The New York herald., 1921-02-27
ROOSEVELT NAMED
T0T.R.'SOLD POST,
DENBY'S FIRST AID
Appointment of Teddy's Son
as Assistant Secretary of
Navy Announced.
DENLY WELCOMES HIM
Michigan Man Has Formal
ly Accepted Portfolio in
the New Cabinet.
SEA POLICY MADE CLEAR
President-Elect ReenfOrces His
Stand Against a Halt in
Building Warships.
SEA POLICY MADE CLEAR

NTH CABINET appointment. After q
conference lasting less than an hour,
during which Mr.. Harding obtained
the Michigan mans views on the ques-
ton Of naval preparedness, Mr.. Har
ding offered the Navy portfolio to
Edwin DENLY Of Detroit, who accepted
at once.
The next Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy will be Theodore Roosevelt His
selection had been determined upon
several weeks ago by Mr. Harding
and it needed only the approval Of the
next Secretary, Mr.. Roosevelt having
already informed Mr.. Harding of his
readiness to serve.
In the case Of Mr.. DENLY, or Major
DENLY, as he sometimes is referred to,
MIR. Harding made the announcement
in much the same manner as he
announced the appointment of Mr..
Hughes as Secretary of State The
new Secretary was with him when the
correspondents were summoned.
II have said to Major Denby." Mr..
Harding began, that I would like to
nominate him for Secretary of the
Navy, and he has said he would serve.
II want to add another word or
paragraph of news. have had a very
earnest wish to call to the assistance
of the Secretary of the Navy, out Of
respect for his capacity and for senti-
mental reasons Theodore Roosevelt,
as Assistant Secretary Of the Navy.
Major DENLY has said he would be
happy to have him. and Mr.. Roosevelt
also has promised to serve"
Naval Holiday Rejected.
Asked concerning his letter to Senator
Lodge. in which he was reported as hav-
ing urged his influence for Increased
navy appropriations and continuance
of the naval construction programme,
Mr.. Harding made 1t clear that he was
against any suggestion of a naval holi-
day" until there has been a general
agreement among the naval Powers
II have said" Mr.. Harding replied,
"to such members Of the Naval Affairs
Committee who have asked me. that I
would be very reluctant to suspend our
capital ship programme until we had
entered into an agreement with the other
nations for programme OF disarma-
ment"
AS he did with Mr.. Hughes, Mr.. Har-
ding then turned over Mr.. DENLY to the
newspapermen TO talk for himself, and
the new Secretary Immediately out
lined his conception OF the duties of his
new post.
THE duties Of the Secretary of the Navy,
as l take them to be-" he said, "are ::
First, to advise the President, Cabinet
and Congress and, second, and most
important of ALL to maintain whatever
navy the Congress gives us at the high
est peak of power and ready for instant
battle"
The new Secretary is a big, robust
man, with a frame little larger than
that of the President-elect. He is as
bald as Franklin K. Lane, whom he re-
sennbles somewhat He Is bluff and cor
dial and has the great advantage of ap-
preaching his new work with an fnti-
mate knowledge of navy matters. He
knows the smell of salt water as well
as gunpowder, for he has been before
the mast and also non-commissioned
officer in the Marines.
only Legionnaire I'm Cabinet.
Mr.. Denny explained tndt TIE SusseS-
ton of his becoming Secretary OF the
NAVY had come to him as a very great
surprise. He received the first intima-
tion that ne was under consideration on
February %.
"That is my wifes birthday and my
mothers birthday" he remarked, "as
well as George Washington's."
The Secretary let II be known that he
has dropped the title of Major, which he
- &l.n EA-
serve Corps. He explained that some
time ago he had thought of running Coz
Governor of Michigan, and believed his
military title should not be used as a
political asset He was asked II he knew
how he had come to be copsidered for
the navy place, and said that he under
stood II was his good friend John W.
Weeks of Massachusetts,, who is to be
Secretary of War. who first suggested
him. Senator Townsend of Michigan
s.dded his Endorsement
1--WE always loved the navy" Mr.
DENLY went on. IT was named for my
uncle. a naval officer who died In the
line Of duty | should have been equally
interested in the army. as my father
was Colonel in the Spanish war"
Mr.. DENLY wears the button OF the
American Legion and Is the only mem
Der Of the new Cabinet to do so. He is
- rureign Wars.
Mr.. DENLY has the distinction OF hav-
ing seen service as an enlisted man In
two wars. He enlisted in the navy dur
ing the Spanish war and became a gun
.ser's mate. In the world war he enlst-
ed in the Marine Corps as private at
the age of ~ and was Lieutenant when
he received his discharge. which carried
with II a Majority In the Reserve. His
principal duty in the Marine Corps was
as personnel and morale officer at Parjo
Island. where he trained.
In August. 1918, Lieut. DENLY was
sent to France as an observer. He was
attached to the Marine brigade of the
Second division under command of Gen.
John Lejeune, which was a part Of the
Fourth French army under command
of Gen. Gouraud. His headquarters dur
s-e nsse,, VI this duty was at Somme-py
~ the Champagne. which in October
priot to the armistice was under ex-
tremely heavy artillery fire.
Mr.. DENLY Is expected to become ex-
ceedingly popular with the men In the
rvice. Asked IL ne had any decided
views on administration. particularly In
tegard to questAcos Of discipline, he re-