The Washington herald., 1916-08-20

The promotion by selection provisions of
the new navy personnel legislation are
being vigorously criticised by most Of
the officers who will be affected by the
method OF advancement.
! IL Is pointed out that the method of Sc
Election by service facilities is impaired,
and to that extent defeated, by the right
OF the President to convey to the selec-
ton board his disapproval of any or all of
the officers named by that body for pro-
motion. This, 1t is declared, introduces
the element of influence or prejudice,
represented by individual judgment, sue
cessfully operating in conflict with the
nndlngs of the selection board.
IL is this factor in the principle of Sc
lection which has, from the first, created
opposition. to the system, even among
those who admit its theoretical virtues as
contributing to service benefit. 1t is
pointed out that It would have been bet
ter II the selections by the board were
final and If the law in this respect had
been made mandatory, as it was in the
case of the findings of the former pluck
ing board.
| In the case of the plucking board it was
provided that the President should trans
fer to the retired list those officers named
for elimination. Under the new method
of selection it is possible for the Presi-
number of preferences by the board. And
yet. it is pointed out. this board is sup
posed to determine with care and respon-
sibility Of judgment the relative merits
OF officers entitled to fill vacancies in the
next higher grade
| 1t Is extremely likely that the posi-
bllity of the President exercising his
privilege of dsapproval will produce dis
content and lead to demoraliza ton
1 hnr oKN YAat NTH
severe criticism is that calling for an
nual meetings of the selection board in
| December. 1t is pointed out that semi
annual sessions would be much more de-
| sirable At any rate, II is considered
wiser to have had a session of the board
| Immediately after the approval of the
act and thus to have avoided delaying
( the promotion of officers made possible
| by casualties. known and unforeseen, that
Will occur between now and December.
This list includes the vacancies created
| by the new legislation IIself-three in
the grade of rear admiral, fifteen in that
OF captain, ffty-eight in that Of COM
mander, seventy-six in that of lieuten-
ant commander, and so on down the
| list
| 1t is possible that the phraseology Of
the bill will prevent the board from filling
next December any OF the vacancies that
have occurred in the meantime; since,
while 1t is provided that the board shall
I be furnished with the number of vacan-
! cies to be filled during the following cal
endar year, including the vacancies at
the time OF the convening Of the board, 1t
is also provided that the board shall
recommend for promotion the number
of officers In each grade equal to the
number to be filled in the next higher
grade during the following calendar year.
| Thus the bill omits specific provision for
| filling any of the unforeseen vacancies
| that shall have occurred. for which pro-
vision was not made at the previous
meeting OF the board. This situation this
year would include the original vacan-
cies created by the new act, 1t is point
ed out. However, 1t Is probable that the
measure will be construed, as its auth
ors intended. as relating to the 'filling"
of the vacancies that were created pre-
viously.
| At the Portsmouth Va) Navy Yard
is a German village-a typical German
village, inhabited by native Germans.
The village is called Eitel Wilhelm, and
Its inhabitants are the interned German
sailors OF the Teuton cruisers Kronprtnz