New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
WHAT THE NAVY NEEDS.
I GENERAL STAFF.
Consolidation of Bureaus and More
Ships o0dy'S annual Report


out the need of more centralized system of con-
troll. in the interests Of efficiency and readiness for
emergencies As the department is at present or
ganized. Mr.. Moody shows. there are conflicts of
jurisdiction between the various bureaus which
sometimes work to the injury of the service
Among the measures recommended TO the CON
sideration Of Congress are consolidation of the
bureaus and the creation of a general staff MI
Moody says;
As the naval establishment grows in importance,
and the amount of public money devoted to us
maintenance is increased, its proper administration
justly becomes object of socitude. There has
been therefore much discussion concerning me Or
ga ton of the department It is asserted by
many, both within and without the naval seIFt .L
that alterations in the organic law governing tne
administration OF naval affairs would result in an
Increased efficiency and economy The agltatloh
Tor change comes from so many and sueh re-
sideration. II has been pointed out with truth that
in the war with Spain the organization proved
inadequate. The practices prevailing in times Of
military administration were adopted. aud il is
ybnb la "a no liz ~ I p ,ca ie
suitable one. There cannot he said to be an agree
ment upon the exact measure Of the reform de-
sired, nor, indeed. universal agreement that any
The distribution OF business among bureaus indie
pendent Of and unrelated TO each other. except
creates a condition out of which grow conflicts of
jurisdiction between the bureaus, sometimes inJu.
r0uS, and tendency TO consider the interests or
the bureaus rather than the of the navy.
only in the department. but extends to the navy
yards and even TO some extent to the ships in COM
d ion and lack lack Of 3fs Rarmq on c Of
ordination of work, except by the voluntary action
Of bureau chiefs short Of the Secretarys office it.
The spirit of our institutions requires that the
ordination to the civil power Accordingly, the Sec
rotary of the Navy has been and will be in the
limitations Of knowicdge ' Although the Navy De
Establishment in which sbips are built and re-
paired and armament and equipment manufactured.
its existence is military ana that all business which
ana employment Of effective power upon the sea-
NEED OF MILITARY ADVICE
II is therefore vitality important that there should
he available to the civilian head of the department
best mtarv avice Without Tntb hon be niid he
sure 70 commit grave errors. which might lead TO
Gent the military information may be. how
% ond pc adE RS oe9 t OF the navy ea9a6e OF
are scattered throughout the bureaus and in the
happy accident they will never be effective Tor the
suIoanCe elther OF me natlonaI administration or
whose action ultimately the efficiency of the navy
Ith03it ovyer ir ~ one pace aa knowedee
should be avaable to those Who have the power
to act so that the power may be exercised with
plish such result he who may be in power and
charged with responsibility in time Of trial will
1t clearly follows. therefore that there should
duty Of the eoecton ard co i Se nf %nn o o
ar re e on re fio aG n on military r
IS defective in vital part. The statutory organi-
is charged with this most Important function
Bureau chiefs. often. as during my administration
ments TO perform duty OF this kind, are engrossed
I'm the administration OF their respective bureaus.
have little time for other duties, are tempted to
consider all questions from a point of view of
which by law are rot imposed upon them This has
led TO the enlargement of the function of the Chief
the general board, both of which will be referred
to hereafter The proposals for changes may be
classified follows:
PROPOSED CHANGES
First-Alterations in the organization of navy
yards which will Increase the power and RESPONSE
second-The consolidation of the bureaus in the
shall be responsible for efficiency of the YES
sel5 9noat ana the personnel OF the navy collect
for active operations may he formulated and act
no authority except such may be conferred upon
it from time to time by the Secretary.
at this time any of these proposals. but only 10
Standardization which their importance deserve
Mere change Is nor reform, and none should be at
tempted uatil 1t appears clearly that conditions
would be bettered thereby.
NAV we to The ha sbe nope Of tfS e
organization of our naval establishment its best
ecisnn ~ 6r navy wond ampv Warrant all
the study which can be given.
differences Of opinion stiH exist" Mr. Moody
says to the measure of success which has
attended the consolidation of the Engineer Corps
with the line, which effected by the act of
March g. 1889. 1t is gratifying to know that both
the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation and the
Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering believe
that the consolidation is working well. and I am
informed that such is the opinion of the majority
of our officers"
AGE AND COMMAND RANK.
on his point Mr.. Moody says. in part:
Of the several officers in command of the eleven
battlesliips of the navy in commission, two
are ffty-ninc: one is tifty-eight three fifty
seven, three are nfty-sl& ana TWO are hfty-nVe
years Of age The ages of the officers who, in
course of time will selected relieve them will
be about the same. The duty OF commanding
battleshiDs and fleets of hattleships is which
demands not only experience and ability but also
makes heavy drafts upon the energy and nervous
afd-,,,co ~ tbn officers charged with such re
sponsbility, upon which the success or failure or
the navy in important crises may depend: The
attention the importance of deviSing some plan by
which officers will attain command rank and duty
at an earlier age than under the present system.
1t is true that during and since the period of the
war with Spain fault has been found on ac-
officer in command; but 1t is reasonable to look
forward to times Of greater strain IN peace as
well in war than the navy has heretofore
known, and TO provide therefor.
Mr. Moody discusses the problem of desertion in
the navy at considerable length. saying, among
other things:
Ways and means by which TO reduce the number
Of assertions are receiving. and will continue 10
receive earnest and thoughtful attention; but. in
Of the history of the offence, present condi-
tons cannot be regarded alarming. is to
the credit Of the enlisted men of the American
navy that during the year 1S@S-the war year-the
number Of assertions did not reach One-haf the
normal percentage in time of peace. general
closes the further fact that such desertions az aid
occur during that year were rule at the
sn,1c ariC9c far q