Evening star., 1923-05-13

objeotion. ia tho fact that several
point out lack of stowaee facilities
aboard ship for keeping In good con-
dftfon such uniform as the one sug-
gested.
Typical of the majority Of replies
received Is tho one from Admiral
e. w. Eberle. ~commander-in-ch chief
battle heet, who merely forwards =
, with his concurrence the report OF
Vice Admiral w. r. Shoemaker, COM
/ mander battleship divisions, under
him, opposing the change.
Admiral Shoemakers report Is as
follows:
Divisions commander recommends
tern at the present time. The pres
ent uniform Is distinctive Of the Navy
| such as no other pattern could be.
1t Is the most comfortable and the
least expensive that can be designed.
| and IL more easily kept presentable.
The men themselves take pride In
the present pattern and desire to re-
| tain 1t.
What discomfort there is comes
not from the pattern of the uniform,
but from the material and the lack
of fit. To remedy these defects men
! should be allowed to purchase pres
ent stock at much reduced prices so
| that thehy may be worn as undress
blues. and men who are unable to
get a we'll fitting suit should be al
i
| ashore. but regulation in pattern"
Representing another shade of
opininion is the report from Capt.
Yates Stirling. jr.. commanding the
| y. S. S. Mexico, who favors change
in the enlisted mems uniform but
believes that a modification of the
| present one will be the solution. Re-
| duction in the size of the collar, cir
cumferenos Of the sleeve, the width
OF the cum and increasing fare of
the bottom OF the trousers will. in
his opinion, provide uniform sat
| isfactory to the men. and will obviate
| the purchase OF tailor-made uniforms
| ashore.
Capt. Yates in stating his opposi-
| ton to the radical change proposed.
| says:
| 'The fundamentals of our present
| uniform represent traditions of which
our men are proud. A change of this
type of uniform is not desired by
the men and will only cause discon-
| tent, The suggested uniform Is not
| adaptable to the service under the
| present arrangement of stowage OF
enlisted mems clothing aboard ship.
| They would need constant pressing,
could not be rolled or folded, and. IL
] not properly cared for, will detract
rather than add to the neat appear
| ance of the wearer."
Among the minority that favors the
| proposed Is Commander Wilbur Smith,
\ executive officer of the U. 5. s. Ten
nessee, whose report Is forwarded to
| the department by his commanding
| officer, Capt. Philip Williams. himself
topposed to the change at the present
| time in view of the tremendous stocks
| Of uniforms now on hand.
Pointing out that under the pres
ent system of issuing the wartime
ill-made uniforms of different mate
| rial it is impossible to make any
| number of the men present anything
! more than mediocre appearance,
! Commander Smith declares that a "dou
| ibfe-breasted coat, properly cut trousers
| and suitable cap" as recommended
| would be welcomed almost unani-
| mously by the enlisted personnel. Out
| side Its sentimental value he writes
the present type is most unsatisfac-
| tory and tolerated only because of Its
long continued use.
Another appeal has been sent out
| to the service for extra effort to bring
about more re-enlistments in order to
! keep trained men in the Navy and
| reduce turnover in personnel" Lat
| est recruiting statistics show that
! more than 1900 men must be OBJ
| tanned before July to keep the Navy
| up to authorized strength.
| According to information just com.
| piled by the bureau Of navigation the
| line Of the Navy is now 1243 officers
short of the authorized strength.
The following tabulation shows the
general officer personnel situation az
4 of March Al.