New-York tribune., 1917-12-10

have been ttcadIN pIoNNLtN VII hiN ~
and have recently been given commits
sions, II is stated. Future promotion,
will reward the fttest in service. and
no commissions will be available 70 ei-
villains. Attention Is called TO the eH-
cellent service performed by the Ma
rine Corps in Hayti, Santo Domingo
and Cuba.
Navy Has Been Active
Some Of the activities OF the feet arc
told of In the report, although natural
lv there is much that cannot be dWelt
upon without revealing information
that public nolicv forbids disclosing At
this time. The Secretary sets forth the
close cooperation between the foreign
gdniralties with which this country "a
aligned in the war and the Navy Dc
par,ment Of the United States.
Speaking Of the Naval Academy a.
the first and best source OF supply OF
naval officers, the Secretary speaks or
the value OF the supply coming from
experienced enlisted men and warrant
officers, trained men IN the militia e1-
perienced seafaring ren, Young men
in the Naval Reserves from civil lie
who have had military, engineering or
scientific education.
"1he fixed policy of the department,
says the Secretary, "is to open new
doors OF promotion 20 the enlisted men.
"Sirce war was declared over one
thousand men have been advanced from
warrant officers 10 commissioned ON
GERS, and over thirteen hundred enlist
ed men have been promoted TO warrant
officers.
The Secretary emphasizes the policy
OF promotion by selection. The day
of promotion by seniority IN the line OF
the navy has forever passed. he de-
clsres, classifying such promotion as
un-American, and says that as the
fetch Of seniority fully passes IRON
the service "the new law viii insure
that no man will be promoted TO hieh
rank unless he has given proof OF ms
ability 20 command" 50 that all pro-
motions, from ensign TO admiral. viii
be by selection. This. he holds, should
be extended to all commissioned ON
GERS Of the staff as 1t now exists In the
line. He expresses the hope that the
maximum age limit of fifty years Tor
commissioned warrant officers viii be
removed, as IL has prevented the tenn
porary appointment as ensigns OF a
number of very deserving oincers. he
asks that the distinctive naval rank OF
commodore be revived, saying that It
is associated with the best traditions Of
tho navy, from Commodore Perry 70
Commodore Dewey.
Training Stations Developed
The report sets out that the training
station development has been marked.
These facilities, which at the beginning
of the war were capable OF caring for
5000 enlisted men. have been enlarged
and others added until the present
training capacity is 1860 men. Not
only is the recruit trained for his du-
ties as q sailor and gunner aboard ship.
but at various trade schools men are
instructed in all the various branches
of trade required on the ships. There
should be appropriations sufficient. he
says, 70 give the necessary education
and instruction TO all who may enter
the naval service.
Work on the navy's projectile plant
AT Charleston, W. Va, the report states
has begun. and work viii soon be
started on the government armor plant
there. When these plants arc completed
the navy will not be dependent solely on
private manufacturers for its proJec-
tiles and armor. il already has IN
operation large powder plant at Ind
ian Head Nd.
A tribute is paid to the loyal CO.
oueration Of labor in this time Of ma
tional stress, Secretary Daniels declar-
ing that il has been found diligent,
efficient and patriotic. lie holds that 2
fair and adequate standard Of wages IN
navy yards should prevail. but that this
should be uniform, and the rates should
not huctuate in different localities be
cause OF local conditions.
0 The great expansion OF the Nsva!
Communication Service is fully treated.
At the outbreak of the war, it is point
cd out, the Navy Department took over
all the coastal commercial radio ste
tiOns Those which could be Of military
service are operated by the navy, the
others being closed, all radio traffic be-
ing placed under strict censorship. The
navy is now operating transpacnc
radio stations. which give great relic.
10 the single cable which crosses the
Pacific. and has completed at Pearl
Harbor probably the most powerful
radio station in the world.
The great increase OF. the navy sfoat
has nccessitated q corresponding in
crease in navy yards and stations.
Navy yard facilities are being greatly
expanded. One Of the most important
shore projects is the new feet operat-
ing base at Hampton Roads, Virginia,
this base to comprise large training
station, storehouses and piers for sup
plying the feet, and complete ayia-
tion and submarine base.
The Secretary concludes his report
with the expression of the hope that.
though war now precludes any world
wide agreement for reduction Of arma-
ment by bodybuilding nations, as one
of the compensations for the terrible
tragedy Of war there should come ?
time when an international navy viii
enforce international DEGREES.
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