The Washington herald., 1907-06-11

VIII BE Most Keenly scrutinized.
The Navy Department has determined
that if it is possible 10 do so, twenty-four
officers must be retired before July
under the navy personnel act Of 1899.
The understanding has been that only
seventeen officers were 10 De retired. but
the official computation Of the department
now shows that twenty-four must go 10
provide a steady flow Of promotion.
Special Order No. 43. issued by the Sec
retary Of the Navy April 8. confines the
voluntary retirements this year TO cap
tains and commanders. no lieutenant COM
manders being allowed 20 retire as for
mcrly. Therefore unless twenty-four
captains and commanders apply for vol
untary retirement before June 50. GER
tain number must be selected for inyOl-
untsry retirement by the retiring board.
This board with Rear Admiral r. ID.
Evans as senior member, was convened
June 8, and had a closed session Of two
or three hours with the professional and
medical records Of officers before them.
Il is understood that the board went 10
its full limit Of power under the act OF
1899. and selected a list Of five captains.
four commanders. four lieutenant COM
manders. and two lieutenants. TO be invOl-
UNFAIRLY placed on the retired list by the
President on June 80 provided it IS found
on that date that fewer than sixteen cap
tains and commanders have applied for
voluntary retirement
VIII Convene AEHin.
This board will again be convened June
80. 70 make additional vacancies TO com
pIete the full twenty-four Should II be
found, for instance, that only eighteen
captains and commanders are. upon their
application. TO be placed on the retired
list the board will select six additional
captains and commanders 20 complete
the number required by law.
The exact number Of captains and COM
manders who have applied for retirement
is not known. as such applications are
kept confidential, but it IS known that
very few have applied.
Officers of all grades have generally
approved the action of the President IN
ConGning the voluntary retirement 10
captains and commanders urging that
many officers in the command grades are
too old for their places on the list. and
therefore it was essential TO efficiency Of
the fleet that the flag officers should be
come rear admrals at less advanced ages
and be given longer sea experience and
training 10 be competent to command
feet Of battle ships In action
The opinion in some quarters seems to
be that if the captains and commanders
are inclined to consider their personal
interests as paramount 10 the efficiency
of the fleet IL Is only fair 20 the nation
and the navy that those considered least
efficient should be placed on the retired
list by the President. even II in doing 50
he publishes the fact that a board of five
rear admiraIs under oath, and after
thorough deliberation, considered the
captains and commanders so retired to
be least efficient officers Of their grade
the dead wood Of the navy list.
Would Make Clean sweep.
At least one member Of the board OF
rear admirals is understood to hold the
opinion that in considering the question
Of dead wood" among the captains and
commanders the board should first en-
deavor 70 rid the navy list Of the dead
wood that would otherwise remain on
the active list. In other words, If two
captains. one sixty years Of age and the
other ffty-six. are considered equally in
competent. this member Of the board
would vote for the retirement of the cap
tain who IS lfty-six. as the one four years
his senior must retire when he reaches the
age Of siXty-tw0.
According to the present outlook the
whole Of the list Of captains and com
manders IS 20 be keenly scrutinized with
the result that five captains and four
commanders are certain 20 be retired by
compulsion on June 30 unless a consider
able number Of additional requests for
voluntary retirement are received in the
meantime