Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-07
Nays "Black Plan"

And III was an important plun--at the
time 1t WAS used. II was plan of vital
Importance.
Nayy's "Black Plan"
The navy for many years has had a
set of pians TO cover possible situations
which might develop In the Atlantic.
the Pacific. the Caribbean sea on other
open waters. These plans originated
with the general board. of which Ad-
miral Dewey was chairman until his
death In January, 1917. and wcro kept
up-to-date by frequent revision.
The plan dealing with possible hos
tilities In the Atlantic was known as
the .'Blaok plan" In February. 1917.
in it's revised and up-to-the-minute
form, 1t dealt. OF course. with tho prob
ability of war with Germany.
Go Feb. 4. the day after Bornstorn
was dismissed, the general board had
recommended In detail the principal
steps to be taken in case of war with tho
central powers--mohiIization of tho
fleet. naval districts and auxiliary
vessels: large Increase of navy and mn
rine corps personnel; nets and mines TO
guard ports and home waters asainst
submarines. arming Of merchant ships,
portant. arrange. as coon aa possible.
plans OF cooperation with the naval
forces OF the allies for the Joint proteo-
tion OF trans-Atlantic commerce and
for offensive naval operations against
the common enemy"
"Solution Of Problem
The general war plan was comprc-
hensive; special recommendations had
been made AS TO the various steps We
should take. But | wanted also def
nta statement as 10 the strategy and
general policy we should pursue upon
the declaration Of war. These studies
arc called problems" and on Febru-
AIRY 10 addressed this letter 20 the
general board.
February 10. 1917.
To. The General Board
Subject. Solution Of Problem.
I. The Department desires the gen.
oral board TO consider the following
as practicable.
Problem.
General situation--Conditionr aa at
present except that war with Germany
IL declared.
Special sltuation--The Allies do not
desire our hattleship force at present
Reauired--Navai estimate OF the sltu-
alton:
First. an TO the grand strategy dc
manded by the situations
Second, as to disposition of battleship
force
Third. as 20 the method Of assisting
in maintaining communications with
Europe. including scheme FOR cO-opera-
ton with Allies
Fourth, an to the methods uf driving
submarines from the sea
AHsume--Mobllization OF all Naval
veaseln and possibility of mobilixing
merchant Vessels as required
Josephua Daniels.
Tho board made a careful study Of
the whole situation. and "A week later
made a report covering all the matters
set forth. and nent II TO mo. with tho
following note of tranamittal:
Problem Is Solved.
Genoral Board. Navy Department.
Washington. February l., 1917,
To: Secretary OF the Navy:
Subject: solution of Problem. Black.
Reference tal Navy Department Con-
ldential Letter Of February 10. 1917.
!. In accordance with reference tal
the general board submits herewith
problem and solution based upon the
general and special situations described
in the Navy Departments instructions.
Charles J. Badger.
Such care was taken 20 keep this
document from anyone except tho Sec
retaf-v and the office OF naval opera
tions that even the general board rc-
taincd no duplicate Of il. After being
submitted TO me for approval. IL was
turned over to the chief Of naval opera
tions: all plans that had been approved
were in their custody. They were IA
miliar with their provisions and drafted
the necessary orders for carrying them
into effect. But plans were so carefully
safeguarded that only those directly
were allowed To see fhen