Evening star., 1930-12-08
NAVY NEEDS MEN,
SAYS SECRETARY
Would Increase Number OF
Midshipmen-Excess of
Yards on East Coast.

While there are more navy yards on
the East Coast than can be economical
ly maintained. Secretary Adams, in his
annual report to President Hoover to-
day, asserted that the service need
more men. better pay and promotions
at regular intervals. The material con-
diticn of the feet is generally good. the
cabinet officer reported, but the main
tenance of efficiency Is difficulty "dEe
to the age of large number of ships. "
Secretary Adams said that the
present level of compensation was IL
per cent above that received In 1908,
while living costs have more than
doubled since that time.
The proposed legislative program that
Secretary Adams mapped out included:
tleships New Mexico, Mississippi and
Idaho.
Establishment of naval airship base
on the Pacific Coast.
Oil Protection Sought.
Guarantees for conservation Of the
naval petroleum and oil Shale reserves.
Bans against photographs, sketches
or maps Of vital military and naval de-
fense installations and equipment.
The increasing importance of aviation
TO the naval forces was evident through
out the report. A six-plane patrol unit
will be added to both battle and scout
ing fleets, and two scouting squadrons
of 20 planes and II planes, respectively,
will be attached to new light cruisers.
"A need exists for additional air.
plane carriers in order to exploit to the
full the possibilities of naval aviation
in operations with the fleet" Adams
said A West Coast air base was con-
sidered essential and selection of site
was urged upon Congress at an early
date, whether or not the Navy ordered
construction of new giant dirigible.
During the year the number of en-
listed men was not adequate to man
fully all types Of ships, and 1t was
necessary to operate most types Of ships
with allowances which were consider
ably under the actual complement OF
the ships"
Below 80 Per Cent.
The allowances averaged but 87e
per cent of the actual complement of
the ships, which the Secretary said
does not keep a Navy fully prepared
for war"
The undertaking of a submarine re-
placement program was proposed. Dur
ing the past year upkeep costs have
increased. The report added that "due
principally to the age of large num-
ber OF submarines, it Is felt the per-
formance of submarine engineering ma
terial is not commensurate with its
maintenance costs"
The Navy needs additional officers
and Congress should provide more mid
shipmen to meet London treaty con-
ditionS, the Secretary said. with one
additional appointment to Annapolis for
each Senator and Congressman, the Of
f1cer personnel would not reach the re-
quired strength before the year 1943.' y
he added.
Mr.. Adams said: "The London treaty
has definitely limited the types of ships
and consequently placed definite limit
upon the number of officers and men
who will be required to man the ships
allowed under that treaty. Additional
officers and men will be required If
these ships are to remain in active COM
mission.
Ratio Of Officers Increased.
A minimum of four years is required
to train young men to become offcers
and immediate steps should be taken to
increase the allowed officer strength
from the present per cent of the total
ootAAOAA1CO CAllSOtu SILcIlbLu 10 O.0 per
cent, which is the figure that the lat
est estimates indicate will provide the
number Of officers to man the vessels
allowed as under the London treaty.
This increase cannot take place at
once and must be spread over a number
Of years. With one additional appoint
ment to Annapolis for each Senator
and Congressman the officer personnel
would not reach the required strength
before the year 1943.
"The present law authorizes five ap-
pointments to Annapolis for each Con-
gresham and Senator, but appropria-
tions now limit this to four The ad-
ditional appointment at Annapolis,
making total of five, should be pro-
vided for in order to increase the off,
Ger personnel to the strength required
for the treaty Navy. This increase in
the number of midShipmen at the
Academy will not necessitate a large
additional expenditure of funds as the
overhead at Annapolis will be but
slightly increased and the main item
of increased cost will be for the pay
and substance Of the nlidshipmen
themselves"
Housing Is Criticized.
The Navy's housing condition Is any
thing but satisfactory, Secretary Adams
said. The situation was outlined by Mr..
Adams:
The housing situation at the present