Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-07
SAYS AMERICA
MUST PLAY GAME
REAR ADMIRAL CONVERSE
MAKES STATEMENT
Retiring Commander Shows Necessity
for Efficiency In United States
Navy to Support Expanding
Commerce
BY Associated Press.

DN HEHbNttltN itSns
wASHGNGTON, Dec. 6.-Necessary
to the efficiency Of the American navy,
I'm the opinion of Rear Admiral George
A. Converse, chief of the bureau OF
navigation, Is the Introduction into the
navy department of some military
administrative authority" to co-ordi-
nate the technical work Of the bureaus
to be responsible TO the secretary for
the organization and preparedness of
the fleet and to- advise i'm all military
matters that is the creation by law
Of q navy board or staff
In this, his last annual report, as he
retlres next May for age, Admiral Con-
verse discusses naval administration
frankly and his recommendations gain
an especial importance in the fact that
they probably will form the basis of
whatever legislation congress may en-
act to remedy alleged defects In the
organization of the department.
Willingly or unwillingly," the adj
miral says, "the nation has assumed
responsibilities, the burden of which
we may not evade
Must Play the Game
1--WE must play the game. These
responsibilities and expanding of COM
merce of increasing volume reaching
farther and farther from our shores
our long coasts fronting two oceans
and a great sea, bordering with nu-
merous wealthy cities, each a center OF
ocean borne trade, demand acute ma
tional provision and the earnest study
of possible and probable international
situa tions. The nature of these clearly
indicates the necessity for a powerful
and efficient navy, the possession OF
which is not the end, but the means,
to the all desirable end, their peaceful
solution"
-
for the navy taught by the Russo
Japanese war is the Importance of the
personnel the use of which work he
applies not only to the active fleet but
to the department. Although promi-
nence is accorded to the general board
in the new navy regulations recently
issued, Admiral Converse asserts that
while this is proper, it is not enough.
The boards status and duties should,
he thinks. be defined by law.
Highest Efficiency Demanded
The keynote of all efforts in the
navy should be efficiency" Admiral
Converse continues This must start
at the top. The chief duty of the navy
Is to fight.
Common sense dictates that the
highest naval efficiency is demanded
as never before for national success
in war, and this must come of knowl-
edge born of study, training and ex-
perience."
The admiral finds that the naval war
| college, the officers of naval intelligence
and general board each perform their
respective duties satisfactorily.
| 1T has become more and more evil
dent as the navy increases" says the
admiral, that some military adminls-
trative authority should be introduced
into the department, such authority
10 - - la..I
bureaus and be responsible to the Sec
retary for the organization and pre-
paredness of the fleet for war and to
advise in all military matters. 1t
should be its duty to initiate the steps
necessary to carry out the policy of the
DEPARTMENT as FORMULATED and directed
by the SECRETARY and under his cofi-
mand to direct the forces in carrying
out that policy.
Approves Strategy Board
1.-THE effect of a continued policy of
military administration cannot be
otherwise than beneficial to efficiency
1t is not claimed that it will prove
cure for all evils.
Changes will no doubt be required
from time to time to perfect the or
ganization but the bureau is convinced
from a study of the conditions now
existing in the service that it is neces-
Sary for the efficiency of the navy.
"Its necessity was recognized in our
last war in the form of a board which
occupied a place in the department
itself where the latest information
from all points could be laid before
it promptly and it's advice sought and
acted upon with dispatch.
"In a really serious war the demands
of necessity will compel the formation
of some organization for the adminis-
| ton brrr ~
may be called. It's creation and organ
ization should not be delayed until war
forces action" a..