Evening star., 1923-12-17
Army yandNavyNews
BY Nj. HI. MCINTYRE

percentage of the total of that corps
TO be placed in the higher ranks.
For example, officers of the conStruc-
tion corps are particularly well fitted
TO act as managers at navy yards,
and they are now occupying such
positions. But the Woods bill will
| eventually reduce the number of
such high ranking constructors to
ber, with the result that there will
be enough left for only the highly
technical branch of a naval con-
structor's work. A similar analysis
/ could be made in the case of the
civil Engineer Corps.
Furthermore, Congress should look
into the advisability of applying age
in grade retirement to staff corps
officers. While this provision affords
a flow of promotion in the line, it is
of highly trained technicians would
prove economical or desirable. There
are SO few fitted by adaptability.
training or experience to carry out
| these technical duties that it seems
foolhardy to separate them from the
service in the very prime of their
careers.
The proposed legislation smacks of
amalgamation in a disguised form.
The new result will be the absolute
domination of all activities of naval
i work by line officers, and staff Off
GERS Will be relegated to position
or impotence, much the same as pro-
fessors of mathematics have expert
enced. Instead of staff "amalgama-
ton" we shall have, as a substitute.
staff elimination"
Despite the Recommendation and
approval of the Secretary OF the
Navy. which it is believed is based
on an incomplete presentation of
and the country a service by thor
oughly investigating all the pro-
visions of this scheme. and by de-
manding to know the composite
service opinion as to the ultimate
effects of such legislation.
Assignment of the ten new light
cruisers has been made by the de-
partment. One of them will go as
flagship of the destroyer f1otilla
other nine will be organized about
January l into divisions of three
each in the scouting fleet. The Rich
mond will go south about the first
of the year and meet the Milwaukee e
in Panama and Admiral Magruder
will take command Of the first div
ision.
Capt. Samuel Bryant has reported
for duty in the department to the
office of naval communications. He
will devote his attention to the
forthcoming international conven-
ton. at which he will represent the
Navy.
Lieut. Commander NJ. L. Hersey has
been detached from duty at the
naval proving grounds at Dahlgren,
Va, and ordered to duty eXecu
tive officer aboard the Camden.
tender to submarine division 4.
Assignment of Capt Edward H.
Watson, commander of the ill-fated
squadron of destroyers wrecked on
the California coast last September
to duty as assistant commandant
at Honolulu. as reported in press
discussion in the department over
the disaster.
While 1.-The findings of the court
martial have not been submitted to
the Secretary nor made public. it is
known that the sentence, both in the
case of Capt. Watson and Commander
Donald Hunter. the commanding Off
GER of the Delphi, the squadron
leader. is not dismissal from the
service" but probably will be
heavy loss of numbers.
orders issued within the last few
days include the assignment of
Commander Hunter, to duty on the
L. S. s. Nevada and the assignment
officers involved in the court martial.
Secretary DENLY will have little
option as to his course when the
cases come to him. He can either
disapprove, which would free the
officers convicted from any punish
ment in case he considered the SEN
tences inadequate. or approve the