United States. Navy. General Board

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry

Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry’s letter helped President Roosevelt better understand the situation. Roosevelt believes the best itinerary for the Great White Fleet to follow is through the Straits of Magellan and returning through the Suez Canal, but he seeks advice from the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, Admiral Willard H. Brownson. Roosevelt also believes several reporters should accompany the fleet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry

President Roosevelt directs Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry to return the memorandum to the General Board of the Navy, saying he approves all of it except for the point about dividing the fleet. Naval history and the recent Russo-Japanese War illustrate the dangers of splitting forces to protect multiple strategic points. Roosevelt wants the Atlantic Fleet to remain a singular unit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-06

Letter from Willard H. Brownson to Theodore Roosevelt

Willard H. Brownson, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, forwards a letter from the Navy General Board to President Roosevelt concerning the Great White Fleet. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-19

Letter from Victor Howard Metcalf to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Navy Metcalf returns to President Roosevelt a letter from James F. J. Archibald detailing what Archibald feels is necessary to provide adequate Naval defense for the Pacific coast. Metcalf also sends a report from the General Board of the Navy, as requested by William Loeb, Roosevelt’s secretary. Metcalf states he agrees with the board’s report.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-01

Memorandum from George Dewey to Theodore Roosevelt

Admiral Dewey writes to President Roosevelt about the ineffectiveness of armored cruisers. Dewey says that while there are some specific uses for armored cruisers, generally either an unarmored cruiser or a battleship is a preferable choice. The General Board does not recommend building any armored cruisers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-15

Letter from H. C. Taylor to Theodore Roosevelt

Rear Admiral Taylor reviews plans to improve “gun pointing” and naval training.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Moody

President Roosevelt encloses a memorandum from Admiral Dewey on the general staff which he deems “altogether admirable.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-06-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Edmund Foss

President Roosevelt explains his concerns with the naval bill to Representative Foss of Illinois, chairman of the committee on naval affairs in the House of Representatives. Roosevelt thinks that having marines on fighting ships is unnecessary, but does not think this is the most problematic part of the bill. Rather, Roosevelt argues that provisions preventing the purchase of torpedoes and gunpowder inhibit the Navy’s ability to prepare for war. Roosevelt concludes by urging the speedy construction of a new dock at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and stresses the importance of keeping the fleet together to best protect the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to United States Navy Department

President Roosevelt requests the Navy Department make a specific report on the relative advantages and disadvantages of the 14-inch and 12-inch guns. Roosevelt wants to be sure that the matter has received the fullest consideration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry

President Roosevelt tells Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry that Admiral John P. Merrell has invited him to come to the Naval War College at Newport. Roosevelt would like to go before the end of the month, and asks when the General Board will be there to discuss the plans of the battleship North Dakota. Roosevelt would like to spend a day there to discuss the battleship question.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John P. Merrell

President Roosevelt has received Admiral Merrell’s letter, and would be glad to come. Roosevelt says he could only give a brief address, because as a layman he can only speak about general principles. He would like to see both the War College and General Board to discuss the battleship plans, and asks when the General Board will be at the college.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to submit a letter from Albert L. Key to the General Board and the Naval War College, and order the two bodies to make a joint report on the contents of the letter. Key had previously written addressing what he saw as defects in the design of the North Dakota class battleships, and Roosevelt requests an opinion about these comments, as well as whether they can be fixed. Roosevelt particularly requests input regarding the battleship’s armor, main guns, torpedo-defense guns, and torpedo tubes. Roosevelt also requests that Metcalf ask whether it would be good to have the commanding officer of each ship appoint a board to determine the draft of the ships at various stages of being loaded.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Victor Howard Metcalf

President Roosevelt has heard a rumor that there has been an effort to detach Frank K. Hill from the General Board of the Navy as punishment for his attitude regarding the armor belt controversy. Roosevelt wants Hill to stay where he is. He asks Secretary of the Navy Metcalf to comment on the enclosed telegrams from Stewart Edward White and Frank T. Underhill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Albert Converse

President Roosevelt asks Admiral Converse to bring the enclosed letter from German Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg before the General Board of the Navy. He wants the Board’s judgment before eliminating five to six-inch guns from American batteries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry

President Roosevelt is concerned about the height of smokestacks and asks Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry if the General Board has considered the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt generally agrees with the conclusions of Newton E. Mason, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, in the serious matter Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte mentions, but would like to hear from Bonaparte and the General Board before positively giving his own. He encourages Bonaparte to stay at Greenock Inn as long as he can, and to greet others at Lake George.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Grimes Walker

President Roosevelt encloses a memorandum from the General Board signed by Admiral Dewey. There are strong military reasons for taking possession of Yaviza but the benefits could be outweighed by the political consequences. Roosevelt requests Admiral Walker’s advice on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Dewey

President Roosevelt thanks Admiral Dewey for his memorandum on the need for a general staff.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-06-04

Letter from Victor Howard Metcalf to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Navy Metcalf forwards President Roosevelt a letter from the General Board about investigations leading to the choice of Subig Bay as a naval base.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-19

Letter from George Dewey to Victor Howard Metcalf

Admiral Dewey, President of the General Board of the Department of the Navy, provides a response for Secretary of the Navy Metcalf regarding President Roosevelt’s questions about the choice of Subig Bay as a naval base in the Philippines. Subig Bay had previously been evaluated by the General Board and selected as a better site for the construction of a naval base than Manila Bay. The General Board acknowledges the Army’s point that Subig Bay would be difficult to defend from the land side, and asks that the Army study the issue further with regard to plans for permanent fortifications.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-18