Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Navy.


in Europe, which consist at the present
time of only the u. S. S. Raleigh, flag
ship of Vice Admiral John H. Dayton
who is in command of those forces. In
order that different light cruisers sue
cessively might have the advantage OF
a years cruise in European waters,
has been the custom to change the flag
ship in those waters every Summer
Ordinarily the ship to go to the Euro
pean station has been announced
earlier than this. in order that the faml-
lies of the personnel Of the outgoing
ship could formulate their plans &C
Cordingly, but up to the present time
inquiry at the Navy Department has
elected the statement that the matter
Is under consideration.
This delay in the designation of a
vessel for the European station has been
the source of considerable discussion as
to whether the naval forces, Europe,
are to be abolished and the vice admit
ralcy thus made available to be trans
ferred to the commander of the air
craft souadrons of the battle fleet. This
speculation is natural, in view OF the
great and increasing Importance at
tached to naval aviation and the ac-
cession thereto of the new aircraft car
riers Lexington and Saratoga. In the
event that this course of events is fol-
would receive that n1uch-coveted high
rank? 1t would be most remuneratlVe
appointment, as whoever would be Sc
lected must be a qualified naval avla-
ton observer or pilot, which would
mean that he would be on hylng
status, with so per cent increase In pay.
At the present time officers who
otherwise might be available for this
assignment would be considered I'M
available. For instance, the recent reap
pointment of Rear Admiral William a.
Moffett as chief of the Bureau of Aero
nautics for third four-year term
would preclude the possibility OF his Sc
lection for this high post, while Rear
Admiral Joseph M. Reeves has just re-
ported for duty at the Navy Depart
Inent as a member of the general board.
having Just relinquished command OF
the aircraft squadrons OF the battle
fleet after having been on aviation duty
at sea since 1925. In this connection,
the name of Rear Admiral Henry V.
Butler. who is under orders to succeed
Admiral Reeves, has been mentioned,
but it might be considered that Re is
too Junior on the list of rear admtfalS
to warrant his advancement, tempo
rarily, to the rank of vice admiral. TWO
other officers have been mentioned in
this connection-Rear Admiral Frank
b. Upham. who was transferred last
June from command of the Pensacola
Naval Air Station to command the con-
troll force, and Rear Admiral Joseph j.
Raby, who is junior to Rear Admiral
Butler, who has been on sick leave
since his relief some time ago from
command of the Pensacola station.
Many naval officers hold the view that
next year would be more prop1tlouS
time to elevate the commander OF the
aircraft squadrons of the battle feet
to the rank of vice admiral, and this
DELAY. incidentally, would make 1t pos
sible for Vice Admiral Dayton to COM
plete a four-year cruise in his present
assignment.
A number of officers hold to the be-
lief that. regardless of what may be
done with the vice admirably now as
signed to the naval forces in Europe,
these forces should be abolished and
the light cruiser acting as the flagship
returned to service with the fleet. AS
a substitute for maintaining ship In
European waters, it has been suggested
that as the new cruisers, beginning
with the Salt Lake City next Autumn,
are placed IN commission they be sent
on their shakedown runs to Europe.
Army.
OF interest to every officer in the
Regular Army are the official War De-
partment instructions issued last week
to the effect that no change Is to pc
made in the design Of the blue uni
form. A large number of officers have
deferred the purchase of the various
articles of blue equipment, as 1t was
felt that some notifications might be
made in the specifications Of the blue
uniform equipment. The only article
of blue equipment that will present
different appearance will be the cap,
which will be of the so-called Pershlng
type. The requirements OF the former
blue uniform regulations Especial Regu-
lations Nos. Al and AZ, 1920, as amend
ed. will govern. with the exception OF
the cap.
The following Army officers have
been ordered to washington for
duty in the various branches OF the
War Department as follows: Col.
Charles F. Humphrey. jr.. Infantry,
who has been on duty at Fort Ham
ilton. N. Y, will take up his duty with
the War Department general staff, ef-
fective July 10. Capt. James T. Wat
son, jr., Signal Corps, now a student
at the Army Industrial College, Will
upon the completion OF his course OF
instruction in June assume duty IN the
Office of the Assistant Secretary OF war,
as will also Capt. James H. B. Bogman,
Signal Corps, when he completes MS
course in August at the Graduate
School of Business Administration, Har-
ward University.
Lieut.. Col. John E. Hemphill, Signal
Corps, who has been on duty as execu-
tive officer, Office of the CHIEF signal
officer of the Army, and who is now on
leave of absence, will relieve Lieut.. Col.
Frank j. Griffin as signal officer OF the
9th Corps Area, effective some Time IN
August. Col Hemphills duties in the
signal Office will be taken over by Lieut.
Col. George E. Kumpe. who VIII be de-
tached from command OF Fort Mon
mouth, N. j., about September l. MAI.
Louis A. O'Donnell, who has been on
duty in the Office of the chief of Cav
airy, has been detailed to pursue a
course Of instruction at the Ecole de
Guerre, France, which will begin about
November /. Lieut.. Col. Edward M
Shinkle, Ordnance Department, on
duty as executive officer Office OF the
chief of ordnance, will relinquish these
duties about June 26 and will proceed
to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md, to
command that station. Maj. William
w. Lemmond, Judge Advocate Generals
Department, upon the completion OF
his tour of duty in the Philippine De-
partment will be assigned to duty in
the Office of the judge advocate general
of the Army, as will Capt. Paul G. Bal
car, Infantry, upon the termination OF
his course of instruction at Clemson
Agricultural College.