The Washington herald., 1909-02-28
MILD REFORM URGED
Report of Navy Reorganiza-
ton Board Submitted.
PRESIDENT INDORsEs CHANGE
Findings of Special Commission
Recommend Two Advisory Councils
10 Aid Secretary and Provide for
Retention of Present Bureau Sys-
tem-COnservafive Plan Outlined.

The President yesterday sent message
70 Congress introducing the report Of
the commission on naval organization
outlining system Of conducting The
department.
The President expresses his obligation
70 Justice Moody and his associates OF
the commission. and adds. in part:
i invite your attention to the sound
and conservative character OF this re-
port It is IN full accord with American
policy, because Il recognizes the complete
supremacy Of the civil power as regards
the military no less than the civil or
manufacturing side Of naval adminIstra-
ton. Nothing drastic is recommended as
to the bureaus or other agencies by
means Of which the purely business al
fairs Of the Navy Department are now
administered These are simply co-ordi-
mated and brought under the general con-
troll OF the Secretary in such manner as
to obtain unity OF effort and action.
Essential Naval Needs.
The recommendation for the creation
Of the two councils, the Secretary-s gen
erai council and his military council. are
based upon the fundamental and ali es-
sential propositions that a navy exists.
and ought 20 exist. only for war alone,
for the efficiency OF the navy in obtain
ing and guaranteeing peace depends alb
solutely upon its evident efficiency for
war. Preparations for war can only be
thorough and compl4te If the Secretary
Hc
and the same advisers IN time Of peace
as in tine Of war
The purposed plan has this object in
view. II should be remembered that Per
lection OF organization and training and
perfect preparedness cost no more than
slipshod ineficiency IN so spending money
as 70 disregard. OF even prevent OF fui-
pede, proper training OF preparedness.
The plan outlined does not imply any
greater expenditure Of money than Al
present. Il provides merely that the
money should be spent wisely instead OF
as al present spending It 50 that a Ger
/ tain proportion Is wasted IN friction OF
in useless work
Training and preparation are essential
elements OF success in war. II is neces-
sary 10 have the best ships and 10 have
sufficient number OF them. but the num-
Der and character Of ships viii no. neces-
sarily bring victory Efficiency and or
ganizatiOn in personnel must be the main
dependence IN obtaining victory where
there IS even an approximate equality in
material.
TO supplement and finish the work
OF this commission. another commission
must eventually De designated. 70 take
up the proposed plan and complete il as
10 details; bus no plans can be satisfac-
tory II there IS deviation from the
essential military principles specified IN
this report
Principles Are sound.
These principles are those all sound
/ naval experts have come 10 recognize as
fundamental I call your attention 70 The
/ fact that the commission whose COZ
clusions laid before you was composed
OF FIVE rear admiraIs. two ex-Secretaries
OF the Navy. an ex-membe- OF the House
OF Representatives, who throughout his
term Of service IN the House was one OF
the most able and resolute champions
/ the navy has ever had in Congress
i The report provides among other things
for the retention In It's entirety Of the
] ~ GSNA-A oeAA ce-Nt SAE-AAs Ut Win aQlL-
tional personnel Its powers, but not It's
I duties, have been cUTtailed
Five divisions are recommended, under
/ the Secretary and Assistant Secretary. as
I follows.
First division in charge Of q civilian
and having supervision OF yards and
docks
/ Second division. chief OF the division OF
naval operations as principal military
adviser 20 the Secretary and TO be a flag
! officer.
Flag Officers to Lead.
I Flag officers are to be chiefs OF the
/ third. fourth, and fifth divisions. which
are the division OF personnel. inspection.
and technical division. respectively.
/ The chief OF the FIVE divisions are 10
form the SecFeta-ys general council Tbs
/ chiefs OF the second, third. and fourth
divisions are TO form the military council
Of which the chief OF naval operations
is 10 be the sole responsible adviser