Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-06-30

application of the principle of eIimi-
nation of those who for any reason
are untitled for the position they are
holding on the staff. Officers who are
not making good should be sent to
some less important place and the va
cancies filled with younger officers of
lower rank and more ability. What
the stan needs is a shaking up and a
rejuvenation. 1t may be necessary to
increase its numbers to meet the re-
quirements Of the growing armed
forces, and to accomplish this legls-
lation will be required to have men
detailed to the STAFF, otherwise they
can be detailed to duty with the stan,
which is a distinction. But the essen
tial thing is to obtain the right kind
Of officers, and that is what Gen.
March seems to be trying to accom-
plish.
1T is noticeable that in these days
sible for the flamboyant stories and
lurid prophecies about aircraft pro-
duction have given no hint concern
ing the progress of that important
branch of war material. Hence it is
OF interest to learn on reliable au-
thority that the supply of liberty mo-
tors for naval aircraft is satisfactory.
They are now corning into the fac
tories at a rate that exceeds the pro-
duction of bodies for the planes the
Navy is making at its own plants as
well as to meet all it's other demands.
The quality of these motors is also
satisfactory: that is, relatively sat
isfactory. No motor is perfect and
faults are found in the best of them.
but fewer defects are found in the
naval liberty than in any other that
approaches it in power. The Navy
will not authorize any statement as
to the number or style Of machines
it is receiving and putting into COM
gram is liberal, and If production is
satisfactory" to 1t, that must mean
the numbers are rapidly increasing.
w It'll the acceptance of the amend
ments to the naval appropria-
ton bill, the Navy, in practically all
the recomme ndations it made to Con-
gress, has received from that body
all that the latter could give in the
way of creative legislation.
The Navy enters upon it's fiscal
year with all the personnel it asked
authorized. 1t will have authority,
II 1t can secure them. to create the
nUnDeF OF ONceFS OF hlgh rank that
it requested. Funds for building new
vessels will be available; naval ord.
nance will have its big proving
ground. it's railroads and funds with
which to carry out it's recommends
tion for building all the guns that
the feet can require with some to
spare for the allies and even for the
United States Army.
AS far as human intelligence can
see, nothing that Congress can fore
see that will be help to the Navy
has been omitted or denied. and
things look well for the great con-
struction work that the Navy must
continue. Appropriations for avia-
ton have been all that the depart
ment sought, and Liberty motors are
coming in ample quantities to meet
hydro-airplane construction.
Nevertheless, there remain two
sources of danger to the building pro-
gram of the Navy. and both are be-
yond question sources of anxiety.
Both come from German propaganda
with some degree of selfishness
thrown in. The first of these is fear
of destruction of some of the plants
through the efforts of spies and
traitors who will undoubtedly use
every means to destroy or damage
any and every plant doing work for
the Navy. The second is like unto it
as far as its inspiration is concerned,