Evening star., 1923-01-22
Plan Calls for Close Con-
tact With Work of
Army Instructors.
OFFICERS STUDY
PROPOSED CHANGE
Ship and Shore York to
Supplement Courses
1t academy.


ton by the department.
When fully effective these plans
will establish a departmental policy
that will mean in effect that all the
higher commands of the Navy will be
filled by officers who have had the
training given there in strategy and
tactics which il is now possible for
only a comparative few to receive.
They provide also for auxiliary
schools that will enable junior Of
:icers to get a thorough grounding in
this postgraduate" training. so that
in years to come all commissioned Of
flcers will have a part at least OF TINS
additional training 10 supplement that
received at the Naval Academy
Plan Drawn Up.
At q conference called on December
Il by Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
of ranking officers of the Navy.
broad outline of the needed changes
was decided upon. Since then
tentative plan covering this has been
drawn up by Rear Admiral Pratt a
member OF the general BOARD anu
himself a graduate of both the Naval
and Army War Colleges. 1t PROVIDES
for an extension of the war college
and the training methods in use there
so broad as TO extend the peneIieS "a ~
practically the entire commissioned
personnel.
This plan is now under considera-
ton by all the participants OF the
conference. and II is understood that
As soon as they have completed their
study Of il the department VIII take
il up for immediate official sanction
and approval SO that il can be put
into effect with as little delay as pos
siblc. =;
,-iewed bv the service as official rec
ocnition of the vital Importance OF
the War College not only TO the NAVY.
but to the country through It's direct
hearing on the national defense. IN
cicative of the great Importance ne
attached to the movement, secretary
Roosevelt. in calling the recent con
ference. included the CHIEF or opeIa
tons the commander-in -chief or the
fleet, the chief OF the bureau OF navi-
gation, the major general command
ant of the Marine Corps, the presi-
dent OF the War College, the superin,
tendent of the Naval ACADEMY aho
Rear Admiral Pratt, a member OF the
general board.
The ground on which the recon-
mendations are based is clearly out
lined 1t is pointed out that thor
ough knowledge of a nations policies
and the correct conception of the
strategy necessary to secure success
in warfare are essential parts OF the
mental equipment for higher COM
mands Further. that a thorough
grounding in the principles and meth
DDS of naval strategy and tactics are
necessary componentS of the technt-
cal knowledge which should be pos
sessed by every older naval officer.
Gist OF Proposals.
In addition to this ii is shown that
sufficient knowledge to correctly in,
terpret the strategic dispositions and
tactical decisions of their leaders
should be the property of every naval
officer holding a commission, ana that
the development OF doctrine and mill
tary character is necessary through
out the service.
The proposed plan, which may face
some slight notifications. through
suggestions from the other officers
who helped frame it's outline at the
conference, before 1t is finally ap
proved by the department, is as fol-
lows:
1. There shall be war college.
situated as at present. Admission to
it shall be Selective and governed by
the fitness of an officer to attend the
courses. To determine fitness, appro-
pirate entries shall be made on an
oslcers record by the reporting sem
ior. Eligibility to attend the War
College shall begin with the upper
half OF commanders.
.. The course at the War College
shall be a one years course for the
majority Of those attending. There
is, however. 20 be a two-year class.
selected from the most promising OF
The one-year class. The work of the
second year will involve the problems
OF the higher command.
3. There shall be under the super
intendence of the president of the
Of junior officers in the principle Of
strategy and tactics and the essential
problems learned at staff college.
This college shall be known as the
Ty,, N~~- Ill IL I1
ono year. Admission is not selective.
hut shall be limited in general to Of
ficers between the upper half of the
lieutenant's list and the lower half
of the commanders list, inclusive.
l. At every shore station where
large bodies of officers are assembled
there should be organized, entirely on
the voluntary basis. schools for the
training or such officers as so desire
along the lines indicated in the course
at the Junior College.
5. The present correspondence
course emanatine from the War COL
lcse should continue along its pres
ont lines and be available for any Of
ficer, ashore or afloat, who desires to
take it
6. The school of the ship, for the
purpose Of instructing each officer in
the elementary principles of strategy
and tactics, should be considered as a
part OF the regular routine work of
each major unit of the feet. This
ficer in each ship and supervised by
the feet tactical officer.
2. At home bases, where forces Of
the Meet assemble periodically, or are
regularly stationed, as at San Diego
or Charleston, there should be estab-
lished a fleet school, for the purpose
Of instructing all officers of the force,
particularly In the problems relating
10 the force, and also in those joint
fleet problems relating to the methods
OF war afioat. These schools should be
available to all officers of the fleet
through proper interchange.
8. At opportune times, through the
appropriate officers, the commander
in-chief should. in conference, indoc-
trinate such officers Of his forces as
he deems desirable with his views,
his estimstes: his decisions and his
Army war College.
q The Naval War College ana tho
ARMY War College should maintain
close touch and intimate cooperation.
naval and Army officers should be as
signed to the other college. The es-
Enlistment Of limited Army course
at the Naval War College, anG Of a
College is recommended, under inter-
change instructors.
In the opinion of the sponsors of
this movement, this plan, if carried
out conscienciously, will be of great
benefit to the personnel of the serv
'ships or interfering with drills and
Xii,nS Of the conference by sh.
assistant secretary is, looked upon a.