The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-09
Men Who Have Served at
Desks Want Chance for
More Active Duty
DANIELS DISLIKES
TO LET THEM LEAVE
But Will Probably Give Opportunity
They Desire in the Spring-Discus-
sion as to Size of Navy After the War
is Over

WASHINGTON, Feb 9-Secrctary
of the Navy Daniels s strength since
this country entered the war has been
the unstinted support given him by the
competent heads of the various divi
sions Of the navy department. The ques
tion today is how much longer some Of
these chiefs will remain in command Of
their respective bureaus, and whether
their departure for active duty will
weaken the machinery they have built
up in Washington. Several of the Oil
GERS have requested Secretary Daniels
to relieve them from their executive
tasks and to assign them TO active duty
At sea. The services rendered by these
officers IS appreciated by Mr.. Daniels
and he il reluctant to be deprived OF
their valuable assistance. Neverthe
less. it may be expected that he will
grant their requests eventually, for he
holds that it is only natural for these
officers to seek active service. 1t prop
ably viii be spring, however, before
the first of these requests are granted,
for Mn Daniels does not want them re
lieved until after the naval approprla-
tion bill and other legislation wien
which they are concerned have passed
the congress- or have approached the
end OF their course through the house
aud the senate
The most prominent officer who has
asked to be assigned to active duty IS
Rear Admiral Leigh G. Palmer, chief 81
the bureau of navigation. Similar r.
quests have been made 10y Captain vii
liam &. Watts. judge advocate general;
and Commander Herbert &, Sparroy
aid to the secretary of the navy. Rear
| Admiral Palmer was made chief Of the
| bureau Of navigation i'll August, 1916,
succeeding Rear Admiral Victor Blue.
| who returned to his permanent rank Of
| ,c9PIaiq.aBd. was placed IN command
| of the battleShip Texas. Since Admiral
/ Palmer became head Of the bureau he
: has been instrumental in reorganizing
: the personnel to meet war conditions
! and in training and otherwise bringing
| to state Of efficiency the reserve and
| other temporary classes Of officers and
| enlisted men that it has been neces-
| sary TO bring in for the period Of the
| war. The accomplishments of the navy
| in the last 10 months testify to Ad-
miral Palmcr's ability. He recently
/ was advanced to the rank Of captain III
| the line and when relieved from his
| present position undoubtedly Will be
| given an important command ailoat
! Captain Watts succeeded Captain Rii-
| ley Mclean as Judge advocate general
about a year ago, coming to Washing
| ton from duty on the battleship Mich
| igan. LII the last year he has had tt
do with the drafting of much important
| naval legislation, the revising and com
piling of regulations to meet war con
ditions, and the handling Of many 9TH
er important matters which have com,
before his office. Upon relief from hi,
present Office he will return To the per
mancut grade of commander Com
mander sparrow also has held his pres
ent position for upwards of a wear. II,
succeeded Daniel w Wurtzbaugh. VIII,
was assigned to the battlcship Texas
Although some officers in the deparr
mcnt will be permitted to 90 on a.
tive duty, others probably will be redo
tailed III their present positions Se,re
tary Daniels has given no indication
as yet to intentions III the matter, bu
II Is the understanding III naval circle
: that Surgeon General William {
r BREASTED and Major General Georg
| Barnett, commandant of the marin.
corps will be redetailed in their presen
2 positions at the expiration of their pres
! ent four-year terms. General Braisted
/ term expires on Feb. Is and Genera
!, Barnett term on Feb. -. The rpde
= tail of Rear Admiral Robert S. Grifli
!, IN December az chief Of the bureau )
, steam engineering, although it depart :
+ from the policy Mr.. Daniels has fol
lowed since he became head of the IL