Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-02
NAVY OFFICERS
PROTEST CUT
FROM RESERVE
Appeal to Harding Against
Alleged Discrimination
Against Them.

WASHINGTON. May . - Nearly 400
Naval reserve and auxiliary officers Of
various grades now in active duty viii
be separated from the service July 1.
without provision for the future under
terms Of the Navy Appropriation bill
which has passed the House.
Included in this number OF officers are
ffty-nine old time officers who compose
the Naval Auxiliary Service, which was
organized in 1S9S for the Spanish -Ameri-
can war. They were placed in charge of
the naval supply ships, all OF the officers
Of the regular naval establishment be
ing needed for the battleship.
When organized, officers in the axi-
Iiary service were accorded the same priv
ileges as the regulars. with longevity pay
and other benefits. In the emergency of
1917 Congress leSislated these auxiliary
officers into the newly organized naval
reserves. This deprived them Of their
Longevity pay and other benefits and
placed them on a par with volunteer
officers Of little OF no service record.
The Navy Appropriation bill which
passed the House made 10 provision for
these hfty-nine auxiliary reServisis, who
bad served both in the Spanish American
end in the World War. Il is claimed for
them that their service should give them
3 status identical with or superior TO
That Of many Of the younger regular
1ficers.
No RETIRE
MENT PAY.
Legislation already enacted and bills
pending before the House Naval Affairs
Committee provide for pensioning regu-
lar combat officers and for retirement at
90 years afo age or for length Of service.
No retirement pay or other benefits are
provided for the nifty nine officers who
composed the old naval auxiliary service.
many Of whom are nearing the 6O-year-
age limit
These auxiliary officers have appealed
70 President Harding IN an effort 10
correct this alleged gross discrimination
= Letters Of protest, ii effect a round robin,
have been nailed by each officer to the
White House
It is expected the fight viii be carried
to the Senate Naval Affairs Committee.
where the work Of the House ApprOpria-
lions Committee is TO undergo careful
revision. Friends O fthe old naval Off
GERS expect the Senate 10 grant relief
from the apparent injustice.
The House Appropriations Committee
considered the case fthe reserve and
auxiliary officers serving on active duty
when il framed the Appropriation bin. II
was determined 70 reduce the cost Of the
naval establishment and decided the
only way 10 effect reductions was 10 cut
OF officers and men. It was not au-
thorized 10 make provisions for retire
ment or retirement pay, that being the
duty and the province OF the Naval At
fairs Committee.
A surrey made Of the officer person
nel Of the navy convinced the appropria-
lions committee there were q sufficient
number Of regular officers IN the navy
10 command all vessels Of the reduced
navy. even the GOLFERS, supply ships and
oilers. 1t was on these latter vessels.
auxiliaries to the battleships, that the
reservists and auxiliary service men
We're in command or served as chief OF
6cers and chief engineers.
PIETAIN
REGULAR OFFICERS
1t was decided by the appropriations
committee that the better policy was
to retain in the active service as many
as possible Of the regular navy officers
and TO force removals or separations
from among the reservists. This plan
was followed. and pay authorized by
the bill IS restricted 10 regular officers
of the navy, with some few exceptions
Commands William Prideaux Of the
training ship Rappahannock at San
Diego, Cal, is one of the auxiliary Of
fcers who has written the President lie
was first officer Of the supply ship cairo.
which went with Admiral Dewey's feet
into Manila Bay May l. 1899 and has
since been in the naval service.
Il have full faith said Commander
Trideaux. that Congress aud the ad-
uinistration will correct the lack Of
provision for US in the pending legisla-
ton when our long years of faithful
service are brought TO their attention.
There are two simple means of
remedying the situation. Congress might
look favorably on a plan TO transfer
these officers 10 the regular service as
extra numbers in grade out of the line
Of regular promotion and retain them
for service on auxiliary ships. If this
Is not feasible retirement pay privileges