London Times, 23 March 1908, p. 6: THE REORGANIZATION OF THE NAVY A forecast of the proposed reforms in the naval administration has been published. One of the main objects in view is the maintenance of closer relations between the Ministry of Marine and the other Government departments, especially the Foreign Office and the Ministry of War. The Chief of the Naval General Staff will be ex officio a member of the Council of National Defence. Three distinct and independent branches are projected – first, a General Staff, the chief of which will be directly responsible to the Tsar; secondly, a navy in being, the heads of which will also be responsible to the Tsar; and thirdly, the central administration of the Ministry of Marine, embracing the ports and local naval institutions, and responsible for the personnel and movements of the various ships and departmental details generally.
Provided by Stephen McLaughlin