Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
Army andNavyNews

were commissioned In the Supply Corps
! of the Navy last year. and ohly four this
year. Thirty-three resigned on gradu-
| alton, as physically disqualified, last
year and 10 this year.
It is estimated in the Navy Depart
ment that $50 midshipmen will be
graduated from the Naval Academy in
| 1929. 273 in 1890, $50 In 1881; while
the class of 1882 will probably have 427
members The estimate of the gradu-
ating situation at the Naval Academy
| for the next four years is that the Navy
will run behind its authorized line
strength until 1882, at which time 1t
will return to normally. The class
graduating this month from the acad-
/ envy was one of the smallest of An
| nanolis classes III recent years, but
this is due to the fact that 1t was the
! first class under the three appointment
provision. The appointments dropped
| from five to three, but just prior to
| the adjournment of Congress the naval
appropriation bill contained a provision
| increasing the three appointments for
each Senator and Representative to four.
This will increase the strength of the
regiment of midshipmen considerably.
| and will. beginning with the Naval
Academy class of 1882, increase the
size of the Annapolis graduating classes.
Navy officers are evincing considerable
interest in proposed change that would
be made, If approved, in the percentage
distribution of grades in the Navy by
increasing the previous percentages of
Z in the grade of commander and IA in
the grade of lieutenant commander to s
av,I nrpCNnf
authorized strength of the Navy, this
will have the effect of adding SIS COM
manders and SIS lieutenant commanders.
The percentage of lieutenantS would be
reduced from 80 y to 80 per cent. e.,
from 1873 to 1850. To compensate
for these increases the percentage Of
Junior lieutenantS and enSigns is in
creased from 41is to AZ per cent. e..
from 2,2S2 to 2,3l0. In addition to the
need for officers of the grade OF COM
mander and lieutenant commander for
the command of small vessels, this
change in percentage, it is pointed out.
will permit smoother flow of promo
ton and more regular period OF Serv-
ice in each grade than the present per-
centage.
It is the ultimate desire of the Navy
Department to achieve period of seven
wears in each grade throughout an OH
GERS naval career, in order that he may
be prepared in each for the duties
of the grade next above. Such change
as outlined above would cost only $31 900
per year for the next three years, and
thereafter would disappear, because the
officers entering the upper grades Will
then have sufficient service before pro-
motion to receive the same pay. under
the present pay law, as they would get
Ia yxsf &c
both upon rank and upon length of
service. and it is possible to receive the
same pay in different grades, as viii be
the case with these additional ofncers
after three years.
At the present time there are in the
grade of lieutenant in the Navy approx
mately / 700 officers, of whom the senior
So will be promoted as from June 3.
The remaining members OF this group,
il is estimated. should be promoted at
the rate of about 100 per year until
such time as a fairly large number OF
officers in the three selection grades
are compulsorily retired each year by
reason of length of service, when the
rate will be somewhat accelerated. APP
plying this estimated number Of annual
promotions, combined with a normal
attrition of about per cent yearly
from the junior lieutenant grade, OH
GERS of the Naval Academy classes of
1922 TO 1924 can determine an approx
mate estimate as to the time when they
will become due for promotion. For
example, these figures indicate that the
senior member of the 1924 class, whose
position is about No. 500 on the list Of
ieutenants Junior grade), viii be pro-
NOTED TO lieutenant shortly after July
of& 1.of {7tEa
service In his present grade.
It would. occasion no surprise II Rear
Admiral Harris Laning, now on duty
as chief Of staff of the commander in
chief of the battle feet. would be as
signed to command Battleship Division
2 OF the scouting feet. Should this as
signment be made. he would relieve
Rear Admiral George w. Laws, the
change becoming effective after the
completion Of the midshipmen's prac-
tice cruise on August %, In which the
ships Of that division are participating
Capt. Grin g. Murfin win relieve Rear
Admiral Wat T. Cluverius OF the COM
mand Of the West Virginia. The lat
| ter officers next assignment wiz be as
commandment Of the Norfolk Navy Yard.
where he viii succeed Rear Admiral
| william c. Cole, who has been ordered
to command Battleship Division OF
| the battle feet.
Capt. John HaIligan, 1t Is understood,
| now engineer in-chief of the Navy with
| the temporary rank OF rear admiral;
| win probably be assigned to command
| the u. s. S. Maryland The present
commander of that ship. Capt. John v.
KIemann, win be assigned TO duty at
| the Puget Sound Navy Yard as assist.
/ ant commandment of the thirteenth naval
district. He win succeed Capt. Percy N
Olmsted. who win be placed on the re-
| tired list of the Navy on June 80. 1928
In all probability Capt. Arthur j,
Hepburn, who was selected last week Tor
the grade Of rear admiral, to become
effective on a future date yet TO De dc.
terrnined. but now serving as chief OF
stan to Vice Admiral william Y. Pratt
| as commander of the battleship divi.
sions of the battle feet, win be ASSIGNED
| as chief of STAFF with Admiral Pratt
when he assumes command OF the bat
| tie feet next week.
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