The Washington herald., 1917-03-04
Army and Navy News
. Beet service ceIuna D. cit,.

Speculation is rime in naval circles
as to who the next eugineer-in-chief Of
the Navy will be in the event that Rear
Admiral r. s. Griffin is not reappointed
as head Of the bureau Of steam engin-
eefing on the expiration of his term Of
service, May Is. Officers generally would
be delighted with the reappointment OK
Rear Admiral Griffin, as he is an emil
nent member Of his profession and has
added materially to his reputation since
he has been bureau chief: but Secretary
of the Navy Daniels Is expected to ad-
here to his rule of refusing TO reappoint
! a bureau chief. no matter how distIn-
euished and useful his services may be-
| At present II appears that Capt Emil
Theiss, Capt. Charles w. Dyson, Capt.
William Strother Smith. or Capt. Benja-
min C. Bryan probably will be appointed
as his successor. All of these officers are
Of the former engineer corps and are
regarded with favor by the Secretary
Of the Navy. 1t is pointed out that It
is due to the officers who were of the
the former engineering corps and who
remain on the active list that the se-
lection for engineer-in-chief be confined
! to one OF their number instead of at
this time detailing a younger officer who
has not had the practical engineering
training and experience. such as these
officers who were of the engineering
corps, and who, 1t Is recalled in their
behalf. contributed materially to the sue
cess OF the administration of Rear Ad-
miral II. l. Cone when he was detailed
cngineer-in-ch chief.
! Capt. Thesis has had thorough training
! and expericen. especially in the last four
years, on the board OF inspection and
survey. being in close touch with en-
gineering conditions and needs afioat.
Capt smith has rendered valuable SER
vice at navy yards. Capt Dyson is in
charge of the designing division of the
bureau OF Steam Engineering. Capt.
Eryan has distinguished himself as an
! engineer and as director of navy yards.
! The list OF eligibles of various classes
! for appointment as second lieutenant in
! the army has been increased by including
in the class made up OF commissioned Of
hcers of the National Guard those who
| are commissioned as officers of the Ma
| tional Guard Reserve. They are con-
| sidered as brought within the terms of
the section OF the national defense act
| prescribing the order of appointment to
the grade Of second lieutenant.
| Since there appears to be nothing in
| the section which will aid in the solu-
tion of the question of eligibility. resort
was had by the military authorities to
| various other sections of the law to de-
termine the intention of Congress in the
premises. In many sections the term
/ National Guard" IS used where II Is
clear that their provisions apply only to
| the active National Guard. Just as many
| laws relating to enlisted men of the
| regular army are applicable only to men
! serving with the coors
/ Certain Of the provisions OF the laws
show very positively. 1t is held that the
| National Guard includes two classes
| those In the active service and those in
| the reserve-and that the term National
| Guard' should be regarded as inclusive
! OF the National Guard Reserve, except
! IN such cases as the context may show
| a dlneront intent. There is nothing that
| would indicate that National Guard Re-
| serve officers were intended to be ex-
! cludcd from class No. in the list OF
! those eligible TO be examined for ap-
| Polntment as second lieutcnants, and the
! war Department has ruled that the term
| National Guard in this particular is
! construed in its ordinary sense including
! the National Guard Reserve.
The navy Is making drive 10 enlist
| this branch OF the military service un to
| full strength. The naval approximation
act OF last August increased the authoriz-
ed strength OF the navy from 81 800 to o.
3"'. including apprentice seamen. hospi-
! tai corps men. and men Of the flving
corps. or by Is, 45S men. The present ac-
tual enlisted strength of the navy is 5S.-
F' showing net increase of 6.S67 on
| the additional men allowed. The net
gain in actual strength since March ).
| 1919. has been 1885,
! In addition to the q, 956 men allowed the
navy proper, there are 1909 men detailed
to the naval militia and 2,313 court-mar-
(tal prisoners under sentence of dishon-
orable discharge. making the total maxi
mum strength S1.57S. The authorized en-
listed strength of the navy proper-that
! is. exclusive Of 5000 apprentice seamen Q
&6 hospital corps men, and $50 flying
corps men-is 6S7oo. The authorized en-
listed strength of the hospital corps is
| , l-2 PEI cent of a total strength of S.
700. made up of 6S.1t0 men in the navy
proper and 1900 men in the marine corps
| The marine corps was increased by s.
0S4. and Of this additional number 2,sl5
! or 80 per cent. have been obtained. 1t is
expected that II the present rate of en-
! listment is maintained the actual enlist
cd strength of the marine corps will be
brou"h UP to the authorized standard
within about six months