Evening star., 1932-04-10

Navy.
A study of the situation Of first and
second lieutenantS of the Army and
Marine Corps and the ensignS and
junior lieutenants of the Navy. all Of
whom are practically in the same class
in relation to income and individual
expense, is being regarded as calcu-
lated to check any congressional action
that shall seriously injure officers of the
junior grades. These junior officers
have had no increase since the pay bill
Of 1908 and they sustained reduction
In the pay law of 1922.
Second heutenantS of the Army start
with monthly compensation of $141.67
as base pay and only after five years
service an officer Of that grade receives
an increase of $1416. Even with al
lowances in the way of rations, he re-
ceives for the first five years of his
service less than he received in 1903.
To these junior officers and those grad
yates Of this years Military Academy
class the first six Years of their COM
missioned career is the most trying
when they must avail themselves of
such personal resources a. they may
chance to possess In many cases these
aids must frequently take the form of
opportunity to borrow.
The fate of the law permitting the
commissioning of all the graduates from
the United States Naval Academy as
ensigns next June still hangs In the
balance. There are about ATS midship-
men who will graduate for whom there
are no vacancies in the line of the
Navy, the Supply Corps or the Marine
Corps and unless some action Is taken
by the Senate on the bill passed by the
House more than a month ago they will
be discharged from the naval service
with one years pay as midshipmen.
There is another situation confront
ing the midshipmen who will complete
the four-year course at the Naval
Academy this coming June. In the
event they are discharged they will no$
have a degree or other evidence to in
dicate to the world that they have com
pleted a four-year course of college
work. At present the only recognition
they receive is their commission as an
ensign in the Navy or rs second lieu
tenant In the Marine Corps. If they
are to be discharged from the naval
service on the completion Of their
course, 1t is apparent that, in addition
to their discharge. they should have an
appropriate diploma, such as bachelor
of arts or science.
~ Was recommended laSG week that
ensigns be commissioned for proba-
tionary period of two years with au-
thority vested In the President to
terminate that commission ct any time
within the two-year period. This pro-
vision would make it possible to elimi-
nate the unit members of each class
who do not within the two-year period
give evidence Of qualifying as efficient
officers.
Rear Admiral George r. MARVEL, re-
Gently in command of the cruisers
Of the Scouting Force, will come
to duty at the Navy Department
as member Of the general board.
Capt. Samuel w. Bryant upon his
detachment from duty as chief of
stan to the commander Of the Scout
ing Fleet, will assume his new duty at
the Navy Department in the Bureau of
Naval Operations. Capt. Isaac F.
Dortch, lately In command of DESTROYER
Squadron 5, Asiatic Fleet, will come to
duty at the Navy Department In the
once Of Naval Intelligence. while Lieut..
Comdr. John M. Field, IT,, upon ar
irving in Washington from Asiatic sta
ton, will assume duty in the Bureau of
Engineering.