The Washington times., 1908-11-28
ASKS ROOT TO HELP
REORGANIZE NAVY
President Roosevelt Wants
Volunteer Commission to
Investigate Conditions.
CONTINUED from First Page.)


Not being a technical person. he can
not be expected to form a judgment:
so he refers the question to the bureau
Of construction and repair, which neces-
saTily must have 10 do with such mat
tiers.
The officers Of this bureau being
human. incline 10 resent criticism or
their work. They regard that vessel
perhaps, as their masterpiece. They
take no stock IN the criticisms: and
the reply to the Secretary Of the Navy
with a deluge Of technical reassurances
is calculated to leave him hOpelessIy
befuddled, Between his conflicting ad-
yiseTs he doesn't know which 20 prefer,
and so does nothing
That IS the present situation At
least it is the situation as outlined by
the naval critics The President believes
there is something wrong, and would
ike TO see the whole matter inyesti-
gated.
The general stan remedy for this con
djtiOu would work somewhat after the
teshion Of the British admiralty board
This Is a group Of advisers OF the Sec
rotary OF the Navy, naval officers fresh
from sea service, thoroughly competent
10 pass on technical questions.
Includes Flag Officers.
In the British organization it included
the flag officer who Is the chief naval
adviser and is responsible for the per
sonnet the flag officer who Is respon-i
slble for material; the flag officer or
captain who j. responsible for supplies.
and the financial secretary familiar
with all financial details. This board
would be called in to sit on the com
plant from the Bureau Of Navigation;
II would consider that complaint from
the standpOints OF navigation. Of battle
service, or heet movement. OF financial
expense. and OF practicability IN con-
strucJiOn. Instead OF having the crit
cism or the navigation bureau passed
upon by the officers IN charge OF con
slFuctons and by no others, that criti-
ClSIn would be subjected 10 analysis
from all the points OF view. The con
clusion would be reported 20 the Secre- /
tary or the Navy. and would become
the basis for issuing the necessary or
der.
Thus all branches Of the service would
be cO-Ordinated. through the supervision
Of this general stan of experts in naval
management. At present there IS no
way OF doing anything Of the kind in
he American navy
Would Keep Out Politics.
Adoption Of the general star system ]
would be expected. among other things. |
greatly 10 reduce the probability Of E,oU- /
tics getting into the navy. There II /
constant and increasing complaint on
this score II the naval critics couId ,
have their way. the navy yards al !
Portsmouth. Charleston, and New Or
leans would PROBABLY be abolished. But 2
the Senators who re present these yards ,
VIII not permit such step. They IRE !
looked upon as pOliu al navy yards. re- (
ceiving political appropriations. They
add little 10 the efficiency OF the navy: /
indeed, the critics insist that they posi- /
lively detTact from IT, But short Of a 4
general ST II organization, which would
nave the moral courage and the stand i
ING 20 make and secure consideration Of 4
Ira sill
sH.aH ehance Of lettering conditions.
Ohe or the gravest criticisms against !
the present naval organization ii thar
NOBODY Is charged win planning for
the conduct OF wars
This would seen to be 4 most I'm /
portant business.
one part Of the tu1ceio1 OF a general /
stau would be 20 pan campaigns; TO /
yatCulate me conditions mat would 4
nave 10 De met IN all conceivable cam
palgns; 10 be prepared win schemes !
OF mobilization and mauacemont Ct /
the neet IN any eyep -LaiJy. Naval Ru- i
IhoEIes urge tia" argument ought not /
10 De required t. Co1v.nce everybody (
that such Irsu.v IsdOus.y important !
work must at all lines be carried On {
The navy's ultimate business IS to ficht. /
There should &c a plan faT the night.
Navy in Same Fix.
At the beginning y he civil war tie /
navy was IN The same unfortunate con-
diuon. IN this respect, as now. A Dis 4
unguiShed former officer OF tia navy I
was called In as naval advisar To tie .
Secretary OF tie Navy and performed /
much the same functions as would be /
expected OF q ECls-Il stan Al The
opening OF tho Spanish War. Captain
Mahan WAS Cabled 20 come home from .
Italy for Ike service. 1t IS manifest. 1
say the critics. shat such conduc- Of a 7.
great arm OF the oI3ual defense Is /
as an assurance mat ST all times thCEe /
Will be guarantee Of eE. Client man
agement
The British navy's general stan sys-
TEN IS the Development % centuries (
OF experience Reversing American OK
peTieuce, the British had a general 1
naval stan but no general st ~ for the /
army. After the Boer war f. was rec
Ognized that the British army must be ,
reOrganiZed. TIE naval organization
was made the model on which the new
army scheme was bl'ited.
II Is now in Mai 20 apply - the
American navy the general ste n plan
OF the army, iIst as the British sp-
piled TO their amy the organization OF
their admiralty. J