The National tribune., 1908-03-12
THE NAVAL IMBROdLIO.
All The Naval Officers Now Rassiss
Themselves lsto Two camps-A Battle
Royal Betwees Two Crest Boards.

OfhcerS IN the Navy Department are
now ranged in two camps as one result
OF the Senate committees investigation
Of Henry Reuterdahrs charges that bat
tleships are effectively constructed.
Feeling is very high. Secretary Metcaf
has been drawn into it. to the extent
that he has been subjected to sharp talk
from veteran Senator'S within few days
for permitting conditions SO subversive
Of discipline.
There has been no such condition Of
affairs among the unusually well-discf-
plined officers OF the Navy for a genera
ton. The investigation into the methods
of designing and building ships has, in
fact, developed into a war between the
chiefs of Navy Bureaus and their re-
spective fOllowings, on the one hand,
and members of the General Board. OF
course, both sides are rallying for the
fight. Up to date the Bureau chiefs seem
TO have the best of things before the
committee. But the other contingent,
headed by Commander William s. Sims.
expert in target practice and President
Roosevelt's Naval Aid, are having an
inning this week. A number of witnesses
have been summoned at Commander
Sims's request, and will be questioned
exhaustively.
The Board ON Construction.
What Is known as Board on Con-
StIuctioli WIS put OH tne ueIeHSlVe as
to certain portions of the Reuterdahi
article. 1t is composed of five members
Rear-Admiral Converse, who was re-
tanned there after he had relinquished
other active Navy duty, and RearAd
mirals Charles w. Rae, Capps. Newton
E. Mason and Cowles. Admiral Rae
heads the Bureau of Steam Engineering
and Admiral Mason the Bureau Of Ord
nance. All of the five except Admiral
Rae have testified before the Senate
Committee. These five officers have a
final say about all matters of warship
construction, and frequently modify or
disregard recommendations that are
made to them by what is known as "the
General Board"
The General Board has no specific
authority Of law for existence. but the
Navy Department, with the approval of
the President, designates five officers to
serve upon it. They are at present Ad-
miral Dewey, who has become a very
old man; the President Of the Naval
War College, the Chief OF the Bureau of
Navigation, the Chief Intelligence Off
Ger and a Secretary of the rank of Lieu
nant-Commander. Something like a
half dozen officers are also detailed for
special duty with the board, but not as
members of it.
The General Board.
The General Board, for example, as
one feature of its exter We delibera-
tions. makes up program of Navy con-
StructiOn for each year. 1t recommends
the building of a half dozen new bat
tleships. This recommendation goes to
the Board on Construction, which ap-
proves perhaps only half that number.
So there is constant friction between the
two boards, each trying to have its way
with the Secretary of the Navy.-TS7-@
Officers In sympathy>with the, General
Board are credited with having stirred
tive battleship construction, an ineffi-
cient organization of the Navy Depart
ment. Charges of defective construc-
ton hit at every member of the Board
on Construction. Charges against the
Bureau system were intended in some
part for the same Bureau officers. There
has been a new turn with reference to
the latter matter, however. Some Sena-
tors. among them Mr.. Hale. believe the
Bureau system, with certain modifica-
tions for the better Capitalization of au-
thority and responsibility, would be sat-
isfactory. They also believe the General
conflicting official body, and should be
abolished.
AS far as the Navy officers are con-
cerned, their battle is now chiefly be-
tween the adherents of the General
Board and the adherents of the Board
on Construction. The investigation of
the general subject has been welcomed
because of the interest it would quicken
in Navy matters. But the developments
to date have also brought about demor-
alization in the Department, the two
factions now being intent upon fighting
it out to the bitter end. ...sa,4 s....