Evening star., 1923-10-07

subnAitted by which the records Of en-
listed men at q post or in a regiment
win be handled by the regimental adju-
tant instead Of the unit commanders.
Company commanders are continually
complaining of the great amount Of pa
per work which Is required of them.
and they declare that 1t tnterferes to a
great extent in the proper. training of
their organization. Under the amended
national defense act, the Increased train
ing activities of the regular establish
ment have reached the point where it
Is OF the utmost Importance to relieve
the, company commanders offthls work.
War Department Bulletin No. Is, 1923.
which applies to both post exchanges
and private concerns alike, prescribes
that purchasers Of badges. medals and
service ribbons must produce proof that
the exchanges or private concerns are
authorized to sell them. This post ex-
changes must apply to the War De-
partment for the authority to sell these
decorations and they cannot sell these
articles indiscrimipately any more than
commercial concern. Even though
the post exchange officer knows that
the purchaser is entitled to wear the
badge, medal or service ribbon, he must
show his War Department authority
before 1t will be sold to him.
Navy.
Calling attention that the Limitation
OF material imposed by the limita-
tion of armament treaty on the ma
terial part Of the Navy makes it
imperative that the personnel ef-
flciency be maintained at the highest
possible degree, Secretary DENLY has
referred to the general board the per-
Gonnel situation for a comprehensive
study. In his letter transmitting this
49, tx - t1a "a v~xr
directs It to consider the entire SUBJ
ject and to submit detailed recon-
mendations as to means for increas-
ing the personnel efficiency.
This action. almost revolutionary in
naval procedure. was taken by the
Secretary after nearly year of study
and work in conjunction with Capt.
Richard Lee. assistant chief of bureau
of navigation, in an effort to de-
crease the efficiency loss to the Navy
caused by losses in enlisted personnel
from causes other than expiration of
enligtments.
For months past personnel eff
cheney has been widely discussed in
naval circles and has been a live topic
at the Navy War College, as well as
ence between the bureau and COM
manding officers throughout the serv-
ice. Suggestions have been asked
from all of these officers as to ways
and means to decrease the number of
desertions and increase the number
Capt. Lee returned from an extended
trip to all the shore stations. where
he sought first-hard information on
this subject.
Not only will the MANAGEMENT of
enlisted personnel be considered by
well. It is hoped throughout the
service that this action Of the Sec
retary in, for the first time, refer
ring the personnel questions to the
policy of referring matters of real
policy to that organization.
Under the workings Of the budget
system the line of. communication
between the general board and Con-
gress has been severed. Before the
nual report. which was submitted to
Congress, forming the basis for all
important naval Legislation and. in
fact. shaping the entire policy of
the Navy.
gress nor the budget bureau would
assume any responsibility for de-
ficiencieS in the Navy in case of war.
but that the naval officers themselves
would be held accountable for any
is a general feeling that the time
is ripe for the general board and
naval authorities to be given an op-
portunity to tell Congress and the
country just what the navy needs;
that the general board should be
permitted each year to, point out.
after comprehensive study. just
where and how much the budget es-
innate falls short of the Navy's real
needs.
Bringing with them the Schneider
cup seaplane trophy, the highest
prize. in aeronautics for seagoing
aviation the four Navy pilots who
comprised the American. team that
carried Off first and second honors
September. IS, breaking all seaplane
speed records, will sail for home next
Tuesday aboard the Leviathan. The
team consists of Lieuts. F. w. Read.
in charge; David Rittenhouse. winner;
Rutledge Irvine, second, and A. w.
Gorton. BY their victory the holding
of the race next year in this country
is assured as the conditions provide