The Washington times., 1913-03-26
DANIELS TO SMASH
SOFT SNAPS IN NAVY
Sea Service Order for Officers
Is Backed BY Wilson, Is the
General Opinion.

secretary or the Navy DanlelS mas
started to smash bureaucracy and soft
snaps in the navy service. More sea
service will be the rule hereafter. Back
of the Secretary's move is President
Wiison'e hearty Endorsement.
The Secretary today declared that he
did not have in mind further changes
than those just ordered in the Bureau
OF Navigation, whereby Commander
Fhi1ip Andrews was succeeded as chief
by Commander Victor Blue.
II is significant, however, that the
Secretary today issued orders calling for
more sea service, and likewise that two
officials with unusually short terms OF
sea duty came UP for examination.
The following order was sent forth to-
day by Secretary Daniels, inspired, 1t Is
believed, by President Wilson's atti-
tude:
The Secretary wishes to inform the
members of the examining board that
he requires that officers coming up for
promotion shall have had sufficient sea
service In the grades from which they
are to be promoted to insure beyond
doubt that they are fully qualified and
experienced at sea to perform the duties
Of the next higher grade
Wants Firm Support.
His order on the shifts in the Naviga-
IN Bureau Indicated that complaints
had come to him about the personnel
of the navy officers, and that he want
ed a man more in accord with his own
policies than Commander Andrews.
The two officers who came up for
examination for higher grades today
were Commander Andrews for the grade
of captain, and Captain Potts, of the
Navigation Bureau, for the grade or
rear admiral. Commander Andrews has
had only two months sea service In
tG &,r,r fINv-.
Captain Potts has had nine months in
his four and a half years term as
captain.
Andrews will be shifted to the line and
probably assigned to one OF the larger
vessels. The position of confidential
secretary in the Navigation Bureau Is
untitled
President wilson's view of the situa-
ton is said to be that naval officers
should not be permitted to hold soft
terms of sea duty. 1t is certain that
Secretary Daniels and President Wilson
are In accord on naval promotion.
Officers Must Hustle.
That the complaints. remarked by
Secretary Daniels, are those of dissatis-
faction over the sinecures of certain Of
ficeholders, seems certain. Some men
have held nice warm berths in the de-
partment, escaping with little sea ser
vice.
Now they must get out and hustle.
President Wilson's view on the matter is
that men should not be at the top in
the navy service unless they have met
the qualifications. Secretary Daniels,
while not saying so, is apparently
spokesman for the President in this
matter.
He would not comment on the rumor
that men at sea were going stale, and
for that reason shakeup is at hand.
Navy Men Dismayed.
Tne sea service order. and its early
effect in the Andrews and Potts cases.
sent shiver through the Navy Depart
ment today. Men whose official posi-
tions have made them owners of soft
covered chairs and a good salary were
dismayed at the thought OF being shift
ed to sea duty at the command of the
new Secretary.
There is a fairly long list of men
who will come under the ban of Secre-
tary Daniels and President Wilson.
While no action has been taken except
In the Andrews and Potts cases, il is
Anticipated around the Navy Depart
ment today that there will soon be
volcanic shake-up. and that other men
more in accord with the Secretary's
policies will be shunted into the posi-
tions now nailed down under the sine
cure system.