The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-29
GREAT FLOTILLA
OF SUBMARINES
PLANNED BY U. s.
Secretary Daniels Appoints
Capt. A. w. Grant to Take
Up the Work.
NAVAL OFFICERS ARE
PLEASED BY OUTLOOK

WASHINGTON. May sS-rmportan,
changes In the organization Of the Navy
Department that foreshadow q central
ization Of military authority. thus pro-
viding an gem for the coordination OF
the nghting units Of the feet. are abou,
to be effected by Secretary Daniels.
The determination Of Mr.. Daniels 70
establish the American navy upon a
modern basis. comparable in some re-
.pects with the Admiralty systems of
foreign Powers. became known. to-day
coincident with the announcement that
Mr.. Daniels has detailed Capt. A. w.
Grant. now In command Of the battle
chip Texas. to TAX charge Of the SUBJ
marine hotllas. built and building. with
Instructions to do all in his power to
develop such weapons Of war to the
highest possible state Of efnciency.
The action taken by Secretary Daniels
amounts to Official recognition Of sub
marines a. among the most efficient
weapons Of warfare and 10 accepted as
Indicating . purpose on tho part Of this
Government 70 enlarge materially its
notfla of such boats. both In the Allan.
10 and Pacific.
The Next Step.
while ofhcial announcement Of the
~ has not been made II may be said
- as&hNSttu Ahss sh> 80 - -
= naval reorganization will be a transfer
IN large part Of the duties now per-
formed by me Aid for Material to the
once Of Chief Of Operations. a post Gre
sted BY the last naval act.
Il y The duty Of Admiral Benson. the
new chief OF operations. 20 effect tina,
coordination between the Department and
the feet and the lighting units o. the
service that Admiral Fiske told the
House Committee on Naval Affairs had
been lacking in the navy
Admiral Benson's duties as the mill
tsry adviser of the executive head o,
the Department will be further enlarged
BY the transfer to his Jurisdiction Of the
duties now performed in the office OF
aid for material.
Naval officers who have heretofore
lanented the absence OF a definite policy
In the ~upbullding OF the navy ard the
development Of the fighting side OF the
service are now more optimistic over
the future of the a W thar they have
been at any time since the present Ad.
ministration came into power.
They appear 10 be OF the opinion that
a. n result OF recent accidents 70 sub
marines and other vessels of war the
Administration has at last come to a
realization Yhut tho ,,nS.x. - ,,, "a, N.
good shape as they formerly believed.
Capt. Grants Pia ms.
IN the discharge OF his duties over
submarines Capt. Grant will spend a
part OF his time in the Department, study
Ing designs. lie will also devote atten-
ton TO the submarine afoat and make
frequent trips OF inspection TO yards
where the boats are under construction
and repair.
II VIII he his duty further to see to Il
mat requests for repairs and better
nents get prompt attention instead of
being ignored. as has happened in some
Instances In the past. In detailing Capt.
Grant for this duty Secretary Daniels
has exhibited "A disposition to delegate
expert work to trained experts instead
Of attempting to exercise such functions
NN''h-H his " Vfiitt III nv beDdIl-
ment.
The innovations which Secretary
Daniels is now accepting from his ad-
visers are rapidly creating a General
Starr such as other navies OF great
Powers have.
Secretary Daniels does not like the
Term General STAFF" believing that IL
smacks of "militarism." but neverthe-
less no has accepted plans that CON
template the consolidation OF the
strategical work of the navy in the
Bureau OF Operations. This is a con-
summation for which laval officers and
big navy" men outside of the service
have been working for Year,.
Al the outset Of his duties Capt.
Grant will devote the greater part OF
his tim TO a study OF submarine de-
velopment. Commander Stirling. COM
nander Of the Atlantic notilla. will &C:
as his assistant.
Capt. Grant was in Washington to-day
and had a long conference with Secretary
Daniels and Admiral Benson. Upon
ihs completion of the conference Mr..
Daniels announced that in pursuance
NJ the policy Of developing to the ut
most the submarine d~efences he had
selected Capt. Grant to carry on that
work,
Mr.. DanieIs's statement.
While Capt. Grant will be in i'm
mediate command of the Atlantic no
MA he will also have general super
vision OF the submarines In the Pacific
and other parts OF the world. in so far
as the general policy of the develop
ment and organization is concerned
said Mr.. Daniels.
W are determined TO put every un,t
NJ he submarine fotilla in first class
condition to perform all of the func-
tons for which It Is designed. In car
ry'ng out this policy existing defects
viii he studied and the necessary reme-
dies applied.
Capt, Grant will keep In close touch
With the various bureaus, the thief OF
Naval Operations and the Secretary
from whom he will receive every pos
sfble assistance in order that no time
may he lost in carrying out the wishes
OF the Secretary In regard TO the de-
velopment OF the submarines
Mr.. Daniels added that he desired for
this detail an officer OF high rank and
wide experience, both afiOat and ashore,
and that Capt. Grant met all require
ments In these regards.
Capt. Grant will have large powers
In the construction work and the de.
velopment OF the submarine notilla and
It's organization, so as to bring II ur
to the maximum state of efficiency" said
Secretary Daniels.
Capt. Grant was graduated from the
Naval Academy In 1877. He Is one Of
the senior Captains Of the navy. beins
fourth on the list. He will he examined
Tor promotion 10 the grade. Of Rear Ad-