Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-24
GENERAL NAVAL STAFF
It's ACCESSIBILITY Pointed Out
by Admiral Converse.
MORE OFFICERS NEEDED
OF HAVING THE
NAVY READY FOR ACTION.
Recommends the Authorization Of Two
Vice Admirals-Bill for Naval
Reserve Drafted.

The annual report of Rear Admiral Con-
verse, chief Of the bureau of navigation, de-
failing the operations of the various naval
squadrons during the past year, was made
public today, excepting that portion relating
to the action of Rear Admiral Chadwick,
commanding the South Atlantic squadron,
in the Perdcaris affair at Tangier. Admit
raj Converse treats at length of the need of
a general board, or general staff, to admin
lister naval affairs, the necessity for an In
crease of at least 80 per cent in the number
Of officers. the urgent need of more vessels
Of the cruiser class and the adoption of
some means of eXpediting promotions to
the grade of captain. Shortly before his
death Rear Admiral Taylor, formerly chief
of the bureau, prepared a memorandum of
the above questions for consideration in his
report, and Admiral Converse gives 1t his
warm approval. In support of his recon-
mendations for the organization of a gen.
eral naval staff or board Admiral Converse
said:
such a board, advisory in character.
would not encroach upon the province of
any authority now constituted but, pre-
senting to the Secretary, in well-digested
form. the mature opinions of officers of
rank and active experience, would furnish.
in such measure as the Secretary might
approve, definite object toward which the
matters under their respective cognizance,
with efficient and economical coordination
This board being continuous body, its
membership changing only part at time,
would impart continuity as well as sound
progress to the policy of the navy, both
these qualities being essential TO the highest
efficiency of a great military organization.
Advantage of Preparedness.
although it is too early to draw final
conclusions from the war in the far east
one cardinal military principle has received
new and striking confrmation--that is, pre-
paredness and the swiftness of action which
can be successful only with thorough pre-
paredness. Readiness for immediate action
on the outbreak of war requires that the
whole field shall have first been maturely
considered, and that all probable opera tons
and contingencies shall have been suitably
provided for down to the smallest detail
whose need can be foreseen."
More Officers Needed.
Experience, especially in gun fire, he
says has shown that it is necessary to in
crease the number of officers assigned to
ships, so that the estimate made in 1902
Of the number of officers needed for ships
I'm commission is inadequate. 1t provided
for only about one-half as many officers
as ships of the same class carry In the
British, French and German nayies. Adj
miral Converse recommends that the num-
Der of lieutenanfs be increased from $50
to co., and that the number of lieutenant
commanders be increased from 200 to 800.
The recommendation for the authorize
ton of two vice admirals is renewed, with
view to their assignment to the command
of the North Atlantic and Asiatic fleets.
Other recommendations are for two more
assistants to the chief of the bureau of
navigation; the repeal of the statute which