Evening star., 1923-01-09
Efforts Being Made to Recall
Experts Who Lost Jobs
After ParIey.
M0DERNIZING WARSHIPS
CAUSE FOR ACTIVITIES
Promotion of Capt. Dayton Seen as
Indication Forces Will
Be Enlarged.

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factory, which will involve a re-em-
ployment Of a large number of the
gun-building experts who lost their
jobs as a result of wholesale dis
charges, is being planned, 1t was
learned today from a source con-
sidered authoritative. officers at the
local gun factory where practically
all of the gun work of the Navy is
done, as it is the Navy's only gun
factory, it is understood, now are for
mulating plans which will call for the
opening of number of the shops now
closed, and the gun-building machinery
which has been laying idle for months
is expected soon to be whirring.
While those who are familiar with
the situation decline to discuss the
plans, or even admit that they are
working on such a problem, IL has be-
come known that hurried efforts are
pelng made to get the shops ready and
to get in contact with the expert gun
smiths on big guns who lost their
jobs.
Information Is Surprise.
This information came as a clear sur
prise to those who are in close touch
with conditions at the Washington gun
factory, as there was a general belief
that further reductions in the force
were expected. Investigation of the re-
ports brought out the information from
an unofficial source that the wage board,
which has not yet made its official re-
port to the commandant Of the yard,
would recommend an increase in wages
for practically every one in the yard.
While this was to be expected in view
NJ kn fn 80 4In L.,
the board recommending a one-cent-
an-hour reduction was sent back to
the local board by the general wage
board OF review at the Navy Depart
ment to be given additional considera-
ton, IL is now believed by those hav-
ing knowledge of conditions in the
gun factory that the board will
recommend mn increase which will at
tract back to the government jobs
those men who, through long years OF
service In building great guns and
mounts, have become invaluable to
the naval service. but who were forced
out through scant appropriations. For
months. when the discharges were
impending, pleas came from both in
side and outside of the naval service
for something to be done which would
keep intact the force of workmen
who have spent practically their en-
tire lives in working on naval vessels
and guns.
FreB1uenf B&hfn6 Plans
1t is understood that the request OF
the President, forwarding the Navy
Departments request for an appro-
priation of s6,500,008 for use in mod
ernizing the batteries of the battle
fleet so that the ranges of the big
guns will equal those now on the
vessels of Great Britain. is behind
nj
operations at the local yard
Much of this appropriation for
changing the mounts of the great
guns. it was said, would be spent in
the local gun factory. The other
yards are shipyards and none of the
gun building is done at any of them.
The gun mounts are even construct
work in remodeling the main bat
teries of big guns in the battle fleet
will be on the mounts.
While the appropriation has not
in naval circles that Congress will
not deny the Navy these funds, which
are absolutely necessary to bring the
American battle fleet on an equal
basis with that of Great Britain. The
information in the possession of the
Navy is that Great Britain already
has done the necessary work on the
guns of her main battle feet which
gives them range much over that OF
the American fleet. 1t will take many
of the United States fleet on a par
with the British vessels from the
standpoint of long range shooting.
For this reason, 1t is understood,
the bureau of ordnance of the Navy
Department, under which the local
naval gun factory comes direct, to be
prepared to start work Immediately
the appropriation becomes available.
Men Widely Scattered.
Il will take scme weeks to assem-
the discharged men have gone to
other cities, and it is believed that
the Navy will have to make the jobs
particularly attractive to bring these
experts back into the service. Under
the plans and preparations now being
made it is understood that the local
gun factory will have the force on
tap and the machinery ready just as
soon as the money is appropriated
and can be used.
Another point which is considered
significant when considered in con-
nection with the other information
which has been obtained by investi-
cation is the recommendation for the
promotion of Capt. John H. Dayton,
commandant at the Washington navy
yard and superintendent of the naval
gun factory, to the rank of rear ad-
miral. For a number of years the
local yard and gun factory has been
in command of captain in the Navy.
but inquiry today at the Navy De-
partment developed the point that
Capt. Dayton would be left in COM
mand even after the Senate confirms
him as rear admiral. This placing
of the gun factory in the class OF
rear admirars commands leads
strongly to the belief that a great
increase in activities and personnel
can be expected there very soon.