Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-26
Rear Admiral Says Naval
Forces Are. Utterly I'M
prepared for War.
MANY DEFICIENCIES
Advocates Creation of a
Council for National
Defense; Other Needs.

NEW YORK, Jan. 25.-Creation OF
" council for national defense,
for which a 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.
II. l., In an address before the Eff
ficiency club here tonight.
There can be 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 1t should always be ready to
strike on the minute and with every
element OF power concentrated behind
its blow for the defense OF the coun-
try.
at Is a singular fact that the organ
ization 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 department,
each with clearly defined duties, but
in all the elaborate legislation Great
ing these bureaus and defining their
duties there Is not a word about duty
Of keeping the navy In readiness for
war or preparing plans for war, or
conducting war after Ii begins. There
would be a certain element of comedy
I'm this IT. there were not so many le-
ments OF possible tragedy
Favors Efficiency Board.
"This is the great defect in the ef-
fiency Of the navy 1t could be rem
edled by the creation of a division
of strategy and operations, preferably
not co-equal with the present bureaus,
but superior TO them and standing be-
tween them and the secretary. II
would correspond more or less closely
with the general staff OF the army
and the first sea lord OF the British
admiralty. l am not advocating re-
organization that would I'm any way
reduce the authority OF the secretary.
The creation OF this office would
provide policy for the navy lnsuring
unity of effort and shaping plans to-
ward the proper end of all our eff
forts-preparedness for war.
1--WE need policy broader than
our naval policy and including II. This
must be a national policy dealing
with both the army and the navy and
bringing the broadest craftsmanship
as well as the highest knowledge to
bear upon national defense. Its enun.
citation must come from the highest
authority In the land, executive and
legislative.
This points TO a council Of ma
tional defense for the creation Of
which a bill Is already before CON
gress In such a council, with the
president OF the United States at its
head, we would have the last word in
the Coordination Of national resources
for national defense.
Some Weak Points.
"There is much about the navy that
is splendidly efficient. But. as
whole. II Is far less efficient than Il
ought to be. We are lacking In that
harmonious composition Of the fleet
which Is needed to give every element
OF II the support II needs We are
lacking In absolutely essential faclli-
ties for the care and preservation OF
our ships and In an efficient organlza-
ton Of the personnel.
II ask you TO picture the effect OF
a condition where a 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 SO years"
The policy OF economy first Rear
Admiral Knight said. had been applied
to naval expenditures. The program
advocated BY he general board, II fol-
lowed. he said. would have provided
az battleships built and building In
1914. hut II has not been followed and
the country has 81 battleshlps. He
laid emphasis upon the necessity for
auxiliaries. such as fuel ships and
scouts.
"a fleet without fuel ships is Grip
pied and one without scouts is blind,
he said. ITO send a fleet thus blind
and crippled into hostile waters would
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