. 1t
should be understood that the department
does not entirely lack the assistance which
would be rendered by general stan. The
War College at Coasters Harbor Island, the
Intelligence Office, the Board of Inspection
and Survey and the Bureau or Navigation
work in intelligent cooperation with the
general board, which was created by my
predecessor as the result Of experience In
the war with Spain.
1.-The admiral of the navy, whose expert
ence and advice, always fully available,
have been of inestimable value. is the presi-
dent of this board, and the chief OF the
Bureau of Navigation is chairman of its
the board, based not only upon. their ex-
perience as officers, but upon the work OF
the bodies above enumerated are brought
to the attention of the secretary. Together
the admiral of the navy and the chief OF
the Bureau of Navigation are In a con-
siderable measure performing the duties on
chief of general staff. The board has no
mental regulations, which may at any mo-
ment be modified or repealed
''It is not my purpose to recommend spe-
officially at this time any of these pro-
posals, but only to bring them forward for
the earnest discussion and consideration
which their Importance deserves Mere
change Is not reform, and none should be
attempted until it appears clearly that
conditions would be bettered thereby"
He makes special point of the necessity of
devising some plan by which officers may
reach command rank at an earlier age
than at present The percentage OF native
born Americans in the navy, he notes, 10
steadily increasing. being now 1913 per cent,
with total of 9O.I per cent. or native and
naturalized citizens. as compared with 50
last year.
Immediate action for the establishment
of a naval base in the Philippines is urged
as an absolute necessity. Puget sound and
San Francisco bay bring the present near
est repair points on American soil. 1t Is
noted that the effective force of the navy
was Increased by twenty-five vessels dur
ing the fiscal year. An interesting para
graph is devoted to derelicts at sea, as fol-
Reports on file in the office of the n.y.
drographer of the navy show that a total of
1,62S floating derelicts were observed in the
North Atlantic during the period of seven
that the average fiotation period of these
wrecks was thirty days each and that
y and 80 tracks SS
for the use of mariners. 1t further appears
that during the past ten years forty-twO
collisions with dereiicts or floating wreck
North Atlantic alone, and that since the be-
ginning of this calendar year four such col
iisions have occurred, enc vessel suffering
port disabled. two others having lost pro-
| peller blades, and the fourth having sus-
tanned other damages The possibility of
! serious disaster from collision with dere-
licts may seem remote, but in view of the
increase In number and speed of ocean
liners and the multiplication of vessels of
all kinds under sail and steam in the lanes
of ocean travel, ii would seem to be the
| duty of the maritime powers TO adopt some
| systematic and effective means. of doing
| peril of the sea. The American navy has
| done and will continue to do whatever may
| be practicable in this direction. and in pur-
suance of this policy during the past eleven
wrecks. derelicts, or distractions were re-
| ported by the photographic office. OF these
| seven We're located and either blown up or
| otherwise rendered harmless But derelicts
have no nationality. and the duty of remov-
| ing them from the highways of the sea is
| one resting alike upon all maritime nations
| whose shipping may be endangered by
them.
Changes i'm the regulation OF target prac-
/ tice at sea are noted. and a gratifying bet
| terment in craftsmanship percentages is
reported. 1t is stated that 1.-The continued
/ publication of the Naval War Records
presents for the first time in complete and
accessible form the operations of the ma
tional and Confederate navies, including the
/ construction. equipment and performances
of the first ironclads, as well as the cruis-
ers and torpedo boats; the successful main
| tenance of blockade along a coast line
nearly 1000 miles in extent; Confederate
/ privateering upon the high seas: and par
! ticularly, inland blockade and the military
control of boys. inlets. great rivers and
| other waterways in connection with the op-
| erations of land forces"