Evening star., 1928-01-22

For the purpose Oh adjusting an IN
equality and In recognition of his serv-
ices to the Nation. 1t has been proposed
to place Brig. Gen Herbert M. Lord,
reau of the Budget, on the retired list
of the Regular Army as major gen.
cral In the National defense act of
June 4. 1920. there was created two ad-
ditional services. namely, the finance
department and the Chemical Warfare
Service the law providing that the
chiefs of these two services hold the
rank Of brigadier general. This con-
Stituted an exception to prior lcgis-
lation which had conferred upon the
chief of all services Of the War De-
partment the rank of major general.
Recognizing that an unjustifiable dis
tinction had been drawn between these
two services and the other War De-
partmcnt services. an act was passed
on February "a. 1928, which conferred
Upon the chiefs of the finance de-
partment and the Chemical Warfare
Service the rank of major general.
When this latter act took effect, Brig.
Gen. Amos A. Fries, who was originally
appointed as chief of the Chemical
/ Warfare Service. was still serving in
that capacity so that he was automat-
ically raised to the grade of major
:
with the finance department. how
ever. rs Brig. Gen. Lord. the original
chief thereof. had gone on the retired
! list June 80. 1922, so that he was not
benefited thereby
! 1t appears that Gen. Lord retired
! from the Regular Army so that ne
could be available to fill the office of dl-
rector of the Bureau of the Budget,
which had been rendered him by the
President. The purpose of this proposal
is to confer upon Gen. Lord the rank
and pay Of major general on the re
tired list of the Army. This would not
which he now receives as director OF the
budget, for the reason that the law
provides that a retired officer holding
that office shall receive only the differ
ence between the retired pay and the
pay that the law stipulateS for that
Office Representative Martin B. Mad
den. chairman of the House appropria-
tions committee, in commenting upon
this proposal said that Gen. Lord was
his Ideal Of public servant in whose
behalf the Government can afford to
be generous. He has not only earned
the title proposed TO b. conferred but
| through his efficient service both III
the Armv and as director of the bulge
he has placed the people Of the United
| States under deep obligations to him,
Though all grades OF the Chaplain
Corps of the Regular Army are virtual
| ly affected in the matter of promotion
in that corps. the most striking illus
tration is found among the captain
chaplains. OF the l23 chaplains on
the active list o. the Regular Army
there are l0l who have the rank Of
captain and all but seven were an
pointed chaolains during the World War
period. When IL is taken into con-
sideration that the average age at ap-
po:ntment of the Ia Presbyterian chap
lains in the regular establishment was
35i2 years: that the average age of
those ministers appointed from tho
Protestant Episcopal Church was 80
years plus, and that practically all OF
| the ministers who came into the Army
during the World War period were OF
n mature age. il can be realized the
the chaplain personnel. as now const-
tuted. provides an abnormal situation.
| The Chaplain Corps is the only STAFF
branch in the Regular Army not en-
titled by law to general officers or to
| promotion To and including the rank OF
colonel. but there is under consideration
by Congress at the present time meas
ure designed TO improve the status o.!
chaplains
The Inspector Generals Department
Is only one-third the size of the Chap
lain Corps the Judge Advocate Gen.
erals Department the Adjutant Gen
erals Department and the Chemical
! Warfare Service range between u 10
a3 per cent of the officer personnel Of
the Chaplain Corps. while the veteri-
| nary Corps and the Finance Depart
ment only exceed the authorized
strength Of the chaplains by one and
| three respectively In summing up the
situation in regard to promotion among
! the staff branches. 10 is found that the
six services mentioned above have nine
general officers and five colonies 10 only
one officer with the temporary rank o!
colonel in the Corps OF Chaplains.
Navy.
! Orders were Unexpectedly issued by
| the Navy Department last week assign
! ing the new aircraft carrier Lexington,
| which will be in addition TO the new
aircraft carrier Saratoga. to the air
/ craft squadrons OF the battle fleet. Ac-
cording TO previous plans. the Lexing-
| ton was TO have been assigned AZ flag
! ship OF the aircraft squadrons OF the
scouting feet. but the change was made.
/ IL was pointed out 50 as 10 BE- IN con-
formity With comprehensive plans for
| developing the air forces with the bat
tie feet on a scale far beyond that pre-
viousiy contemplated Though the Sara
toga will relieve the Langley as flagship
! Of the aircraft squadrons OF the battle
feet. the latter vessel is To remain with
! those squadrons The Lexington. upon
! leaving the Boston Navy Yard. will GO
! 10 sea for not more than 10 days for a
| test Upon the completion OF this test
she will proceed 10 Newport. r. l., for
torpedocs and torpedo equipment. and
! thence 10 Hampton Roads Va, 10 en-