Evening star., 1928-05-27
Army andNavyNews

Corps few $4,000 hours (about 800, 900
mileS) without casualty. record of
which the members Of that corps are
extremely proud,
With the redistribution of naval Of
dcerS of the line that will be made in
June after the members of the 1928
Naval Academy class have been commits
stoned enSignS, those officers near the
top of the several grades will be inter-
ested to have some estimate of the dates
when they may become due for promo
ton. On the new distribution date, ac-
cording to present estimates, there will
be an excess of one captain. two COM
manderS and five lieutenant command
ers In the event this estimate is cor
rect, the retirement for age of Rear Ad-
niral r. E. Coontz on June Is will not
create vacancy in the grade of cap
tain, since the promotion of all officer
from that grade will merely reduce the
then present number to the allowed
number Officers leaving the grade of
captain after that date by promotion or
otherwise will create vacancies and Of
fcers TO be selected by the 1923 line Sc
lection boatd will then be promoted in
normal order. 1t is possible that two
captains may retire on June 80 by rea-
son of service ineligihility for promotion
and should this obtain the next promo
ton to that grade will occur on July !.
With respect TO tho commanders
grade. the indications are that the ear
lieSt possible vacancy will not occur
prior to July !. but this depends, OF
course on the action OF the selection
board in the case of those officers who,
If not selected for promotion will go on
the retired list on June 30. With refer
ence to the lieutenant commanders S
grade. it is reasonable to assume that
promotions can be made to that grade
beginning In August In the event the
Britten bill becomes law at this Ses-
sion of Congress. which is extremely re-
mote, there would, by reason OF the in
creased percentage fixed. be approXi-
mately So additional promotions to COM
mander and l06 to the grade of lieutcn-
ant commander. The 1928 selection
board. 1t is understood will be instruct
ed to select captains for promotion
to rear admiral. II commanders for pro-
motion to captain. and IS lieutenant
commanders for promotion to COM
mander.
Instead of being assigned to duty as
commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Rear Admiral Luke McNamee, who has
been in command of the destroyer
souadrons of the battle feet will be as
signed to duty as the director OF feet
training at the Navy Department, sue
ceeding Rear Admiral William H.
STANDBY, who has relieved Rear Ad-
miral Thomas ]. Sem as assistant chief
of the Bureau of Naval Operations The
latter oficer will take over the command
A Il
er of the battle feet destroyer squad
rons. Up to the present time, orders
have not been issued by the Navy De-
partment providing for the assignment
of officers as cornmandant at Great
Lakes, as commandant at Norfolk TO
relieve Rear Admiral william G, Cole
and to relieve Rear Admiral George w.
Laws from command of battleship Di-
vision of the scouting feet after COM
pletion of the 1928 nidshipmen's prac-
tice cruise on August % OficerS for
these three commands, 1t is expected,
will be chosen from among those pro-
NOTED TO the grade Of rear admiral as
a result Of the 1928 Selection Board Sc
lections. Corndr. Wolcott f. Hall. who
has been in command Of destroyer di-
vision 81 of the scouting feet. will pur-
sue course of instruction at the Army
War College, this city. Lieut.. Comdr
F. E. NJ Whiting. aide TO the Secretary
of the Navy, will be relieved temporarily
by Lieut. Comdr. w. D. Thomas. Lieut..
Barnett T. Talbot will eventually be
assigned to this duty permanently.
Brig Gen. Dion Williams, who has been
on duty as assistant 70 the conlmandant
Of the Marine Corps viii be succeeded
late in June by Brig. Gen. Ben H.
Fuller. who has been on board and
court-martiai duty at headquarters.
Gen. williams viii go TO San Diego.
Calf, where he will assume command
Of the Marine Corps base while the
duties OF Gen Fuller will probably be
taken over by Col. John T. Myers.