Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27

necessity for adequate appropriations
for maintaining its efficiency.
It is a well known fact that due to
insufficient appropriations for the
maintenance of the feet the Navy
Department has been forced to dis
approve some of the most needed re-
pairs, and those officers who have
Just recently been relieved from sea
duty give depressing accounts of not
only the condition of the machinery
Of the older battleships but the new
ones as well.
Publication Of this report, which
has been received by the Navy De-
partment, it is pointed out by regu-
lar Navy officers. would be sensa-
ton. Prior to the inauguration of
the budget system publication was
made OF the annual report of the
commander in-chief of the United
States fleet Immediately upon it's re-
ceipt by the Navy Department, but
under the new system these reports
are suppressed, and the country, it
is stated. is kept in ignorance of the
true conditions Of the naval defenses
OF the nation.
Authorization has been given by
the Navy Department to the COM
mander of the L. =. S. Falcon to
conduct a test of the visual depth
finder In the event that the test of
this instrument, which has been de-
veloped at the Washington navy
yard, is successful, ship command
ers will know at all times the exact
depth OF the water over which they
are sailing.
officers on duty in the Navy De
partment who have witnessed the
laboratory tests of this instrument
are very much impressed with the
device.
The arrangement of the quarters
on the I. :. 5. Lexington and the
L. S. s Saratoga, il is pointed out
by naval officers. is an Indication
that two flag officers will eventually
he assigned by the Navy Department
as commanders Of the air forces in
the fleet. These two airplane car
rierS will, within the next twelve
months, be placed in commission,
and, according to the present plans.
the Lexington will be assigned to
the scouting fleet In the Atlantic,
while the Saratoga will go to the
battle fleet in the Pacific. With the
Saratoga in the battle fleet Will be
the Langley and the Gannett, while
with the scouting feet there will be,
in addition to the Lexington, the
Teal, Wright and the Sandpiper.
One flag officer has been assigned
as chief of the Bureau of Aero
nautics. and in empha sizing the i'm
portance of the air arm Of the fleet,
before officers are eligible for duty
in the Bureau of Aeronautics or
command Of the air forces afioat, the
Navy Department policy preScribes
that they must he qualified air pilots
Under this policy, which is in line
with developing Il real flying Navy,
it will be necessary for the selection
board to consider the services of Of
ficers as flyers in selecting out cap
tains and admirals in the annual rec
concentrations for promotions.
Navy officers desiring to specialize
evinced gics,t interest IN the Navy De-
partment announcement made this
week to the effect that the Bureau of
Medicine and Surgery is DESTROYS of
receiving applications from the serv-
ice for special courses of instruction.
In this connection officers on duty in
the bureau have pointed out the great
Importance of laboratory work and
it's value in furnishing a groundwork
for the practice of internal medicine
Laboratory men are always needed
and favorable consideration is being
given the applications from officers
who desire to devote some years to
this work.
instruction in the next course in
aviation medicine, which will be given