The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-11-10
TORPEDO DIVISION
PLANNED FOR NAVY
Growth Makes 1t Necessary
to Have Submarines
Under One Head.
Commander Marsh Is DeSig-
mated for Supervision
of FlotillaS.

AS a recognized necessity, resulting
from the rapid growth of the American
navy which is taking rank as second
II tonnage among the navies OF the
world, Secretary Metcalf and Rear Al
miral BrownsOn, chief Of the Bureau
OF Navigation. have decided upon the
organization of a special submarine and
torpedo division of the navy TO be un-
der the direct supervision Of one head.
For this duty Commander Charles I.
Marsh has been designated, and ne IS
being provided with quarters IN the
bureau of Navigation TO take up the
work.
In establishing the submarine division
tie. United States navy is following in
the steps of the British navy, which
some time ago placed all its submarines
and torpedo boats under a distinct
head, separate from the remainder OF
the vessels. In his new duty Com
rander Marsh will WORK Immediately
under the direction of the Bureau OF
Navigation, except when the vessels Of
his division are assigned 10 the At
lantic fleet, when they would coIne IN
der the direct command of Rear Ad-
miral Evans.
Independent of Floating Command.
IS Admiral Evans viii leave for the
Pacific shortly, the torpedo division viii
be entirely independent OF any other
floating command. Commander Marsh's
duties viii be mostly on snore, bOtn
al the Navy Department and at the
sea headquarters Of the different flo
ullas at Newport, r. I. The desired
operations Of the new division svill not
be in complete working order fer some
time, however. owing to the shortage
Of officers for command ~ the YES
sells. BY next February. however when
the present senior class of the Naval
academy will be graduated, the de-
partment viii be able to have full
quota of ensigns and junior ueutenants
fer ship commands and hrst heutenants
for flotilla commands.
Flotillas in Commission.
The first submarine hotula, composed
Of the Porpoise. Shark, and Plunger
with the Nina as tender. has Just been
! placed In commission at Newport, with
/ Lieut.. Charles 2. Nelson IN command,
/ the vessels having all been overhauled
and repaired. The second Iotllla also
1 has been placed in commission at New
I port, under command of Lieut. Charles
+. Courtney This fiotina is composed
/ OF the Viper and Cuttlefish. with the
/ Hist as tender. These two submarines
/ have been completed but short time.
and within the next few weeks they
/ will be joined By the Octopns and Tar
rantula. which are being completed az
/ the yards of the Fore Rive shipbuild-
/ Ing Company at Quincy. Mass.
Under this division will be placed
/ the reserve torpedo boat hotiIla at Nor
/ folk. in command Of Lieut.. (. Richard
/ sen. The second and third torpedo
/ fCtillas are in the Atlantic feet at pres
/ eut but the departure Of the battle
/ ships and the second @ot!ila for the
/ Pacific coast the third dotilia Will be
/ detached, to remain at Annapolis, under
l command Of Lieut. W. G. Mitchell and
! under the special torpedo division. For
/ some time. vet, however. the duties OF
! Commander Marsh viii pertain prin-
/ orally 10 working out torpedo and sub
marine problems rather than the float
| ing organization Of the different flo
! tilIas.
! This movement is generally accepted
in naval circles TO be progressive and
! characteristic OF the BroWnsOu policy OF
/ reorganization, concentration, and en-
/ Iargemeut of floating forces