Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-08
DR.. Joel I. BOONE
GIVEN PROMOTION
Rank of Commander Ap-
proved by Hoover for Per-
sonaI Physician.

Promotion OF DR.. Joel T. Boone, who
holds the temporary rank as captain
IN the Navy while serving as personal
physician to President Hoover. from
his permanent rank of lieutenant COM
mander to commander was approved
late yesterday by the Chief Executive.
DR.. Boone was picked for elevation
by new Medical Selection Board. con-
sisting of captains appointed last month
following the Presidents rejection of a
list which omitted the name of Mr..
HooyerS physician. 1t marked the firSt
time since the Wilson Administrati ton
that such a list has been rejected by
the President.
The recommendations Of the new
board were sent to the White House
Thursday, approved promptly and re-
turned to the Navy Department yes
terday.
Effective September 1.
DR.. Boone's promotion to commander
win become effective September !.
Announcing the Presidents approval
Of the promotions, including six other
medical officers. Acting Secretary of
the Navy Jahncke made public letter
from Mr. Hoover, dated July IT, saying
the President had no interest in the
matter of the boards selection "other
than to see that the best men should
receive promotion"
Jahncke declined to answer questions
Of newspaper men as to whether the
previous list did not consist of the best
men" He became indignant when the
correspondent asked whether Mr..
Hoovers rejection was not based upon
the omission of DR.. Boone's name. and
said, mo one but members of the pre-
vious board and the President know
whether DR.. Boone was not on the list,
the elaboration having been secret and
confidential
The only other change in the previ-
GUS list reported to have been made by
the new Selection Board was the elimi-
nation Of the name of Lieut.. Comdr.
William B Hetheld, who at the height
of the Nicaraguan earthquake last
March, engaged in an alteration with
Nicaraguan President Moncada.
Refused Admlttance.
DR.. Hetfield. who was directing relief
operations, upon hearing that a
wounded Marine sergeant was in the
Presidents temporary palace, went there
TO administer medical attention. He
was met at the door by a member Of
the Guardia Nacional who refused him
admittance on the ground it was the
Presidents palace.
Brushing past the Guardia. DR.. Het-
field entered the palace, where he was
met by the President, who informed
him he was violating the sanctity of
the presidential residence and told him
no Marine was there. Or. Hetfield and
President Moncada exchanged words
but the doctor insisted on looking after
the Marine.
Following this alteration, upon the
return to Nicaragua of American Min
lister Hanna, DR. Hetflead was ordered
out OF Nicaragua and assigned to duty
aboard a relief ship.
Speculation was rife in the depart
ment today as to whether Mr.. HooVer's
rejection Of the FIRST list was not based
as much on inclusion of Dr. Hetfield's
name as the omission Of DR. Boones, il
being the opinion OF several officers
that 10 promote DR.. Hetfleld would be
an insult to Nicaragua and other Cen
tral American nations.
Others Selected.
In addition to DR. Boone, those Sc
lected for promotion were Lieut..
Comdrs william W. Hargrave, West
Point, Va: Clarence w Ross. Floral,
Rans Carleton T. Wood Oberiin. Ohio
william w YVickersham, Philadelphia;
William H. Michael, Baltimore, and
Frederick l. Conklin, East Lansing,
Mich.
Or. Boone. who was thirtieth on a list
sixth on the list Of those promoted. In
promoting Or. Conklin, however, the
selection board went below DR.. Boone,
nearly TO the foot of the list
DR.. Hetaeld, who had been passed
over for promotion previously, headed
the list Of those eligible for promotion.
Jahneke Makes Statement
In statement announcing approval
OF the promotion list, Mr.. Jahncke said:
The recommendations of the pre-
vious board were not approved upon
the advice OF naval authority.
Proceedings of selection boards are
strictly confidential The two boards
recommendations are rot analogous in
i wish TO state that the preeept or
instructions to naval selection boards
are identical in the main. All eligible
candidates before board have equal
opportunity for consideration. Selec-
tfon 10 comply with those instructions
must be based on record. ability. sense
OF responsibility accomplishment con-
duct, character, etc.
Seniority is only to be considered
where two candidates have records and
possess qualities of like character and
where differentiation is indistinguisha-
BILE. Merit must be the dominating
guide IN strict adherence TO principle OF
selection in the naval service.
President Hoover's letter to Jahneke
follows
L am in receipt of your letter Of
even date informing me Of the action
of the Navy Department In converting
> new board for the selection Of medical
officers
i wish 1t 10 be known and recorded
by the new board that the President
has no interest in this matter other
than TO see that the best men should