Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

Mayfiower on shaking down"
cruise to the west coast and> using
her for the Alaskan trip and of
changing the West Indies schedule
of the Henderson and diverting her
to the west coast. 1t was pointed
out to the President that the Hem
derson would make regular trip
from Hampton roads with full pas
senger list of naval personnel and a
cargo of freight and could then be
diverted long enough to make the
Alaskan trip. When she reaches San
Francisco on the return from Alaska
she will pick up officers and men
scheduled for the east coast and a
freight cargo as well.
Selection of the Henderson will en-
able the entire party to remain in
tact during the trip. the accommoda-
lions being adequate, and she is of
sufficiently shallow draft to follow
the inland passages except for one
short strip, which she will have to
negotiate on the outside.
Capt. Arthur Macarthur, the pres
ent skipper of the Henderson, Is i'll
at the Naval Hospital, but, according
to Secretary DENLY, il Is hoped he
viii recover in time to be in COM
mand when the ship sails from Hamp-
ton roads on June / for the west
coast.
Repairs on the L. s. S. Mayfiower
nave been completed and she will re-
port back to the navy yard here to-
morrow. Tentative orders issued for
her TO be ready to proceed to the
west coast were cancelled this week
when the President reached his de-
cision to use the Henderson for the
Alaskan trip. Last week she went
through shaking-down process
cruising around Chesapeake bay.
Plans are under consid IRA ton for
bringing the L. S. s. Langley TO
Washington for the Shrine conven-
ton. rms aircraft carrier is the only
one IN the American Navy and il is
DelleEed that she will prove intensely
interesting to the thousands of Wis
itors who will be here from all parts
or the country. There is some cues
ZION ABOUT the advisa bility of bring
ing her up the Potomac on account
been reached.
another. naval exhibit that is sure
10 attract attention during Shrine
week Will be the famous old flying
boat the NC-4. flagship of the
squadron of three that ATTEMPTED the
first transatlantic flight. and the one
tLat carried Commander Read and his
oTe" safely across, giving America
the honor of having made the first
night across the Atlantic II present
plans are carried out the historic
craft VIII be set up in Potomac Park
where she viii be on exhibition dur
ing the entire week. In addition the
department has ordered three de-
stroytrs and three submarines to
Washington for the conclave.
The class of 1917 of the Naval
academy has arranged for a reunion
and supper in Baltimore the evening
or May 20. A large number of them
happen to be in Washington and
vicinity at present. and all members
of the class who are now on duty on
the east coast are expected to be
present. The class officers include
Lieut.. John b. Heffernan and Lieut.
Kenneth Coontz. both of whom are
now on duty in the department.
Rear Admiral William A. Moffett
is soon to have his own flagship,
which he will use for his inspection
trips and other official duties An
HIS seaplane is being reconNitioned
at the naval aircraft factory at Phil
adelphla for this purpose. All of the
latest devices will be installed, in
Guiding an "admiraTs cabin" in the
after cockpit AS soon as the
changes are. made the aerial flag ship
will be brought to Washington.
Recent increase in the number of
ucScIlIOus ITOIH Ine navy Is e
considerable concern. Statistics pre-
pared by the bureau Of navigation
show that while the pro rata OF de-
sertions for the present year are con-
siderably below the average for the
same period in former they are in
creasing Of late. A circular calling
attention to this is being sent out by
the bureau, with the request to COM
handing officers that special effort be
made to reduce the percentage.
striking illustration of this is
found in the case of the Maryland,
one of the best battleships Of the
fleet, which recently left New York
on a cruise to southern waters minus
nearly two score members of her
crew. Another case was that of the
Orleans with about twenty of her
crew failing to report when she sail
ed
The principal reason assigned for
the present conditions. of which the
two cases cited are merely examples.
country, with high wages prevailing
and employment plentiful.
Practically all of the changes re-
Gently announced of the important
commands afloat and ashore will be
made during July and August, though
few will be made during the latter
part of June.
Admiral E w. Eberle will be re-
lieved of command of the battle fleet
on June 80 by Admiral S. $. Robson,
and will report Immediately after
ward to the department. He will not,
however, assume his duties as chief
of naval operations for several weeks.
He will take over about the last of
July, and Admiral Robert E. Coontz
will leave at once for the west coast
and hoist his flag as commander-in-
chief aboard the Seattle, administra-
tive flagship. at San Diego on Au-
gust 5. +
Rear Admiral r H Jackson will re-
port for duty as assistant, chief of
operations in July relieving Rear Ad-
-miral A. H. Robertson. who goes to
San Diego as commandant Of the
eleventh naval district.
Rear Admiral Andrew Long will re-
lieve Rear Admiral Thomas Washing
ton early in July, and the latter will
leave at once, to assume command of
the Asiatic fleet.
Selection of Capt Pitt Scott to
command the submarine forces in the
Pacific practically completes the
changes in high commands afioat. The
list as 1t will stand by September !
is as follows:
Chief naval operations, Admiral E.
w. Eberle; assistant chief naval OPP
erations, Rear Admiral r. H. Jackson;
head war plans, operations. Rear Ad-
miral w. r. Shoemaker; chief of bu-
reau of navigation, Rear Admiral A.
4. Long: Communicated chief, United
States fleet. Admiral r. E. Coontz;
chief of-staff, United States feet,
Rear Admiral w. C. Cole; commander
in-chief, battle fleet, Admiral S. s.
Robinson; chief battle, fleet,
Capt l.. A. Bostwick; vice admiral,
battle fleet, Vice Admiral H. A. Wi
ley; commander. Division 4. battle
fleet, Rear Admiral w. ". Pratt; COM
mander Division 8. battle fleet, Rear
Admiral L. NJ. Mutton; commander
destroyers, battle fleet, Rear Admiral
>: Il. w. kittelle; commander, subma-
rines, battle fleet. Capt. Pitt Scott: