The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-05
Mr.. MOODY RECOMMENDS
GENERAL STAFF PLAN
Te Derive Authority From
Navy Secretary.
WOULD F0RTlFY SUBlG BAY
Annual Report Says This Haybor Would
Most Enectually Serye fc- The
Defense Of Manila.

Three Important changes II tie organ,
ization of the Navy Department arc
suggested ~ Secretary Moody in his an
nual report. These are:
Alterations IN the organization or
navy yards which VIII increase the
power ana responsibility the~eovci
and for work progressing therein.
The consolidation CT the bureaus in
tho Department.
The creatisa 1t . general staff which
shall be responsible for the efficiency
Of vessels afioat AMI the personnel c1
the navy collect and digest military
information. upon which plans for act
i've operations may be formulated. ans
act as military adviser TO the Secre-
tary. having no authority except such
as may he conferred on it from time
10 time by the Secretary
Faults of System.
Secretary MOODY does not recommend
these changes specifically. but submits
them as a suggestion and urges theis
consideration by Congress. He says the
bureau chiefs are all earnest and ca
Dabie AID that he does rot wish to
crtticIse them as any faults in adj
ministrs ton are due TO the system and
not % individuals.
In discussing the suggestion that a
general start be created. Secretary
Moody says.
II should be understood that the de-
partment does not entirely lack the as
sistancc which would be rendered by
a general STAFF. The war college a;
Coasters Harbor Island. the inteni-
gence Office. the board of inspection
and survey and the Bureau of Naviga-
ton work in intelligent cooperation
with the general board, which was ere.
ated by my predecessor as the result;
of experience in the war with Spain.
The Admiral's Part.
THE Admiral Of the Navy. whose
experience AM advice. always fully
available. haze been Of inestimable
value. is the president Of this board
and the Chief OF the Bureau of NavI-
cation is chairman of it's executive
committee Through these two officers
the deliberations and opinions Of 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 Secre-
tar-.
Together the Admiral of the Navy
and the Chief Of the Bureau of Naviga.
ton are in great measure performing
the duties Of chief of general staff
The board has no existence except by
virtue Of the departmental regulation,
which may at any moment be modified
or repealed"
Secretary Moody urges the establish
ment Of "A naval Ease in Subig Bay and
urges that OlonEapo be selected as the /
site for an extensive naval station which /
viii make il possible to protect the I
Philippines and maintain a feet in Ash
attic waters without depending on Jap
anese and Chinese navy yards.
Merits OF Subig Bay.
In discussing the merits Of subIg Bay
he says:
THE mouth Of subig Bay is thirty
miles north CT Manila Bay In its en-
trance lies an island which commands
the channels on ether side. and with
minimum of fertilization makes the bay
impregnabie. There is ample area OF
anchorage Within ,he bay is an in
dentation which is the harbor Of Dion
gapo- In this harbCi there is a place
suited for the reception % the steel
floating dry dock now under construc- !
ton and destined for the PhiIiDDines
Comparatively little dredging would be
needed 10 prepare the location for this
dock.
"a fleet thus irnprcgnably based upon
Subig Bay would constitute a more cf-
fective protection 10 the city OF Manila
than any base IN Manila Bay would
afford. On the other hand. Cavite pos
sesses many disqralifcaton as naval
base The entrance 10 Manila Bay is /
wide. It's effective protection by fortih- 1
cation is difficult Fl not impracticable. :
and the station NJ Cavite IS within /
reach of gunfre frcm the open water /
Of the bay. BrealIwaters would have Ia I
be constructed and dredging Of the most ]
extensive and c0Ctiy character would be 4
required Ia vicw Of these facts. the /
highest national considerations appear 4
TO require the sc.tc elton Of Subig Bay as
a base. its early fortihcation. the stur-
ing therein Of naval supplies. and the I
speedy development OF dOckyard faclli- {
ties al OiongaDo.
Naval Construction.
j is urged in the report that the I
continuance Of naval construction /
be authorized by Congress but s5ecre- I
tar,- Moody fails 10 make any recon-
nendatior Is To how many batteshiDs 4
should bc authorized and what other
vessels are necessary. lie says the al /
vice OF the general board and Of the 7.
Board on Construction has been sought /
on this subject and VIII be submitted 10 (
the committees Or Congress.