Evening star., 1937-02-14
PROMOTION LAWS
LIKELY TO STAND
Navy Department Believes
Proposed Changes May
Be DELAYED.

will urge Congress during the present
session to enact legislation amending
the laws relating TO selection for pro-
motion in the Navy and Marine Corps
are not at all bright. Both Admiral
William D. Leahy, chief of naval op-
erations, and Rear Admiral Adolphus
Andrews, chief of the Bureau of Navi-
cation, have advised that it would
be unwise, both from financial and
service standpoints, for all Of the rec
concentrations of the General Board
to be carried into effect. The changes
they do favor, they believe. can be
postponed until more experience is
had with selection from among the
lieutenants and lieutenants q. gD and
that there is no reason for action to
be taken at this time
OF prime Importance at this time,
naval authorities point out. Is the
need for auxiliaries. There is urgent
need for modern craft in several
classes of auxiliaries in the way of
ships of sufficient speed and other
characteristics that will enable them
to render essential services to the
feet. which at this time is much ham,
pered by lack of proper attending
ships. Besides fuel and supply ships,
the Navy has vital need for modern
tenders for destroyers. submarines and
flying boats. In so far as new legis-
lation is concerned. naval authorities
assert that effort now should be con-
centrated on getting through legisla-
ton that will authorize construc-
ton of these ships and money to start
the first of annual incrementS of them.
Authority to start a progressive build
ing program for providing the Navy
with approximately 22l 1000 tons of
auxiliaries. with an expenditure of
some SITE. 1000, 900 over period of 10
years already is being advocated before
Congress by the naval authorities
This program calls for the con-
struction Of fuel ships, supply ships,
hospital ships. and tenders for de-
stroyers, submarines and seaplanes.
Army.
Brig. Gen. M. A. w. Shockley. as
sistant to the surgeon general of the
Army and on duty as commandant
of the Medical Service School. Car
Isle Barracks, Pa, will terminate his
active service in the Regular Army on
February % by being placed on the
retired list. Speculation In service
circles now appears to have mar
rowed the field of possible ap-
pointees to I'LL that important
post to three colonies in the Med
ical Corps. These include Col. Ray
mond F. Metcalfe. chief of the
Surgical Service. Army Medical Gen.
ter, Washington, D. c.; Col. Jay w.
Grissinger, I'd Corps Area surgeon,
Governors Island, N. Y. and Col.
Joseph F. Siler, commandant of the
Army Medical School, Washington,
D. c. As Gen. Shockley will be trans
ferred to the retired list on February
%. it is expected that his successor
will be ANNOUNCED in the very near
future.
Col. Alva J. Brasted, chief of Army
chaplains, left here last Wednesday
for visits of observation at Army posts
and camps of the Civilian Conserva-
ton Corps through six South Atlantic
States.
Fort Myer, Va. has q new chaplain
In the person Of Chaplain Ora ]. Cohee,
recently on duty at Fort Sam Houston,
Tex. He will relieve Chaplain Ralph
c. Deibert, who has been assigned to
duty at Fort Davis, Canal Zone.