The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-12-13
NAVY NEEDS
MORE MONEY,
WILBUR SAYS
Question of Officer Personnel
Is SeriOus-MOre APP
pOintments Asked

Washington Dec. l3.-(P A plea
for d looscnng Of the governments
purse strings so that the navy may
maintain the full strength provided
by law, was made by Secretary Will
bur today in his annual report to
President Coolidge.
The question Of officer personnel
had developed into Il dilemma, the
secretary said, and with limited
funds at hand it had been necessary
to concentrate on repairs rather
than on alterations required to keep
first line ships up to essential mil
itary standards for fleet service.
In 1925, Mr.. Wilbur said, the navy
got along with an understood per
sonnet 49, $3.50 line officers being
on the rolls when the report was
compilcd. The authorized strength
is 5.499. Lack Of funds also made I'M
possible the maintenance OF the re
nuircd" $4,000 enlisted strength. the
average for the year being nearly
1000 under that figure.
The secretary gave it as his view
that reduction Of the naval academy
enrolment had brought the navy to
face a serious question as to how It
could function with an insufficient
nnmber of officers He urged that
amendments to Annapolis again b'
made on the basis Of five for each
member Of congress instead oil the
three necessitatcd by recent cuts III
the budget.
"Thc present limit Of appointments
to three for each member Will no'
provide sufficient commissioned per
sonnet for maintaining the strength
of the line of the navy on proper
basis" the report said, 'cven u nc
.nro;n,ments are made to the various
staff corps from gra luatcs OF TINS
naval academy"
improvements Deferred
DESTROYER Squadron No. : was
mentioned as one in which improve
mcnts had been deferred because O
the cost. Economy was also eSer
cised by striking from the list small
craft and wooden vessels acquired II
1918 and 1919 which require cXten
sive repairs
Except for the fact that the prope
enlisted strength could not be afford
ed "the enlisted personnel situation
during the year has been unIforml
excellent" with three out Of ever
four men whose enlistmcnts expire
re-enlisting or extending their enlist
ments, the report continued. IN
shortage of man-power IN the lice
was mitigatcd somewhat by delay !
the completion OF the aircraft can
riers Saratoga and Lexington.
their completion these two vesscI
will require complement aggrcEa
ing more than 1900 men.
Since funds have not yet bee
appropriated. the report said VOL
on the navy's projected new airshll
of 6.O0O,0OU cuoic feet has not bee
started. Some concern was note
among air officials in this come
ton because the supply Of hclium Of
tainable from the Forth Worth, Te
as, plant has been dwindling.
The secretary made brief menti'
Of the disaster to the navy ARISEN
at Lake Denmark, N. j., assertil
that operations of navy alwa
were attended by hazards Of varyil
degrees and that consequently a
cidcnts occur no matter how dillgc
the efforts to avoid them. Recoi
mcndations would be made to co
prcss, he said, covering plans
guard against such occurrences
the Denmark explosion.
Work Widely Varied
Illustrating the variety and SEQ
of the navy's work in peacetim
Secretary Wilbur pointed to the I
tivitics Of warships in protecting !
in China, Central America and ell.
where and of the navy's part in a
ing in the relief of Florida hurrica
sufferers, and in doing a hundl
other Jobs, important in Intensely
but which do not grip the popu
imagination.
As to aviation, the report said
study Of requirements Of AWAIT
material had shown the percent;
OF reflections, due to failure to m
physical standards. coupled "
those due to elimnations dur
flight training. remaindcd high.
about 70 per cent. The question
flight Examinations was investiga
and it was decided that they sho
be reduced by more careful prell
mary selection of student mater
A notable improvement in al
aircraft gunnery was recorded.
it was pointed out that operation
aircraft units for the fleet had rea
ed still higher rate of efficier
Powder-propelled catapults are be
installed on battleshipe for launch
observation and scouting planes,
an amphibian plane has been succt
fully launched from catapults.
General health in the navy was
ported to be excellent, with
daily average Of personnel on
j. sick list less than three.
The general need OF additie
funds extended even to the
wards where deprecated equipm
could not be replaced because
budget restrictions. Secretary VII
said.