Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-27
COOLIDGE OPPOSES
MAGRUDER VIEWS
ON NAVY OFFICERS
Holds Total Is Not Too Large
for Efficiency-Cites
Emergency Needs.
DOES NOT FAVOR INQUIRY
AS RESULT OF ARTICLE
Admiral Wins Point When Wilbur
Asks Critic to Submit
Suggestions.


President Coolidge was represented
today as taking issue with Rear Adj
miral Thomas 2. Magruder of the
Navy, who, in a recent magazine ar
ticle. charged the Navy with being
'oyerofficered and not getting the best
results out of the money being ex-
pended for Navy purposes.
The President believes the Navy
should have large number of officers
and that he cannot see that it makes
much difference where they are To-
Gated so long as they are in readiness
for any emergency call. He looks
upon such supply of highly trained
naval men as assurance against dam
ger in the event Of an emergency.
AS for the criticisms made by Ad-
miral Magruder, that money is being
wasted in the administration of the
Nations Navy, the President doubts
if there Is any man in the country
who could direct the expenditure of
S700.000,000 annually for the Army
and Navy and obtain as good results
as are being obtained at the present
time. The President made it very
Admiral Magruder's criticism, that
his chief anxiety is for the promotion
of efficiency in the Army and Navy
and at the same time to keep eX-
penditures within reason. He indi-
Gated that his aim is not to reduce
expenses necessary for adequate ma.
tional defense, but to see that the
money for this purpose is wisely
spent and that the best possible good
is obtained.
President Wants Suggestions.
The President indicated that he
feels that the country is we'll able
to meet what is being expended for
national defense without it being too
burdensome, and if there is to be Criti-
cism of the spending of this money
he would like to have some sugges-
tions as to how matters could be inn
proved.
In this connection the President
was represented as saying that critl-
cism generally helps to some extent,
but would be more helpful If 1t went
so far as to show what could be done
in the way of future improvement.
The impression was gained that his
reading of Admiral Magruder's article
caused him to feel that the criticisms
sideration. but that they fail to offer
any substitutes in the way of admin.
istration. The President. however,
hopes that some good will come as
result of the Admirals frank discus
sion of the naval establishment and
he would be very much gratihed x
this article were the means of result
ing in any improved manner of ad-
ministration.
The President indicated tnat he will
always favor keeping an adequate
supply of officers for both the Army
and Navy. He was represented as
pointing out that 1t is easy enough
to, build up an army of enlisted men,
but that experience has shown that
trained officers cannot be had for the
asking or acquired within a days no
tice.
Sees No Need for Inquiry.
Where these officers are located or
assigned in times Of peace makes very
little difference, according to the
Presidents viewpoint, so long as they
are ready to respond. Neither does
he consider it of any particular i'm
portance the fact that Washington is
said to have an oversupply OF Army
and Navy officers. This is not unnat-
ural inasmuch as Washington is the
headuuarters for the Army and Navy,
and, according to the Presidents be-
lief, it is expected to be the spot for
their congregation.
While discussing Admiral Magru-
der's article in a rather candid fash
ion, the President at the outset was
represented as wishing to make 1t
plain that he did not consider him.
self sufficiently expert in such matters
as to pass judgment or to criticize
in commenting upon Admiral Magru-
der's criticisms. The President read
the article. thinking perhaps 1t might
contain some helpful suggestions or
something worthy of investigation.
Without saying so in that many
words, he evidently did not consider
what he read as producing sufficient
information or suggestions TO warrant
any investigation.
The President was represented as
saying that the NIagruder magazine
article was not among the various
subjects discussed at today's cabinet
meeting. 1t is understood. however,
that the President has discussed the
matter with Secretary of the Navy
Wilbur.
Magruder Scores First.
Admiral Magruder scored declSlVeIy
in the first round of his tilt with the
Navy Department.
At the risk of counting an official
reprimand. the belligerent admiral has
at one stroke what his
here declare was the real
object of his public attack on the ad.
of the Navy. He has sue
ceeded in drawing from Secretary Viii
bur challenge to submit his recon-
fer naval administration
to the department, and,
on the other hand, he has made it cer-
tain that his charges are to form the
basis of rigid inquiry by Congress.
1t was comparatively certain today
that Admiral Magruder is not to be
called on the carpet before Secretary
Wilbur for his "unauthorized'' criti-
;ism Of the department, however dis
nigh officials of the Navy. In letting
It be known that he had ordered the
admiral to file a full and detailed
statement of his plan of reorganiza.
.ion," Mr.. Wilbur indicated that dis
,iplinary action would be dropped.
Thorough Airing Expected.
That the admiral's suggestions for
in the service would be
;iven a thorough airing when the
laval appropriations bill Is taken up
his Winter appeared as a foregone
conclusion and is directly in line with
ADMIRAL Magruder's intention in writ
ny his article, his friends claim. Sem
tor Swanson of Virginia, ranking