Evening star., 1909-02-27
NAVY BUILT FOR WAR
Presidents Words Transmit
ting Reorganization Report.
MUST BE MADE Efficient
Necessity for Military Advisers to
the Secretary.
NOTHING ADDED TO EXPENSE
Plan of Administration as Outlined
in Report of Commission Sent
to Congress Today.
MUST BE MADE EFFICIENT
NOTHING ADDED TO EXPENSE

mends radical changes in the depart
mental system.
The Presidents letter of transmission
and the report follow:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
l send you herewith the final report
of the commission on naval reorganiza-
tion. which outlines a new departmental
system. Accompanying is the letter from
Mr. Justice Moody, sent to me in trans
mitting the report. l have expressed to
Justice Moody and his associates my pro-
found sense of obligation for the admir-
able work they have done.
l invite your attention to the sound and
conservative character of this report. 1t
is in full accord with American policy,
Tor it recognizes the complete supremacy
of the civil power as regards the mill
tary no less than the civil or manufacture
ing side of naval administration. Nothing
drastic is recommended as to the bu-
reaus or other agencies by means of
which the purely business affairs of the
Navy Department are now administered
These are simply co-ordinated and
brought under the general control Of the
Secretary in such manner as to secure
unity of effort and action. The recon-
mendation for the creation of the two
councils, the Secretary's general council
and bis military council. are based upon
tHc iuHud1HcHldI ana ail-eSSentlal prOpO-.
Sltion that a navy exists and ought only
to, exist for war and for war alone; for
the efficacy of the navy in securing and
guaranteeing peace depends absolutely
upon its evident efficiency for war. Prep
aratiOn for war can only be thorough and
complete if the Secretary has the same
expert military assistance and the same
advisers in time of peace as in time of
war. The proposed plan has this OBJ
ject in view.
No Greater Money Cost
1t should be remembered that perfection
| OF organization and training and perfect
preparedness cost no more than slipshod
| inefhclency In so spending money as to
disregard, or even prevent or impede.
| proper training and preparedness The
plan outlined does not imply any greater
expenditure of money than at present
| 1t provides merely that the money should
| be spent wisely instead of as at present
spending 1t so that certain proportion
| is wasted In friction or in needless work
Training and preparation are essential
elements of success In war. 1t is neces-
sary 10 nave the best ships and to have
| sufficient number of them: but the number
| and character of ships will not necessarily
bring victory Efficiency in organization
| and personnel must be the main depend
| ence In securing victory where there IS
even an approximate equality in material
10 supplement and finish the work of
| this commission another commission must
eventually be designated to take up the
proposed plan and complete it as to de-
| tails; but no plan can be satisfactory if
there is deviation from the essential mill
itary principles specified in this report
| Ihese principles are those which all sound
naval experts have come to recognize as
fundamental. I call your attention to the
| fact that the commission whose conclu-
| sionS l lay before you was composed Of
hve rear admirals. two ex-Secretaries Of
the Navy and an ex-member of the House
| or Representatives, who throughout his
term OF service in the House was one of
the most able and resolute champions
that the navy has ever had in Congress-
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
| The White House, February q, 1900.
Justice Moody's Report.
WASHINGTON. D. C.,
February 26, 1909
The President:
| / have the honor to transmit herewith
by direction of the commission lately
assembled by you, three reports on the
| subject of naval organization: first, the
report recommending the constitution of
military board composed exclusively of
!oh1cers of the army and navy for the pur-
tpose of considering the number location
and general facilities of the navy yards
which are required by military considera-
tfons: second. the report on the general
principles governing naval administration
organizations and third, a report show
ing an embodiment of those principles
illustrated by an outline plan of reorgani-
Zation.
which the commission has deemed it DOS
sible to undertake. and 1 am directed to
request that the military members be re-
lieved from further duty and the civilian
Very respectufully.
| WILLIAM H. MOODY
Washington, D. c., February 20. 1909.
The President:
The commission on naval reorganza- :
tion, convened in obedience to the execu-
tive communication dated January 27
1909. has the honor to submit the follow
ing broad embodiment Of the ''principles''
of naval reorganization enumerated in a
previous communication dated February
20, 1909
1t is conceded that the present organiza
ton of the Navy Department. with the
limitations which have been discussed in
the report OF this commission on the
principles" of naval reorganization, has
performed the business of the Navy De-
partment adequately Its shortcomings 6
have not been due to any deficiency in
skill or want of business capacity in ad-
ministration. but rather because the or
ganization has lacked the principle Of re-
sponsible military advice to the Secretary
The object and ultimate end of the
Navy Department are to build. arm and
equip and man the fleet in order to pre-
pare 1t for war. 1t is conceivable that in
a highly developed industrial community
like our own. the business of the Navy
Department might. under its Secretary,
be restricted TO its military duties only,
the supplies Of every nature, including the
, vessels themselves and their entire war
OUTFIT, being obtained by purchase, as has
been illustrated in certain foreign coun-
tries The predominant character and i'm
portance of efficient military counsel will
thus be appreciated.
Plan Of Reorganization.
We. therefore, beg to submit an outlined
, plan of reorganization in illustration OF
the principles of the report of the COM
mission. dated February 20, 1860, in which
, an endeavor has been made to supply the
, deficiencies to which attention has been
, directed. We. however. desire TO empha
size the expression that this is merely an
= illustration of the principles" and no
' a dsested plan
been retained. but with additional per.
sonnel. Its powers but not it's duties have
been curtailed, and ii is believed that
, The necessity for the increase in The
o superior personnel of the Navy Depart.
: ment will be obvious. 1t is illustrated ii
the growth of every industrial develop
| ment. The additional cost will be nothing
tration.
The Secretary.
The assistant secretary.
LsSr-t ii