The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-12
NAVAL STAFF WOULD INCREASE
FIGHTING FLEETS EFFICIENCY.
Organization Exclusively
mssioned Cruisers and Their Personnel Pro
vide for This Bureau.

Washington, July 1.-THE general staff OF
the navy for the organization of which
Congress will probably provide at its next
session. differs in character from the al
ready established general staff OF the army.
Whereas the latter governs all branches Of
the military service, the naval staff will
direct its attention exclusively to the COM
missioned fleet and personnel.
The Navy Department exists for the fleet.
Everything it does is aimed at promoting
the efficiency and fighting power Of our
ships on the sea.
But all of that part of its work which
comes under the head of MATERIAL" such
as the construction of vessels, will be placed
by the new arrangement under the direction
Of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. and
the general staff will have nothing whatever
to do with it.
Experience has shown that officers en-
gagged in the study of strategy. tactics and
other problems relating to the management
Of a naval force cannot utilize their facul
ties to the best advantage if they are
obliged to give attention to details Of build
ing and equipment.
Our present system did we'll enough
quarter of century ago. when the Navy
was small, comparatively speaking, and the
ships few and old-faShioned.
But when. twenty years back. a new navy
began to be built, it soon became apparent
that change Of method was needed.
GENERAL STAFF PROPOSED.
Ten years elapsed, and in 1893 the idea of
a general staff took shape at the Naval
War College.
1t appealed strongly to most of the think
ing men in the service, and especially to
whom 1t had long been obvious that a bet
ter system of organization was needed in
the management of the forces of the United
States on the sea.
Thus it would appear that the idea, after
all. is not entirely new.
In fact, for some time past the navy has
actually possessed what might be called a
general staff, though not regularly consti-
tuted as such. -inasmuch as practically all
OF the duties and powers of a general staff
are now performed and exercised by the
Bureau of Navigation. the General Board
the Secretary Of the Navy, the office Of
Naval Intelligence and the War College,
acting together
Until recently single bureau in the Navy
Department has practically run" the
whole navy. subject to the Secretary's or
ders. The Bureau of Navigation, originally
their charts and navigating Instruments
had gradually gathered to itself powers and
functions until it controlled nearly every
thing.
1t managed all the affairs of the feet,
made the war plans, studied foreign navies.
trained the officers and men. did all the
recruiting, governed the War College and
the office of Naval Intelligence, and, when
there was war executed all the plans of
campaign.
RESPONSIBILITY DISTRIBUTED.
Clearly, all of these things were too much
Tor one bureau to attend to. Under the con-
:emplated system the duties will be dis
tributed and grouped in natural subdivis-
fcns with responsible heads working in
harmony, under a single chief. who. whilo
having the control necessary to administer
properly the business of the fleet. will BIS
responsible for the personnel and for the
efficiency of the fighting force on the sea-
The chief of STAFF, in word, will direct.
under the authority of the Secretary of the
Navy. the military affairs of the fleet, and
will be responsible to him for its condition
and effectiveness.
The officers of the general staff in times
of peace will make arrangements for the
proper naval defense of our coast and will
prepare plans of campaign. In time of war
1t will be responsible for the successful con-
duct of the campaign.
Under the present system no naval officer
or group of officers can be held responsible
for the naval part of a war. In the Virgin