Evening star., 1924-08-17

the ships in the
fleet. 5NHS
With the exist Ez%M, ssssS~
ing shortage Of EW&
officers in the en- ~ 49
tire fleet. there M%#MX&
are frequent calls 1MMzN#
made upon the N%MMn4MA#@##
bureau for cap
tainS for impor- Pas,Aam sho.n.k.r
ldhI shofe assignments to relieve
ship commanders prior to the COM
pletlon OF their two years afloat. 1t
Is contended by Admiral Shoemaker
that the transfer of a commander of
battleship should not even be con-
sldered by the department until he
has served at least eighteen months.
TWO years is preferable, and il is in
sisted by the admiral that strict ad-
herence to this two-year duty policy
is the only way in which the eff
/ ficiency of the fleet can be main
tanned
This policy should also apply to the
executive and navigation officers, and
under no circumstances would the bu-
reau relieve commander, executive
officer and navigation officer at the
same time. The new chief of the
bureau is desirous of having the
! tours of duty of these three officers
overlap. SO that one Of the three will
remain with the ship in the event
that the tours of duty Of the other
two will terminate at the end of the
year.
The efficiency and the close Good
Grafton among the vessels of the fleet
cannot be maintained, insists Admiral
/ Shoemaker, if the ship commanders
are not assigned to them a sufficient
length of time to develop it. Reduc-
ing the number of changes in ship
commanders to minimum is the
most effective way to secure team
work.
submarine training school has
just recently been established by the
Bureau of Navigation, Navy Depart
ment, at the submarine base, New
London, Conn. the object of which is
to give preliminary training in sub
marines to men who are to be as
signed to that duty and who have
had no previous experience in the
submarine service. The duration of
the course varies from four to twelve
weeks, dependent upon the rating
held. During this course Of instr7lc-
ton those men who are unsuitable
for submarine duty are eliminated
and sent to general service. while
those completing the course are sent
TO the fleet for assignment to SUB
marine vessels as vacancies occur.
R"cruItlnE officers in the New Eng.
land, eastern, southeastern and cen
| tral recruiting divisions have been
notified by the bureau t0 interview
men who apply for re-enlistment in
( the ratings appearing below with a
view to determining whether such
men desire to enter the submarine
service through this special school
and appear TO be desirable men for
this character Of service. Only men
of the following ratings will be au-
thorized to receive this instruction:
Torpedomen, 1c, &c, sc; Quarterrnas-
ters, &c, Sc; electricians mates, 1c, &c
&c: machinist's mates. 1c &c: motor
1c, &c, &c; engineuen, 1c. &C; firernen
lc: seamen, 1c. Transfer Of chief
petty officers will not he authorized
Only men who satisfactorily com
plete this course will be sent to the
fleet for this duty, and though they
probably be assigned and continued
| on this duty during satisfactory serv-
ice, their future transfers are de-
pendent upon conditions in the fleet
and promises relative to future duty
cannot be given them.
Distribution is now being made of
| Navy education study courses for
coxswains and boatswain's mates
and for quartermasters. The atten-
tion of the authorities in the depart
ment has been called 30 the fact
that in some cases enlisted men have
experienced considerable difficulty in
obtaining the courses distributed by
the bureau due to the limited num-
Der of certain courses on board ship.
while in some cases men were not
cognizant of the availa bility of GER
tain courses for distribution. The
first distribution of these courses is
approximate only and any requests
for additional courses will be grant
ed Immediately.
After a number of conferences be-
tween the Secretary Of the Navy and
the controller general a compromise
was reached under which diSburSing
officers are allowed to withhold only
30 per cent of an officers pay when
there is a question as to the legality
of the allowance. The Secretary of the
Navy holds to the opinion that the
salary of an officer is not subject to
offset because of claims of the Gov
ernment and that the Supreme Court
of the United States is decisive. A
contrary view is held by the con-
troller general. Though it was
agreed to reduce the amount with
>
cent. this will not sacrifice any of
the rights of an officer in court and
he can bring suit for the total amount
Of his allowance.
AS a result of the agreement which
has been arrived at between the Sec
retary and the Controller General the
Navy Department made the follow
ing announcement:
I'm order that officers will not be
of icia fn
their current necessities it is hereby
directed that no diSburSing officer
shall withhold more than 20 per cent
of any officers current pay without
his consent because of alleged over
payment to him of commutation of
quarters or rental and subsistence
allowance on account of dependents;
and, furthermore, it is directed that
in all such cases disbursing officers
pay so per cent of the pay hereafter
accruing of which has been hereto
fore withheld unless the amount of
the total alleged indebtedness has
heretofore been withheld. The Con-
troller General agrees to allow credit
to disbursing officers for payments
above directed and further agrees
that the acceptances by an officer of
less than his monthly pay in such
cases shall not be deemed an acqui-
escence on the part of such officer in
withholding any of his pay. Inform
all officers concerned that they may
accept such payments under protest
and that the controller will reopen
any case upon request of the officer
concerned
Nothing contained herein shall be
construed to deny any officer the
right to pursue such legal remedies
as he may desire or as intending to
offer any officer an opportunity to
cecure an upiusf ADVANTAGE of fhe