The Washington herald., 1916-05-14
The Herald's Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most Complete News Service and Personnel Published on

Coast Guard will operate with the nav
at the annual maneuvers Of the fleet.
The Coast Guard vessels in the Atlantic
waters could join the Atlantic feet and
those in the Pacific could operate with
the Pacific feet. 1t has been suggested
that the Coast Guard ships in the Great
Lakes could Join the maneuvers Of the
naval militia.
1t is contended that the Coast Guard
would be the most effective reserve that
could be secured for the navy. Without
seriously interfering with the peace duties
Of the Coast Guard short period each
year could be given to war mAneuveTs
as a part Of the navy.
After the House Committee on Naval
Affairs has completed its work on the
Naval Appropriation Bill. Secretary OF the
Navy Daniels will take up the question
of naval personnel legislation with Chair
man Padgett The Secretary will urge
immediate action upon the departments
personnel bill which was submitted some
time ago.
II it is found. after discussing the mat
ter with Chairman PadGett that there is
no prospect OF passing general per
sOnneI bill the Secretary will urge the
chairmen OF both naval affairs commit
tees to report out legislation which Will
provide the necessary personnel for the
fve-year naval program.
One OF the plans under consideration
provides for an increase OF ten per cent
OF the number Of officers annually :Cr
five Years This would increase the num-
Ter Of line officers from 100 to 200. 4
prOpOrtionate increase in the number OF
stan officers IL provided for in the pro-
gram. At least ten per cent for hYe years
in the number OF medical officers is pro-
posed As the pay corps has had an
increase since the line or other STAFF Of
fCers. its increase will probably not ~
ceed seven per cent each. year for the
fye-y ear period.
At the end Of five years under this plan
the line Of the navy would probably con-
sist OF thirty sdmirsls. 100 captains, -''
commanders and ~ lieutenant command
ers. approximately the ratio among III"
grades would he one admiral to three
ca aptains one captain TO two command
ers and one commander TO two Lieutenant
commanders.
It is possible that the naval academy
v ould not produce enough officers TO nil
the vacancies as rapidly as they will Re-
or, ated under this Program but u is be-
lieVed. with The increase authorized b.
the hill passed at this session. that
eventually the academy would Furnish
sufficient graduates to I'll up the line Of
the navy.
Although the details have not been
worked cut. the Conferees on the army
bill have agre. d 10 provide for an educa-
tIonaI system in the regular army. The
plan proposed by Senator Hoke Smith
in his amendment 10 the army bill will
be followed
1t is understood that Secretary Of War
Baker has taken personal interest in
this feature OF the bill. He believes that
the regular army can be made more at
.Iractiv" il YOUNG men are given some
educational advantages while they are
serving in the reSUlsr establishment A
number OF plans for this educauona. fea-
ture have been suggested from time 10
r.m, b, members of the General STAFF. Al
.lhoaGh 10 formal report has over boen
submitted on the subject
The German army maintains an od.0a-