Evening star., 1928-11-25
Army andNavyNews-

cate that the War Department intends
to adhere to its established policy OF
limiting the tours of duty of the chiefs
of the supply and technical branches
to one term of four years, there is still
considerable criticism being directed
against this so-called discriminatory
administrative action. Reading OF the
National Defense Act, the first and only
military policy ever possessed by this
country, it is declared. is noticeably
silent on the question of reappoint-
mentS of chiefs of the War Department
branches. and there is not even sug-
gestion in that act that specifies that
there shall not be any reappointments.
1t merely prescribes that the chief of
branches shall be appointed for term
of four years.
Exception has been taken to this
administrative action prohibiting re-
appointments. In the case of Gen.
Hull. he viii have 10 years to serve on
the active list of the Regular Army
before he will attain the statutory age
limit of GA years and it Is insisted that
it cannot help but be embarrassing Tor
an officer who has served as the chief
of his chosen branch to revert to the
rank of colonel, upon the completion
of his four-year tour, and perhaps be
tN~N
minor position. The greatest criticism
is directed against the fact that gen.
eral officers of the line are permanent,
while those of the staff and technical
branches are while they are in office
only It has been proposed that Scme
ARRANGEMENT be made whereby chiefs
and assistant chiefs of branches having
the rank of general officer, shall be
transferred to the list of general Off
GERS of the line and, where they are
not such, made permanent in that
capacity. Under that arrangement it
is supposed that vacancies among chiefs
and assistant chiefs of branches, with
the exception of the Medical Depart
ment and the Corps of Chaplains, shall
be filled by the detail of major generals
and brigadier generals of the line, re-
spectively, to hold such position for
the usual four years. and to return on
the termination of that period to line
functions.
The shifts of high ranking officers
to and from the fleet, including flag
officers and ship commanders will be-
gin, it Is understood. next June, after
the gunnery program for this fiscal
year is completed. Although Admiral
Henry A. Wiley commander in-chief of
the U. S. Fleet. will not have been at
sea in his present capacity for two
years until next Autumn, it is under
stood that he will be relieved next
June or later in the Summer. In the
event Of his relief. there is an impress
sion that Admiral William v. Pratt
will be moved up to command that
fleet and Vice Admiral Louis McC.
Mutton will be advanced from command
iNf hntf EIiVyie - u
+ the battle fleet as successor to Ad-
miral Pratt, and Rear Admiral William
c. Cole, now in command of battleship
division 4. designated as the relief of
Admiral Mutton.
Thirty-eight officers of the Navy have
been selected by the Navy Department
to undergo the next course of submar-
inc instruction to be given at the sub
marine base, New London. Conn. This
course. which is about six months in
duration, will begin January 8. Those
who will take the course are: Lieuts
Gordon A. Patterson and James E.
Nolan. Lieuts. 81. O. Austin c. Behan
Charles F. Chillingworth. jr., Carl E.
Cullen, Tillet S. Daniels, Murvale T.
Farrar. John E. Florance, Arthur H
Graubart. William r. Headden, John
A. Holbrook, David A. Hurt. John j.
Jecklin, John G. Moore. George F.
O'Keefe. Hermann c. Page, Eugene E.
Paro, Hamilton L. Stone, George A.
Sinclair. Cornelius M Sullivan. Muir
ray j. Tichenor, Charles H. Walker,
Raymond E. Woodside.
Ensigns Mannert L. Adele, Clanton
E. Austin, Richard M. Boaz. Frank T.
Butler, Paul M. Curran. Charles N.
Day, Louis E. Gunther. Ralph H. Lins-
ley, Duncan C. Macmillan, Wayne H.
Miller, Ralph E. Patterson. George
Prifold, jr.: Eugene S. Sarsfield, George
L. Shane, Solomon D. Willingham.