The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-27
TX COB FORMALLY ACCEPTS POST IF
 NAVY SECRETARY
Theodore Roosevelt Will Be Assistant and Present BuiId- ing Programme to Be
 Continued
By Associated Press

St. Augustine, Fla, February 26.-itd- win Denby. gunners mate in Sampson 2 fleet and sergeant of Marines in the folio of navy in the next cabinet today with a pledge to maintain the naval fighting machine at the highest peak of power ready fir battle at any notice"
 As his assistant he will have Theodore Roosevelt. son of the former President, under policy that calls for adherence to the present naval building programme until such time as the nations may be brought into definite agreement for the reduction of armaments.
 Continuation of the capital ship con- struction programme for the present was announced formally as an adninistra- ton policy by President-elect Harding at the same time that. he made. known definitely the final designation of MT. Denby as secretary of the navy and MT. Roosevelt as assistant secretary. He al- ready has communicated his wishes to leaders in Congress
 HARDING LEAVES TONIGHT
 His conference with MT. Denby ended MT. Hardings work here, and he will
 
 his neighbors will give him 3 farewell celebration on Tuesday. He expects to reach Washington Thursday, the day be- fore inauguration.
 The definite confirmation of MT. Dem by's selection which has been known un- officially here for several Gays, came in a long conference in which he laid be- fore the President-elect his policy Ar terward he would not discuss detailed policies, saying frankly that he felt he had much to learn about thu greater cogs in the national machine of sea de- fense, but approached his responsibilities confidently, with trained soldiers de- vction. to duty.
 Although he came into the cabinet lineup at the last minute as a dark horse selection. MT. Denby brings to the secretaryship an unusual background of naval experience. Besides having been an enlisted man in war time in, both the navy and the marines he has served as a member of, the House naval committee, has gained through close con tact knowledge of conditions beyond the insular possessions in the Pacificy where more than once the Washington government has cast a questioning eye.
 COMPLETELY SURPRISED
 A lawyer by profession, he now holds the title of probation officer of the crim-i inal court in Detroit, Mich. He de&ared his selection had come as a complete surprise to him. but he emerged into the limelight of national affairs, smiling gen. tally and comporting himself az confi- dently as though he had been cabinet member all of his life
 In declining to speak of specific naval policies. Mir. Denby reminded his ques- tioners in matter of fact way that he never had hasn in e;ose eaatact With tho larger policies of the department and so might find himself stranger to some of the important questions of policy. But he added that an absence of preccnceive@ opinions might not be entirely detri- ment.
 T may say in general terms, " he continued. that my conception of the. duty of secretary is to act as an ad- Congress, and more important stiIl to maintain whatever navy Congress gives
 tCo.tinnea on Page Nine)