New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-11
mo SWISS NAVY FOR j. S.
Actual Sea Duty Requisite for
Promotion, Daniels Insists.
HIS POLICY PUT IN FORCE
Potts and Andrews Transferred
to Battleships - New An
napolis Head Likely.

lfToin iHc iTlbunc bureau.
Washington, April io.-The Secretary OF
the Navy demonstrated to-day that ne
was in earnest IN his declared policy to
require actual sea duty of naval officers
IN their present grade before promotion
10 the next. and by so doing made evident
the prospect of more or less momentous
changes in tho duties of the commissioned
personnel in the near future, among these
being the probability of a new superin-
tendent Of the Naval Academy after the
close of the present academic year. in
June
Secretary Daniels demonstrated his
purpose to adhere TO his announced policy
b. ordering Captain Templin NJ Potts.
now aid for personnel, and Commando
Philip Andrews, until recently chief OF
navigation, to sea 10 demonstrate their
fitness 10 perform the sea duties of the
advanced grades" as a condition prece-
dent to their advancement TO the next
higher grades.
, Many officers are affected by this de-
termination, among the most notable
being the superintendent OF the Naval
| Academy, Captain John II. Gibbons, who
has had no sea duty in his present
grade and who probably will come up for
promotion to the rank of rear admirsl
within the next two years This fact. il
is predicted i'm the department, will lead
to Captain Gibbons asking an assignment
| to sea duty as soon AS he has closed the
work OF the current academic year at the
Naval Academy.
simultaneously with the reassertion or
his policy Secretary Daniels to-day or
dercd Captain Potts 10 the Louisiana and
| Commander Andrews to the Montana II
| the two officers, who have been examined
for promotion and have been reported 10
be qualified professionally physically and
morally for promotion. demonstrate their
| fitness for command at sea-as no one
| doubts they will-they will be promoted
10 fill vacancies which occurred on
| March IS last without detriment to their
places on the list OF officers of the navy"
according to Mr.. Daniels. Captain Potts.
| by tho way. has already had ten months
sea service in the grade OF captain Com
| mander Andrews has been at sea only
! two months since he attained his present
grade
In transferring Captain Potts to sea
duty Secretary Daniels announced that
he had selected Captain Henry 4. Mayo
| commandment of the Mare Island Nav
Yard. at San Francisco, for his aid for
personnel, to succeed Captain Potts Cap
| tain Mayo has had twentythroc years
! experience in the various grades of the
service UP to his present rank. lie made
a favorable impression on Secretary Dan
| iels on his recent trip to Washington I'm
regard to the controversy over the rec
concentration to make Mare Island a
| second class yard
| It is intimatcd by the Secretary OF the
| Navy that he would prefer those officers
who have not had sufficient sea duty "a
their present grades TO ask to be sent -
! sea on their motion instead Of leaving =
1 10 him or to the aid for personnel 10
suggest or order It, and IT is expected
that numerous requests for such assign
ments will follow.
Secretary Danielss declared policy IS
that officers coming up for promotion
shall have had sufficient sea service IA
the grades from which they arc to bo
promoted to insure beyond doubt. thai
they are fully qualified and experienced
at sea TO perform the sea duties of the
next higher grades
IL was recognized that Mr.. Daniels was
aiming at so-called swivel chair ON
GERS" and his action to-day was not
wholly unexpected.