Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-12
OLD OFFICERS MAY GO.
President Designs to Place Younger
Men IN CommanI.

! WASHl \GTON. ID 6. lN'. u
President Roosevelt. y has plans az"
al; pied has sounded n" death kn"li
,, Of ,h,' cid army ami navy objects
| According to his :. continental onN
! not only are all oliic, Is retired for
, ayr 20 he relieved a. lu'y and tn"
| iitcre held bv them %" given l."
y Younger officers. but i {. nGr"sS can
be induced To give lH'n thai ulh"'i.
it>. promotions 10 ali mrortant com
maud> IN both the 2'ln. and navy
will be- nair by Srlrc Inn Ihat -.
the President will have ~" power
of prnm"l IN wt'h'u' Any check on
! his PERSONAL authorl'>
Th" placing of y"urt'r m"n III res
ponSIhlc positions Is one Of tn" hrs,
steps in the reorganization OF tn"
army and navy AS p"Dr ed by III"
P.r>ldrmr in his m"S~A2'' 20 Congress-.
\ side from preaching continually III"
necessity of Il big na>N. h" Pr"SI!"ni
has furrihly advocated = larger army q.
Strong efforts will be made 10 rnlarg"
both IA" cavalry and iuiAnir\. a
we'll As to pat :hronrh AN "Nl"nAiN"
building program FIR -" NAVY.
For SOM. time il hts been known
tina. III" President favored promotion
by selection 10 the higher ranks In
the navy. as well as n" cr"a' on OF
a general STAFF. and ais" promotion
by selection to commands usually
held by cnionClS in IL" army tn"
tone e his message is arr"i'"d I'M
military circles as IL, nMinE tha' h"
will make every effort % obtain l"E's-
lation for This authority h"f"r" III"
close OF his admin 's'rAil"N.
Since the Presidents, message was
written. Secretary OF in" Navy New
berry apparently has solved IN" navy
general staff problem by amending
both the general board and boar! OF
construction. to lower n" rank OF
members OF the boards and have
some members of th"N" two h0ardS
and the board of inspection and sur
vov on each of tn" other TWO com
missions in order 10 bring III" tire"
most important boards Cf III" navy
into closer and mOrr harmonious re-
latiOns for cO-Op"ratlr" work. '"-
lieving this plan sutiicl' mt the Presf
dent will max" no special "fort '"I
OBJ ain legislation for III" general stan.
bur will center his efforts before
Congress in the na,y's behalf on his
plans for four new ba;tl"shlps and a
prOpOrtiUnai" number OF CRUISERS. l"r-
pcdO boat ,l"s'royers and submarines.
and also for Legislation in the navy
In the meantime IN. viii not oNerlook
the progress made by Secretary New
frrrv toward The reorganization OF
the navy through the newly orsaniz-
ed boards. looking to a COmplet" read
justmcnt of the bureau system.
Net only has the President said II |
in his message. but tn" "ict ha"
com" 10 the secretary mat me navy
depart mcut must be reorganized. Mr..
\eWbcrry has promised to do this,
and has already taken the pr"limIn-
ary steps of tn" gigantic task and as
h" is in sympathy with tn" movement
il is believed Ina he will b" success
full
TIL. scheme to plac" the younger
Officers III command has vet To meet
with the approval OF the general
board but with younger members
placed on this board by Mr. \ewb"r-
~. the opposition may be quickly r"
moved. II The plan is carried
through. no officer over =" wears "'
age will be placed in command Of II
batt1eshp. and such posts may be
filed by selection frcm I'll" grade "'
commander. More of the Older "i
ficcrs would be wceied ont each year
by the elimination process. wAl'h
would give way for promotion OF
younger officers TO the grade OF cap
rain and rear-admiral.