Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

as well as IN deck plating, particularly
where it forms tank tops. a few
have had serious corrosion in hun
plating The armament has been in
satisfactory condition. except as re-
CARDS the number of reserve torpedoes,
in which there is a serious shortage.
Deficiency in torpcdOes is serious
matter. as ii requires considerable
time to manufacture them.
He then discusses the failure of the
second deficiency bill aud it's effect
on the modernization Of the two bat
tleships resulting in a lay-off of civil
ian personnel at the Philadelphia and
Norfolk Navy Yards, which. he said
will seriously affect the work on these
two ships, as the trained force which
carried on the work on the two ships
which preceded them has been sep
arated. This alone will materially
increase the cost when the alterations
are finally undertaken.
Increase i'm Costs.
Taking up the increased cost of re.
pairs and upkeep of the aging ships,
he cites as an example the average
cost of a destroyer overhaul and re-
pair, which, he says, has increased
in the past three years from about
$4,000 to $25 900 under engineering
and from $4,000 to oS12 900 under
construction and repair.
The increase in cost without cor.
responding increase in appropriations
will make it necessary to defer altera-
tions, which should he made to raise
the military efficiency of the other
ships of the fleet.
Increasing complexity of the Navy
as a machine, coupled with the de
mand for the newest branch. aviation,
has pointed to the need of greater
officer personnel. in the opinion of
the Secretary. who suggests that the
number of appointees to the Naval
Academy be increased from three to
five
The 4 per cent ratio of officers to
enlisted men was fixed by Congress
in 1916" he says. Since then the
largely increased size of destroyers
and submarines, the increasing COM
pleXity of propelling machinery and
of the appliances for the control of
gunfire, and especially the charging
demands of aviation for personnel,
all combine TO require a larger per-
centage Of officers to enlisted men.
The percentage of officers to the
present enlisted strength of $3.50
men is so small-namely, 66 per cent
that there is little prospect of pro-
curing an adequate number of COM
missioned officers for aviation duty
unless the number of entrants into
the Naval Academy is increased. Any
marked increase in the permanent
material strength of the Navy,
whether by the construction and COM
Sin Of n he
restoration to active commission and
duty of vessels now out of commits
sion, will require the authorization
of an additional number of officers. Z"
Personnel Is Cut.
How the Navy is "robbing Peter to
pay Paul" in the matter of distribu-
ton of personnel which has been re-
duced from Sc 900 men in 1928 to 49,
$50 for the fiscal year of 1928, in the
face of increased demands for men, is
shown by Secretary Wilbur. New
ships have had to he provided with
personnel by decommissioning older
vessels. reducing the number of auXil-
larry ships and by reducing crews.
process which has now gone on until
it is seriously affecting the efficiency
of the operations of the United States
fleet Crews of some of thar ships
have been reduced below the Numbers
essential for the most eff
ficient operation. The auXiliaries are
just sufficient TO cover normal require
ments During the past year it was
necessary 20 send three cruisers to the
Asiatic station and to keep two
and five destroyers with the
special-service squadron for a consid-
cradle time. At the same time the
two transports, remaining in commits
sion were sent to the Asiatic station
and a merchant vessel was chartered
for transportation of Marines to
China. For transportation of Marines
and equipment to Nicaragua it was
necessary 10 use a repair ship. and an
aircraft tender on two occasions and
TO detail :, submarine tender over
considt rable period of time. As one
of the results of these necessary meas.
ures. at the fleet concentration for
tactical and strategical exercises, the
light cruiser divisions. scouting fleet,
was reduced to one light cruiser
All of which, he says. together with
the increasing demands of aviation,
demand an increase in personnel to
meet this condition if the necessary
number of vessels is to be kept in
commission
Progress Acclaimed.
The continued progress in the de-
sign and performance of aircraft
during the year. the report said, was
particularly gratifying to the depart
ment
On July /. 1926. there were on hand
of modern types 951 planes; during
the fiscal year 1T planes were added,
bringing the total to 468. During the
year ending June 30. 1928, there will
be delivered to the Navy total of 1876
planes. giving the department a total
on hand at the end of the coming
year of us planes. after allowing for
Wastage.
Secretary Wilbur makes an appeal
for an increased initial clothing al