The Sentinel=record., 1915-01-26
REAR ADMIRAL KNIGHT POINTS OUT MANY DEFlCIE IENclEs IN
 THE ORGANIZATION.
NAVY IS NOT ON WAR FOOTING
Declares We Are Lacking in Essen. tlal Facilities For the Care and Preservation of Our Ships and in Efficient Organization.

New York, Jan. 25.-Creation of a
 council for national defense. for
 which bill already is before con.
 gress and establishment of a division
 Of strategy and operations in the
 navy department were advocated by
 Rear Admiral Austin NJ. Knight.
 president of the naval war college at
 Newport R. I. in an address before the Efficiency Club, here tonight.
 There can he no question that the existing organization of the navy de-
 partment is inadequate and would
 break down under the strain of
 war, the rear admiral said. "A navy
 has one excuse for existing and only one-that it should always be ready
 to strike on the minute and with every element of power concentrated behind its blow for the defensce of the country.
 Tt is a singular fact that the or ganization of the navy department takes no account of this relation of the navy to war. War is one thing for which no arrangement is made. There are seven bureaus in the de- partment, each with clearly defined duties, but in all the elaborate legis- lation creating these bureaus and de- fining their duties there is not word about duty of keeping the navy in readiness for war or preparing plans for war; or conducting war after 1t begins. There would be a certain el- ement of comedy in this if there were not so many elements of possible tragedy This is probable great de- feet in the efficiency of the navy. It could be remedied by creation of a division of strategy and operations, preferably not co-equal with the pres. ent bureaus, but superior to them and standing between them and the secretary It would correspond more or less closely with the general staff of the army and the first sea lord of the British admiralty 1 am not advo- eating reorganization that would in any way reduce the authority of the secretary.
 The creation of this office would provide policy for the navy insur- ing unity of effort and shaping plans toward the proper end of all our ef- forts-p preparedness for war.
 We need a policy broader thal our naval policy and including it. This must be national policy, deal Ing with both the army and the navy, and bringing the broadest statesman ship as well as the highest knowledge 10 bear upon national defense. It's must come from the high est authority in the land, executive and legislative. X
 This points to a council of na. tional defense for the creation of which a bill is already before con- gress. In such a council, with tho president of the United States at it's head, we would have the last word in the coordination of national re- sources for national defense.
 There is much about the navy that is splendidly efficient. But, as a whole, it is far less efficient than it ought to be. We are lacking in that harmonious composition of the fleet which is needed to give every ele- ment of it the support it needs. We are lacking in absolutely essential facilities for the care and preserva- tion of our ships and in an efficient organization of the personnel.
 'l ask you to picture the effect of condition where young officer graduating from the naval academy. full of spirit and enthusiasm, finds himself confronted with the prospect of promotion to the grade of lieuten- ant at the age of g years
 The policy of economy first" Rear Admiral Knight said, had been ap- piled to naval expenditures. The pro- gram advocated by the general board if followed, he said would have pro- vided 1T battleships built and build
 ing in 1914 but 1t has not been fol- lowed and the country has 37 battle ships, He laid emphasis upon the ne- cessity for auxiliaries, such as fuel ships and scouts.
 "A fleet without fuel ships is crip- pied and one without scouts is blind" he said "To send fleet thus blind and crippled into hostile waters would be to invite destruction.v