South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-12
NAVAL RESERVE
SYSTEM FAVORED
Is Expected to Add $4,000
Men to Fighting Force in
Time of War - BattIeShip
Program Up Wednesday.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Although
the vote on the battleship program
was postponed until Wednesday biz
the house naval committee Monday.
that body. considering the naval ap-
preparation bill, created many new
ranks in both the sea forces and the
marine corps as well as establishing
a naval reserve to be made up of
honorably discharged seamen.
The highest rank provided in this
bill is that of admiral, which title Will
attach to the commanders of the At
Ianuc, Pacific and Asiatic fleets while
on duty. The measure Will also pro-
vide that the second in command of
these fleets be known as vice admirals
during service. At the termination
of the term of their service as COM
manders and seconds in command the
officers will again become rear ad-
mirals.
A radical change was provided in
the organization of the marine corps
which heretofore has not had any
officers with the rank of brigadier
general The growing difficulty in
handling this corps under the cir
cumstances which call for the pres
ence of large bodies of me- sSnes such
as recently existed in Mexico, induced
the committee 10 create for the corps
one brigadier general and add one
colonel, one lieutenant colonel, one
major five captains, one captain as
sistant quartermaster. one captain as
sistant paymaster, five first heuten-
ants and five second lieutenants. The
promotion of 10 enlisted men to be
sergeants and corporals was also
agreed upon.
To Increase Pay.
lnn rsrr mi for oil IN
clude in the bill a provision increas-
ing the pay of both officers and men
of the marine corps 10 per cent while
they are on sea duty.
The naval reserve system proposed
by Sec'y of the Navy Daniels was
recommended by the subcommittee
of the naval affairs committee was
adopted.
Through this plan it is expected to
add $500 men to the fighting force
of the country in time of war. The
size of this reserve is only limited to
the number of sailors who are honor
ably discharged from the service. The
reserve during the first year will cost,
ii is estimated, about 100000.
During the morning session an at
tempt was made by Rep. Hobson TO
pass through the committee a pro-
vision increasing the enlisted person
mel of the navy by 5000. This was re-
jected by vote of II to 4. A substi-
tute offered by Rep. Roberts of Massa-
chusetts, for a $500 increase, was
lost by tie vote of 9 to 9 as was a
second compromise of a ,, 900 increase
by Rep. Browning of New Jersey
The fight on the "plucking board"
of the navy was revived in the COM
mittee and resulted in a provision re-
pealing that section Of the personnel
act which created the board and the
restoration of eight officers who were
"plucked"
These officers are Commodore Wee
der, Capt. T. VI. Potts, Capt j. II.
Gibbons, Captains Frank X. Hill.
Armstead Rust, John S. Leonard and
Col. c. NJ. Perkins and Capt. Frank z.
Evans. L. s. NJ. 9.
The committee also voted to permit
increased rank and pay for warrant
officers, which will permit chief
warrant officer to become automatic
ally a junior lieutenant and TO create
q permanent corps of pay clerks.