Evening star., 1926-06-13
Army andNavyNews

, and arranged in their position on the
promotion list had they remained con-
tinuously in the service. Providing
these officers, which are few in num-
ber, can meet the mental and phys
| ical qualifications, and are within the
age limits Of 81 and 80 years, the
War Department does not object to
their undergoing the regularly pre-
scribed examination for appointment
as second lieutenant in the Regular
Army, but the reinstatement of these
officers to the active list to their
| former grades and positions on the
, promotion list Is Objectionable to the
military authorities for more import
ant reasons which affect the question
of sound policy governing the appoint
ment of officers In the Regular Estab-
| liShment.
In the formation of the single pro-
motion list and the subsequent reduc-
ton Of the commissioned strength OF
| the Regular Army in accordance with
law, the Regular Army commissioned
personnel has been arranged in grades
as authorized, and all grades above
that Of second lieutenant are being
maintained at authorized strength.
The contention has been made by
Secretary of War Davis that officers
now holding commissions as second
lieutenants have a just promotion
right attached to their service, the
recognition of which requires that
second lieutenants to be procured
shall be placed at the bottom OF the
| promotion list and not on that list
in such positions as to deprive present
second lieutenants Of that promotion
right. Should a case come before the
department where q manifest injustice
has been done an individual and which
could not be remedied in any other
way, the department would favor this
proposal, but it will vigorously oppose
the application Of this proposal to the
reinstatement of former officers Of the
Army, who voluntarily separated
themselves from the service for the
! purpose of entering civilian pursuits.
| NAVY.
A board of officers convened at the
Navy Department last week for the
purpose of recommending officers of
the line for promotion to the several
grades of rear admiral, captain and
commander, five of which will be
recommended for the grade of rear
admiral thirty-three for captain and
forty-eight for commander, with addi-
| tiOnal numbers for those that may re-
tire for age in grade during the ensu-
| ing year and that are not included in
| the list of those recommended for pro-
motion Some idea of the tremen-
dous amount of work involved in
these selections can be CLEANED from
the fact that the records Of approx
mately l53 captains, 290 commanders
and 575 lieutenant commanders that
on November go 1926, will have sery-
ed therein for a periood of four years
dncluding service performed under
temporary commissions in those
grades), will be submitted to the
board for it's consideration.
Following is the personnel compos-
ing the board: Admiral Samuel s..
Robinson and Rear Admirals Thomas
Washington, Ashley II. Robertson,
Thomas p. Magruder, Montgomery
| M. Taylor, Guy II. Burrage. Henry
B. McVay. Comdr Randall Jacobs is
recorder of the board. Rear Admiral
Burrage is sitting with the board in
place of Rear Admiral w. A. Moffett,
originally designated a member of the
board, due to the illness of the latter.
1t Is interesting to note in this con-
nection that Admiral Burrage is the
only member Of the board who served
as member of the 1925 board.
| Application for transfer to the re-
tired list of the Navy after 80 years
service has been made by Capt.
Walter NJ. Hunt, now in command of
the Detroit. Upon his arrival in the
United States from Asiatic station,
Comdr. Ernest Frederick, now en-
route to this country, will be assigned
to the next class at the Naval War
College. Selection of an officer for
the relief of Lieut.. Comdr Paulus p
Powell, commanding the Scorpion in
eastern Mediterranean waters, and