Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-07

with naval tactics against Germany
in Atlantic vanishes-Did Germans
steal our secrets or were they GOOD
guessers Probable solution Of mys-
terry.
BY JosEPHUs DANIELS.
Former Secretary of NaVy-1913-21-
ARTICLE %.
What became of the lost Black
plan is still a mystery. Made out by
the general board, guarded with the
greatest care, handled by the proper
authorities, it was carried into effect
and then it vanished utterly.
The discovery that one of our Sc
cret naval plans was missing came
when it was too late to have any ef-
feet on the situation. But that did
not prevent the newspapers making
the most of the sensation. especially
such as. for political reasons, had it
in for the Navy Department.
They would never have heard it was
missing. nor would we have known 1t was
missing, had we not looked 1t up for the
purpose of proving to certain clamorous
critics that we had not gone to war with
out plans. Long ago It had served Its
purpose as a plan, and, as we supposed,
had been filed away with thousands OF
other documents for purposes of record.
But there we were wrong. The plan had
not been filed away, nor could any trace
of 1t be found. To this day it has not
been found.
And it was an important plan-at the
time it was used. 1t was q plan Of vital
importance.
DEFINITION OF
BLACK PLAN"
The Navy for many years has had a
set Of plans to cover possible situations
which might develop in the Atlantic, the
Pacific, the Caribbean See or other open
waters. These plans originated with the
general board, Of which Admiral Dewey
was chairman until his death in January.
1917. and were kept up-to-date by fire.
Quent revision.
The plan dealing with possible hostil-
ities In the Atlantic was known as the
BLACK plan" In February, 1917, in its
revised and up-to-the- minute form, 1t
dealt, Of course, with the probability of
war with Germany.
On Feb 4, the day after Bernstorff was
dismissed, the general board had recon-
mended in detail the principal steps to
be taken In case Of war with the central
powers-mobilization of the feet, nav al
districts and auxiliary vessels; large in
crease Of navy and marine corps person
mel; nets and mines to guard ports and
home wateks gainst submarines. arming z
of merehant ships, and other measures,
and, ''mostz4nportant. arrange, as soon
as possibly ~ plans Of cooperation with
the navsl prces Of the allies for the joint
protection{ OF transatlantic commerce
and for offensive naval operations against
the commbn enemy"
FRAMING STRATEGY
AND WAR POLICY.
The general war plan was compre-
hensive; special recommendations had
been made as to the various steps we
should take But I wanted also a def
mite statement as to the strategy and
general policy we should pursue upon
the declaration Of war. These studies are
called problems" and on Feb. 10 1 ad-
dressed this letter to the general board :
Feb. 10, 1917.
To: The General Board,
Subject: Solution Of Ploblem.
/. The department desires the gen
eral board to consider the following
problem and submit its solution as
soon as practicable:
PROBLEM
General Situation-Conditions as at
present except that war with Ger
many is declared
Special Situation-The allies do not
desire our battleship force at pres
ent.
Required Naval estimate Of the
situation:
First, as to the grand strategy de-
manded by the situations.
Second, as to disposition Of battle
ship force.
Third, as to the method Of assist
ing in maintaining communications
with Europe, including scheme for
cooperation with allies.
Fourth, as to the methods of driv-
ing submarines from the sea.
Assume-Mobilizatio of all naval
vessels and possibility of mobilizing
merchant vessels as required.
JOSEPHUS DANIELS.
The board made a careful study of the
whole situation, and a week later made a
report covering all the matters set forth,
and sent it to me, with the following
DANIELS ADVISED
PROBLEM is SOLVED.
General Board, Navy Department,
Washington, Feb. II, 1917.
Te: Secretary of the Navy,
Subject: Solution of Problem, Black.
Reference (a) Navy Department
Confidential Letter of Feb. 10. 1917.
/ In accordance with reference (a)
the general board submits herewith
problem and solution based upon the
general and special situations de-
scribed in the Navy Departments
Instructions.
CHARLES J. BADGER.
Such care was taken to keep this doc
ument from anyone except the secretary
and the office of naval operations that
even the general board retained no du-
plicate of 1t. After being submitted to
me for approval, it was turned over TO
the chief Of naval operations; all plans
chat had been approved were in their
custody. They were familiar with their
provisions ad drafted the necessary or
ders for carrying them into effect. But
plans were so carefully safeguarded that
only those directly concerned were al
lowed to see them.
And yet In spite OF all our precau-
tions, the document containing the gen
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