South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-08
PROBLEM Is SOLVED.
General Board, Navy Department,

ing note of tranSmittal:
PROBLEM Is SOLVED
General Board, Navy Department,
Washington Feb. IT, 1917.
To: Secretary Of the Navy.
Subject Solution of Problem, Black
Reference (a) Navy Department Confidential
Letter Feb 10, 1917
l. In accordance with reference (a) 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 to keep this document from
anyone except the secretary the office
eratons even general board retained no dup-
cate of it, After being submitted for approval,
turned chief operations; all
plans that had been approved in their cusOry.
They familiar with their provisions and drafted
necessary orders carrying them effect
plans carefully safeguarded that only those
rectly concerned were allowed to see them.
yet in spite of all precautions, the docu-
ment containing the general boards Solution Of Prob
lem. Black" gone
The most thorough search failed to find any trace Of
1t.
long it been missing? No could answer.
NOT STOLEN BY GERMAN SPY.
The newspapers limited that it stolen by
some German spy Such the obvious suspicion.
The suggestion that it might have been stolen by
some German spy given no credence in the de-
partment. Nothing is so carefully guarded war
plans and far we know the Germans never got
hold of any of ours, although early i'm the
Der things occurred which made wonder how
much they did know. For example:
Movements vessels and orders relating thereto
who issued orders and TO the the vessels Great
pains taken prevent the Germans from learning
about the first desroyers sent over. They sailed under
sealed orders, and until ne was 90 miles at set and
broke the seal the commander Of the flotla
knew its destination.
Yet the day before the division arrived German sub
marines the first time in months sowed mines all
across the entrance TO Queenstown, and the German
papers printed the Of desroyers arrival be
fore it published in England America. The lat
ter is easily accounted for as it several days
before announced that they had reached British
port but The mine laying led to believe that the
enemy had. in way, learned they were coming.
When first troop conveys went 20 Europe they
were attacked far and Admiral Sims cabled
that ii practically certain that the enemy knew
submarine TO intercept before junction with destroy
ers Though Sims afterward discounted the idea that
about it at the time for he sent me two cabegrams
about il in three days.
! GERMANS "DOPED IT OUT"
But whatever the Germans might have learned about
our ship movements the other side, I confident
that they did not get any information from this side
Of the Atlantic The navy had control Of all radio
every cable scanned and the destroy
er and transport captains did not know their destina
ton until they well Ny opinion
is that the Germans who knew OF Gen. Pershng's ar
rival in England which occurred the day after our
first conveys sailed inferred that troops being
dispatched and merely 'doped out the probable route
The mine laying at Queenstown was. likely not
simply a coincidence.
And so am satisfied in my own mind that the miss
ing plan. the Problem Solution. Black" viii yet b,
found carefully-toO carefully-hidden away tn,
navy department. have believed liz stolen
or that any way fell into German hands.
4 The explanation Of its vanishing. I think will b
found quite simple and viii show that il was du
Ito over-anxiey to preserve the plan ia
crecy.
/ As have said. but one copy made Of IT, II wa
lprobably given into the Of Capt. Noiney Chase
lchef assistant Admiral Benson, a man 10 whom
matters OF the utmost importance were frequentl
Icommitted. Capt. Chase was exceedingly able ans
lunsparingly devoted officer. It unlikely tha
he put the Black plan" problem away some secre
drawer cabinet conhdIng in where
iabouts
TOOK SECRET TO GRAVE.
| Then in June 1917 out with almost ceasIes
work he died-died suddenly. So as we know tn
Black plan" problem never by any one afte
the death OF Capt Chase He probably took the secre
of its hiding place with him. Certainly. no enem
Learned il long IL was locked in his brain
one Of latest desroyers is named after hin-th
l"Chase" He merited the honor, and glad TO pa
that tribute 10 his memory.
Copyright, 1921, by John F. Ollie. Copydright b
National Newspaper Service Copyright in Crea
Britain Canada and throughout France All rights re
served including translation into foreign including tn
Scandinavian Unauthorized reprintng for any purpos
forbidden.
Another article by former Secretary will b
printed Wednesday,.