same solution as a similar problem has brought about in modern cities-a "central station "; and the more the subject is considered, the more plain it becomes that a central station is the only thinkable solution in a city, a large building, or a ship. And not only this, but in a war-ship the solution is the more complete, because, added to all other conditions of the problem, is the important one that the means of communication and the operators must be as much protected as possible. It is an admitted fact that the problem of where to put the conningtower and how to arrange it has not yet been solved, but the central station below the water-line comes pretty near solving it, because much, if not all, of the complicated apparatus heretofore put in the conning-tower can now go in the central station, and the captain needs only a telephone or large speaking-tube connecting him with his aide in the central station. The conningtower being thus relieved of most of its apparatus, can be made smaller, and for a given weight, covered with thicker armor, so that it will be extremely hard to hit and almost impossible to destroy.

It has been proved in service that speaking-tube communication, or even telephone communication, is very inefficient between the conning-tower and those parts of the ship, such as the battery, turrets, engines, etc., in which there is much noise; and that it is utterly useless for communicating simultaneously with several persons under the conditions of action or even general quarters. But telephonic communication can be made perfectly satisfactory between two people, one in the conning-tower and the other in the central station; because a central station can be made quiet, and because the two people, say the captain and his aide, can keep their telephone receivers on their heads all the time and become accustomed to each other's voices and modes of intonation. Then from the central station reach out the various visual signals for silently telegraphing ranges, battle orders, directions to the helm, engines, etc.; and there is received news from all parts of the ship for transmission to the captain. The central station should be as near the conning-tower as possible, for obvious reasons; but even if in some ships it should have to be at some distance, yet the telephone will put matters in the same condition as if the captain and his aide were absolutely

tion. Aside from the value of protection for all the interior signaling apparatus, both for sending and receiving, the advantage of having all the operators in a quiet place, where they will be as free as possible from exciting and disturbing causes, is clearly of paramount importance

It is to be hoped that the tremendous advantages to be derived from a central station properly situated and equipped will be more and more fully recognized, and that in the original designs of our new ships the central stations will be really properly situated and equipped. It would seem that the principle governing the arrangement of electric apparatus in ships should hereafter be the same as in large establishments on shore, viz., that all apparatus which is delicate, or which requires great skill in its operation, should be confined to the central station, and that the apparatus placed elsewhere should be of the simplest character, as regards both its construction and its manipulation.

If this plan were adopted, we could get rid of the armored tube with its multiplicity of chains and wires, a blow on which from a heavy shell would paralyze all means of communication and leave the captain helpless. We might even get rid of the conning tower itself; because all that would be needed would be a strong steel post, or bar, behind which the captain could stand, like a sharpshooter behind a tree; with perhaps a quartermaster near him, to direct the helmsman in the central station.

It is now proposed that the executive officer shall be stationed in the central station in action, in order that, if called upon to take the captain's place, he shall be au courant of what is going on. If this be done, why should not the executive officer be the gunnery officer of the ship, and charged especially with the matters relating to her fighting efficiency, her guns, turrets, electric mechanism, etc.? Then he would, if called on to assume command of the fighting machine, do so with an intimate knowledge of all her fighting factors, instead of with an intimate knowledge of liberty lists. But, as Rudyard Kipling would say, "That is another story."

U. S. NAVAL INSTITUTE, ANNAPOLIS, MD.

NAVAL WAR COLLEGE.

OPENING ADDRESS, SESSION OF 1896.

Delivered June 2, 1896,

By HON. WILLIAM MCADOO, Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

Mr. President and Gentlemen:

success.

I thank you for the unusual, and I fear, unmerited honor of again being asked to address you at the opening of another session of the War College. It is unnecessary for me to say to you how successful this institution has been. Those who are concerned with the administration of the Navy have learned to regard it as one of the great arms of the establishment for national defense. The military art, like others, has been progressive; and preparation, method, and order are the prime factors for Our Civil War revolutionized naval architecture, and the Franco-Prussian War demonstrated that careful organization, deep study of possible problems, and a thorough knowledge of a nation's resources, as well as the strength and weakness of one's opponents, can overcome the bravest people under otherwise able and gallant leaders. In short, the largest side of modern war is the business one. It is quite possible that no amount of preparation and organization could save a nation of cowards, but while races may differ in bravery, no nation is wholly wanting in the heroic. This school, therefore, is doing a work for this country of an importance so great that it could not well be exaggerated. While it is possible that every solution attained here may not be a perfect one and would have to give way to changes in the face of actual facts at the time of

defense from the naval standpoint, so thoroughly elaborated here, is of the greatest value to the country, and would receive primary consideration in case of war. The College does not pretend to stand for the whole ability of the United States Navy. No college can give a man genius, but a course in college will help most men of even great natural ability. I am saying this by way of prelude to the subject which I have chosen for to-day's address. Dropping into a habit which I notice is assumed by certain popular preachers, of prefacing their sermons with a few comments on the events of the day, I briefly recapitulate the line of thought suggested in the former addresses, namely, that force is yet, and will continue to be for long ages, a prime factor in civilization; that the diplomacy of a nation, however able, carries with it no weight unless backed by power, especially on the sea; that war in a republic is apt to be more sudden and precipitous than under the most autocratic of monarchies; and lastly, that we, as a nation, have reached the point in our career where, whether we will it or not, we are obliged from inexorable circumstances to assume great international responsibility and obligations, more especially on this hemisphere.

I am quite aware that these views do not harmonize with those of some of the learned schoolmen of our day. To those who hold these views this is not a matter of serious import; to be learned is not always to be wise; to be prejudiced and conceited is to often fail to be patriotic; to dream one's premises instead of knowing them is not to reach sound conclusions. It is instructive and reassuring to glance along the lines of the imperial progress of the Republic and note the illustrious but discredited Jeremiahs who have wailed their protests against such advancement. They rent the heavens with protests against the annexation of Louisiana, and prophesied that our acquisition of that territory, with its mixed peoples, would be the destruction of the American Constitution and Anglo-Saxon civilization. They protested before high heaven in the Congress of the United States against the War of 1812, and invoked the illustrious shades of English literature, in whose genius we have a common pride, to halt us in the assertion of our national rights as against a position of colorless colonial dependency. They poured hot vials of satire and unsparing abuse on the loyal public men of the

which, for the first time, gave to the United States a place among the great nations of the earth, and won for its people and its flag enduring respect on land and sea. They anathematized the heroic American who carried our flag into the capital of Mexico and added to the national territory; and in the period which preceded our great Civil War, were their unfruitful prophecies, oral and written, collected into one vast heap, it would reach so high as to be crowned with eternal snow, as they are now with the mould of disuse and disrespect. In the dusty subcellars of public libraries lie mouldering heaps of this literature of false premises and absurd conclusions. These false prophets are good men too overburdened with their own virtues and cruelly overladen with excessive wisdom; otherwise men of learning and high social position.

From dizzy, platitudinous heights, with a delightful self-complacency that excites smiles instead of frowns, they have protested against every forward movement with a dull dogmatism which, if it were as weighty in fact as in assumption, would arrest the spheres and crush the world. Heedless mankind, with a void in its stomach, an impulse in its heart and an idea in its head, goes resistlessly on in its own blind way, and these sons of omniscience go theirs.

He must be wholly ignorant of the existing facts around us, and unobservant of recent occurrences and their significance, who does not realize how much naval strength makes for our peace, the security of our rights, our commercial growth, and the assured success of our policies. A proper navy would do more to secure peace for the United States than endless speeches and pacific resolutions. It is not the armed but the unarmed nations that are in danger of war, spoliation and outrage. In the political world, as in the natural, inertia and stagnation mean death; activity and the contest of opposing forces stand for life. This country of ours cannot stand still, nor can it evade the awful responsibilities of destiny and environment. The accidents of time may retard but they cannot prevent the great events of destiny.

The subject which I have chosen for to-day's address is Naval Administration. I think you will all agree with me that however able the personnel of the Navy may be, however excellent