New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-09
STORM OF CRITICISM
FOR NEW NAVY POLICY
DanieIS'S Rule That Promotion
Shall Depend on Sea Service
ASSaiIed.
CAPTAIN POTTS A VICTIM
Efficiency of Ordnance and En-
cheering Work Said To
Be Impaired by. the
New Order.
LFrom The Tribune Bureaul

Washington, July S.-There is said to be
grave danger that the efficiency of nu-
merOus special services in the navy, such
as ordnance, engineering and the like,
will be sadly impaired by the recently
adopted policy of the Secretary of the
Navy that sea service shall be the sole
basis upon which an officers promotion
shall depend.
The most notable example of the opera
ton OF this new policy is found in the
office of Captain 7. NJ. Potts, whose pro-
motion TO the grade of rear admiral was
held up because he had not had sutfi-
cient sea duty to meet the requirements
of Mr.. Daniels. in the mean time, while
the matter Of Captain Potts's promotion
was being held in allegiance, he was in
voluntarily retired.
During the last few days Secretary
Daniels has held up the promotions Of
other officers One OF these is Lieuten-
ant George Z. Lake, until recently at
tached TO the American Embassy in
Toxic, whittier he was sent to study Jap
anese. Another is Ensign Harold w.
Boynton, who has become specialist
in marine and electrical engineering.
Lieutenant Lake is due for promotion
from lieutenant, junior grade, TO full
lieutenant. Ensign Boynton should be-
come a junior lieutenant at this time, but
the promotions of both have been held
up because under the new ruling Of the
Navy Department they have not had
sufficient sea duty in their present grades
20 qualify them for duty in the grade to
which they should be promoted.
New Policy Criticised.
There is much talk and criticism of the
NV policy. II is said TO be eminenty
unfair to those who are directly affected,
in that their promotions are delayed
through no fault of their own, but be-
cause of orders received from the de-
paartment, and which they were COM
PEELED to obey, and is also regarded as
dangerous to the efficiency of the navy.
Lieutenant Lake, it is said here, was
sent to Toxic TO learn the Japanese Ian
guage not at his own request, nor
through any political pull" but because
the department, carrying out policy OF
having certain naval officers acquire for
eign languages, decided that he was a
good man for the place.
Tne case or Ensign 6OyHtoH seS4no 0'VAi
more severe. Through his efficiency and
high standing as a midshipman he was
selected TO take a special engineering
course of two years. He was then sent
TO Harvard by the Navy Department for
an additional course in marine and cleo
trical engineering. After he had finished
there he was brought 70 Washington 10
install the new wireless plant at Airing
ton. the biggest wireless institution In
America. Now he is ready for promotion,
but cannot have it because of the new
Daniels policy.
1t is declared that this policy puts
premium on mediocrity and quietus on
specialization in certain lines. This has
already been shown in the lack of ap-
plications for details to. some of the
special corps, such as ordnance and en-
gineering. Officers naturally figure that
if going into these special branches will
mean retarded promotion 1t is better for
them to stay out.