The sun., 1908-09-14

successfully stood every test placed upo
It,. Nothing could DO further from th
truth. In every great crisis special ma
ohinery has had TO be placed In operatio
to carry tho navy through its difficulties
At the outbreak Of the civil war the Hon
Gideon welles. who justly earned an envi
able reputation for his ability as Secre
tary Of the Navy. obtained by urgent
recommendation to Congress the services
Of Lieutenant Fox. who had resigned from
the navy. as Assistant Secretary. anc
made him responsible. under the Secretary
for the administration Of the Navy Dc.
partment in all that pertained to military
efficiency.
At the outbreak Of the Spanish war. ir
1898. board styled -war board con-
sisting OF three senior officers Of the line,
was hastily convened by the Secretary Of
the Navy to perform the duty assigned To
Lieutenant Fox during the civil war. On
both Of these occasions the navy was en-
tirely unprepared with plans Of campaign
or with the data necessary for plans. A,
the present time, thanks to the faithful
and intelligent work Of the General Board.
the essential data and general plans OF
campaign are on file. corrected TO date.
In the recent war had tho navy OF
Spain been better trained and had II been
directed with moro strategic ability the
glaring and Inherent faults Of the present
Navy Department organization would
have been disastrousiy developed.
The Navy Department now stands in
Its organization precisely az did the War
Department In 1898. The unhappy ex-
perience Of the War Department during
the Spanish war promptly led to Its re-
organization. by which the military re-
sponsibility for the preparation Of the
army for war is centralized and f1ed
upon the line Of the army. the men who
arc responsible for its efficiency In action;
they are now given the administrative
authority. under tho Secretary Of War.
to make 1t efficient. and II they fail In
their duty they can Justly be held re-
sponsible.
And 30 1t should be in the Navy De-
partment; the line Of the navy, under the
Secretary Of the. Navy. should be held
responsible for the military efficiency OF
the feet and should DO given the admin
istrative authority under the Secretary
to coordinate and control the work OF
the several bureaus In all that relates to
military efficiency. to promptly correct
defects and to inaugurats changes when
needed. Under such system the bu-
reaus would soon realize that ours Is not
q navy in which efficiency can be sacri.
foed to promote bureau and corps inter-
ests or prestige; that It Ia not bureau
cratic navy. but the American navy, in
which al hands must work for the fight-
ing efficiency and prestige Of the feet.
The present troubles OF the Navy De-
partment are due to it's indefensible I'D .
ministrative organization. and they will
not end. but win increase with the inoresse
Of the navy until the Department ID or
ganissd on basis Of military RESPONSE
biiity by which. under tho Secretary,
the administrative authority a. well a.
the responsibility is placed where II
logically and fairly belongs. with the line
tho man who command and light the
ships and squadrons In sotion. They
should, under the Secretary. control the
design. preparation and equipment Of the
heet. for upon tho day of battle the re-
sponsibility for the efficiency OF the feet
and the result Of the aotion-a supreme
responsibility that may involve the whole
future Of the nation-is absolutely fixed
for all time upon the flag officers and Cap
tains in command.
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHT.
WASHINGTON, September ~.