Imperial Valley press., 1927-09-27
DISCUSSES
ADMIRAL s
v WR|T|N(,S
&s--s
Chief Executive Believes
Army and Navy Eff
GENTLY Administered.
WILBUR TAKES HAND
Asks Officer to Submit
His Plan For Re-Orga-
niZatiOn of Service.
By HERBERT LITTLE
{ United Press Staff Correspondsnt,


Omitted Press Staff Correspolldsnt)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.--Pres;-
dent Coolidge took issue today with
Rear Admiral Thomas P. Magruder,
whose criticism of the efficiency Of
the navy has stirred government
circles here.
Mr.. Coolidge believes, it was an
nounced at the White House that
both the navy and. army are receive
ing sufficient appropriations to be
efficiently administered, that offic-
ials at present in charge are doing
well in their allotment of expendi-
lures and that both branches Of the
warvservice must be kept highly Of
ficered as insurance for protection.
The navy has probably averted a
"Billy Mitchell episode' by taking
the offensive and demanding con
structive reorganization plan from
Rear Admiral Thomas Pickett Ma
gruder, a critic of the present or..
ganization. g
Magruder has been ordered to re,..
port to Secretary Wilbur con.,
structive plan following his critig'
cism of alleged over-organization..
top-heaviness and too numerous adj
mirals, recently printed under his
signature in the Saturday Evening
| Post.
! The rear admiral is considered an
authority on naval shore establisk-
ments with which his article wars
chiefly concerned and his report II
expected to propose radical simpli-
fication, including decreases in easss
efn navy yards and elimination Of
| red tape.
| Mr.. Coolidge does not believe that
| any set Of men could spend $70t,-
100000 year Gas is spent on the
army and navy without encounter
ing some criticism as to how some
| part of it could have been better
distributed.
Desires First Glass Navy sr~
| Magruder' articles eriticizing the
navv have been read by the presi.
! dent and as he does not consider
himself an expert on naval affairs,
, he does not desire to pass any criti.
/ cism on the value of the rear ads
miral's statements. He feels that
some of the admiral's suggestions
may be helpful and worthy Of in
! yestioation. He is desirous of hav-
! ing a first class military establish
ment and wants to bring expendi-
lures for that purpose to reasons
able amount.
! The country is well able to meet
! the present expenditures. Mr.. Cook
idge thinks, without feeling any um.'
due burden. 1t is his main desire
not so much to reduce expenditures
as to see that appropriated money
is wisely expended to get the best
possible army and navy. -
Mr.. Coolidge does not think that
the navy is over-officered as Ma
gruder charged. He thinks there
ought to be a large supply of OF
ficers on hand. Enlisted men caN
, ALWAYS be obtained quickly but "
is hard to get good officers. ..~
The president does not think II
makes much difference where the
Officers are stationed. Magrudct
charged that too many of them 90,
cupied swivel chairs in Washington.
The president feels that if there
ism t anything for officers to do
elsewhere it is all right for them TO.
be in Washington where their ex-
penditures are less than on the
field. sa%
Mr.. Coolidge however. assumes
that some of Magruder's sugg6f.
tions are worthy Of careful eonsid-
Grafton and will be so received by
the navy department.