Evening star., 1923-12-02

Janeiro. The officers who were pre-
sented with the Brazilian award are
as follows:
Army-Maj. r. F. Walsh. Quarter
master CorpS Maj. w. w. Kirby
Corps of Engineers: Maj. w. VI
Corps; Lieut.. W. c. Bennett. Corps
OF Engineers; Maj. F. L. Whitley
infantry, and Mai. NJ. F. McAleer
ordnance. Officers Reserve Corps
Navy-Capt. ID. e. Dismukes, Com
mander l.. D. Causey. Commander l.
B. Portertield. Lieut.. Commander D
A. Scott. Lieut.. Commander f. J.
Comerford, Lieut.. Commander II. L.
Nerring, Lieut.. Commander +. Bu-
chanan. Lieut.. Commander r. c. Law
der. Lieut. Dwight Dickinson and
Lieut.. Commander Glenn F. Howell
Marine Corps-Maj. Randolph Coyle
Capt. Lee w. Wright, Capt Lemuel
Shepherd, First Lieut.. Joseph e
Burke, First Lieut.. II. II. Hanneken
and Second Lieut.. Andrew Cherbon
nier.
No important Legislation other than
the on-commissioned officers bill
will be sent to Congress by the War
Department. it was decided by the
legislative council at its meeting
this week. Though there are mum
Der OF provisions which must be
ironed out before the bill is sent 10
Congress, it is generally believed that
the bill will be much broader in Its
scope.
Though up to the present time War
Department authorities have turned
deaf ear TO any form of twenty
f1ve-year retirement bill, 1t is insist
ed that any increase in the appro-
priations should be expended for ad-
ditional commissioned ofhcers
A great shortage Of non-commission-
ed officers exists at the present time
in all three components Of the Army
Of the United States, and It IS
pointed out that In this respect
non-commissioned officers should be
placed on the same basis as com
missioned officers. In this event, it
is stated in the department, such an
expansion Of commissioned Off
GERS would prove to be more at
tractive to those men who desire TO
make the Army their life's work
than a twenty-fve-year retirement
Those supporting twenty-nVe-yea ar
retirement feature. however, are IN
clined to the belief that what the
men are looking TO is their future,
and that the twenty-fve-yea retire
ment bill is the only measure which
will satisfy them on this point. Al
the present time a number of inhu-
entail members Of the lower body OF
Congress have become intensely in
tirement bill. but what the outcome
will be cannot be foretold until the
Of Congress and the COM
mittees are organized.
NAVY.
Final touches were put on the
naval omnibus bill at series OF cen
ferences between departmental heads
last week and IL Is now ready for
to the committees when
Congress convenes.
In addition to the thirteen sections
disposed Of in last years measure
which, like so many other bills, got
'Iost in the shuttle" in the mad
scramble that marked the closing
days Of Congress, there are sixteen
new sections.
While the bill includes all the
odds and ends" miscellaneous as
sortment Of items necessary Tor the
there are one or two provisions GER
tain to be the center of warm dis
cussion. One section, which seek
initial legislation for the proposed
Rodman board base development
project includes the Alameda bay
discord. Final settle
ment one way or the other must be
made at this session II the govern =
ment is to take advantage or the
offer Of the site. the time limit on
which expires in the near future.
naval projects which are to be taken
before Congress are included in the
omnibus bill. A separate fight VIII
be made for the proposed new con-
struction Of cruisers. gunboats and
as will be the case OF
the modernization program. sun an
other separate issue Will be raise
over the gun elevation program. over
which such a controversy ragged last
session. Convinced that no question
as to our moral or legal right under
the treaty to make the gun changes
can be raised. departmental heads
have decided to ask Congress to re-
the s6.5oo.ooo 1t set aside
for this purpose. but which the Navy
did not spend in view OF the con-
troversy that came up over II. The
contention will be advanced that
eyen though the British have not
made such changes as Congress was
led to believe, they have marked
advantage in range over our meet
and that nothing in the spirit or let
ter Of the treaty prevents our get
ting on parity or range by eIeVat-
ing our big guns.
In spite of the unusual demand Tor
economy and the fact that this is a
presidential election year, with all
the attendant difficulties in getting
new legislation, naval heads are
hopeful Of making headway with
both the new construction and mod
ernization programs. They believe
that there Is a well defined under
standing throughout the country of
the need Of America having an eff
c,ent Navy up to the treaty stand
ard, In view Of the situation abroad
and feel that Congress will give due
consideration.
The U. 8. S. West Virginia. the
last of the big battleships the United
States will build for some years to
come. will be turned over to the
government and duly commissioned
tomorrow, at pm. Under command
will go to the New York navy yard
for installation of her fire control
and other finishing touches. AS this
will take several months no effort
will be made to have her join the
fleet during the winter maneuvers.
Capt o. p Jackson reported to the
depa rtment this week and assumed d
his new duties as director of naval
communications.
Adoption Of general intelligence
test" similar to those used by the
Civil Service Commission and many
large commercial concerns. to sys-
tematize the selection of enlisted
men for the naval training schools.
was announced this week by the
bureau of navigation.
All training stations have been
supplied with the tests selected for
the Navy's use and the systematic
use Of this method will begin at
once. A limited supply of the tests
is also available for ships and
stations desiring them. Successful
working of similar tests outside the
service has convinced bureau officials
that parallel results will be pro-
duced in the service and the per-
centage Of inapt students in the trade
schools will be materially reduced.
Due to the 1ong-existing shortage
of trained enlisted personnel afioat
and the consequent inability of ships