New Britain herald., 1919-05-24
Secretary Daniels Trying to
 Solve Knotty Problems
RESERVES OUT BY AUGUST
Officers in Both Branches Who Have Been Promoted During War May Revert to Previous Status-"Devil Dogs" Being Discharged.

Washington, May 24.-Ways and means for getting the navy and ma- r1ne corps strength down to a peace tune basis has been the subject of several conferences between Secretary Daniels and his bureau chiefs during the last few days. The problem is re- garded as one of the knottiest post war puzzles now confronting the de- partment and although great progress has been made in dem obilizing the navy proper since the armistice was signed, thousands of officers and en- listed men still must be released be- fore normal strength is reached. Off cers concerned believed, however, that at the present rate of demobllzauOn tn numerical strength of the navy will be well below the 250,000 mark set by the secretary at the end of the finan- clal year July 1. On May 1 there were 2S5, 1000 officers and enlisted men Tn the service, a reduction since Mo- Vember II of 245, ,00O. The figure set for the reduced strength of the navy in the deficiency bill of the last con- gress was 250,0 and in the house bill the number was placed at 225,OOO. Based on 8 total strength of 900 men naval officials are confronted with the necessity for reducing the officer personnel from more than 10000 now on duty to less than 10000 by July 1.
 Must Change Officers Ranks.
 The question of adjusting the rank or officers of the regular navy on the basis of the peace time strength is an- other puzzle. To meet the rapid in- crease of the naval establishment dur ing the war practically all of the reg pJ1n of tcp ed one or more grades. Getting the navy back to a peace time basis means the majority of these officers must be returned to their former rank.
 Insists On Reduction of Men.
 While a majority of the line officers are said to favor permanent peace strength much in excess of the author ized 1S7,000 men there is nothing to indicate Secretary Daniels will ask congress to increase this figure and in recent conference with his advisors the secretary is reported to have in sisted that the reduction must be car ried out as planned. His promise to the reSerVistS after he returned from Europe that all reserve force members who desire release will be returned to civil life by August, is taken to indi- cate he intends to abide by his deci- sion.
 Marines Can Be Cut.
 Major Gen. George Barnett, com mandant of the marine corps, said to- day the marines will have little diff culty in reducing to the normal strength of $500 officers and men by July 1.
 We are only waiting for the ma rines to be sent back to Us from the other side," said Gen. Barnett before . continuing to discharge men. We have released every man we can spare from the forces in this country and as fast as the 19,G00 marines abroad are sent home we will get them out of the service"
 What to Do With Officers.
 Like the navy, a problem confront ing the marine corps is what to do with nearly a thousand excess officers who must be disposed of within the next month. Most of these officers rose from the n-commissioned grades and will revert to their old status to be selected for promotion to officer rank in the future as the needs of the service require. All of them are graduates of the marine schools and most of them saw service at the front.
 Gen. Barnett said the plan adopted early in the war by the corps of draw ing officers from the ranks rather than from civilian life has more than justi- fled itself and that it probably will not be necessary to seek officers from the outside for many years.