New-York tribune., 1909-02-26
NAVAL BOARD REPORTS
Sent to Congress-AdUisory Body
for Secretary Recommended.

washington Feb 25-The President to-day SUD
rnitted to Congress message transmitting TWO pre-
lirninary reports OF the commission WHICH le 81
pointed to consider the needs of the navy. Inc
commission recommends advisory oooy Tor the
Secretary This advisory body, the commission
SAYS should be selected from the class upon WHOM
will fail in war the responsibility for results
The commission is unable to report on the SUD
iect of navy yards required by strategic consio-
ere+ion in wartime and for maintaining meet III
constant readiness for during peace, owing 70
the limited time it has available 1t recommends
that the subject be referred to JOINT army anu
navy commission, and accordingly the President
has appointed Rear Admirals Mahan, sperry ana
Wainwright and Captain Winsow OF the navy
and Major General Bell and Brigadier Generals
Wotherspoon and Marshall, Of the army 70 report
on the subject.
As regards individual responsibility advice, it
is suggested that the Secretary of the Navy noi-
nate to the President the officer whom ne deems
best fitted to command the great Meet IN case oI
war, and that this officer. irrespective OF his
seniority should be head of the advisory oedy ana
should be the responsible adviser OF the Secretary
An essential principle in the constitution OF snch
an advisory body the commission says Is that me
majority should be the active list ana shouIu
go afoat at not infrequent intervals: and, spe-
cihcally the head of the body. the prospective
commander in chief.t should during the summer
months take command of the concentrated oattie-
ship force for manouvres, target nrlng anu
practice.
of the Secretary Of the Navy divide civil and mill
tary the word 'civiT' corresponds largely TO the
activities known as technical; and the report states
there Is no reason apparent why the same ITln-
ciple Of undivided immediate responsibility should
not be realized in the department in two chef suo-
ordinates responsible the for military super
vision the other for technical supervision and FOR
all information and advice given to the Secretary
under these two heads.
The selection of the chief technical assistant 20
the Secretary II is said. might be made from the
recognized technical experts OF the navy III u7
r,,reaus Of constructions ordnance and steam eng-
neerng or q competent civilian engineer OF ~ Haf0,
architect might be appointed Second Assistant
ssocratarv Of the Navy under whom the four tech
nicaI bureaus could be cO-ordtnated-
There should be no check change OF metnod
IN expanding from a state of peace to state OF
7.ar concludes the commission This is not mill
tarisrn IL is simple business principle, based upon
the fart that success in is the only return the
nAople and the nation can get from the investment
of many millions in the building and maintenance
Of great navy the report says
In asking Congress to give its very earnest con-
Alteration to the report the President says 1hat "
their essence these principles amount TO deciara-
ton that the navy should be treated not WIN We"
70 av special OF local interest, but from the stand
pon Of the interest Of the whole country and tnat
all other considerations should be suoordnated 10
I,eeping # in the highest condition of military EN-
ciencv for II must be prepared for war or else II
ie useless and II cannot be prepared for war un-
less a1v-avs in the highest state Of military eHi-
ciencv-
The commission will submit final report to sup
plen,ent and define the general principles iaid
down. This the President probably will submit 10
Congress before adjournment