The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-19
Rig NAVY PLAN Is
OUTLINED IN BILLS
Cant. Laning Explains Pro-
gramme to the House
Committee.
$3.50 OFFICERS NEEDED
Reserve and Temporary APP
pointments to Be Made
Permanent.
1850 OFFICERS NEEDED
Special Despatch to The sux.

WARRINGTON, Dec. IL. - Evidence
that the Navy Department is going
ahead with its plans for building
navy as great as any in the world
xas given to the House Naval AZ
Airs Committee to-day by Capt. Har-
ris Laning, acting chief Of the Bureau
Of Navigation. Capt. Laning testified
before the committee and presented
,vo Administration bills designed TO
maintain the personnel of the navy at
lis present strength. -
These would provide $3.50 officers
thorized for peace time. and $4,000
enlisted men instead of the 1S7.000 au-
thorized for peace time.
Capt. Laning secuted the ideabof the
possibility of a clash with Great Brit
ain nj any time. That Is not the pur-
nose of the increased programme
mapped out by the Navy Department,
he said. Emphasis was laid on the
,act that the enormous coast line, the
many outlying possessions and the big
merchant marine of the United States
are the actual reasons behind the de-
termination to have an American
Navy second to none.
Would Include Reserves.
To provide the necessary officers to
man the ships which it Is planned to
have in commission in the course OF a
few years the Navy Department
vents all temporary and reserve OFF,
GERS Of the navy included in the per-
manent establishment at their pres
ent grades. The most important sec
tons Of the bill follow:
After the passage OF this act all
temporary commissioned and warrant
officers Of the navy shall upon passing
the examination required by the, law
for appointment to such grade or rank
ne eligible to appointment to the reEu-
lar permanent navy in the grades or
ranks held by them on the date of
such examination.
provided that II any such officer on
examination be found by the naval
examining board not qualified for ap-
polntment TO the grade or rank held by
him said board shall proceed with the
examination and determine the grade
or rank, II any, for which such officer
Is qualified.
Provided further that officers ap-
pointed under the foregoing provisions
-Hho are over 40 years old at the pas
sage Of this act, shall not be ineligible
for promotion by selection under ex-
,s;ing law by reason Of age.
Secretary to Decide Precedence.
Section .. That temporary officers
found qualified for appointment in the
regular permanent navy in the same
Grade or rank held by them In the
temporary navy shall be appointed TO
rank or grade not above that for
which found qualified and shall take
rerk therein according TO their lineal
position on the navy list as determined
by the next succeeding computation:
Provided that any officer found quail
ned for a lower rank or grade shall he
so appointed by the Secretary of the
Navy with such date OF precedence as
may be determined by him"
Members Of the Naval Reserve force
with their own consent may be en-
loved in active duty until the expira-
t'cr Of their current enlistment.
The bill further provides that com
nissinned and warrant officers OF the
Naval Reserve force who have served
on active duty satisfactorily during
he war with Germany shall be eligible
FOR appointment as commissioned and
warrant officers in the regular perma-
nent navy not above the rank of Lieu
tenant under the same conditions as
herein prescribed for temporary off,
GERS"