Evening star., 1940-06-02

ers will be used for additional fight
training.
The strenuous life Of sea-going
requires tough body as well as
trained mind. Athletics. therefore,
is more than mere recreation to
midshipmen. More than one-third
of the 1900 students participated
in the 10 intercollegiate sports and
the remainder competed in intra-
mural sports.
Naval officers returning to the
academy for the first time in five
years will find the buildings en-
larged, training facilities more COM
plete than ever before, better hous-
ing provided for officers and their
families and for midshipmen. More
than s5,000,000 was quietly spent
there during those years, most Of
it provided by the w. P. A. and
P. w. A., and therefore not shown
in naval appropriations.
When they attend the sermon to
graduates in the chapel this morn
ing at 10:45, they will find it has
been enlarged at cost of $4,000.
The bones of John Paul Jones rest
in more regal splendor. The noisy
and noisome mess hall has been
rearranged at a cost of $3.50, 900.
The golf course has been reduced
in size to make way for most
of the $1,476, 900 in officers apart
ments. These are but a few of the
improvements which will permit ex-
pansion of the number of midship-
men should the need arise.
That need may come soon. Sew
eral hundred Reserve officers have
already been called to active duty.
replacing those on neutrality patrol.
There still are 10000 Reserve officers
who could be used temporarily and
thus avoid hump" in promotion
among Regular officers if many were
added now.
The authorized officer strength is
1852, but appropriations have pro-
vided for about 1000 and a large
proportion of fighting ships are un-
der -off1cered.
Curb Selection Boards.
Part of the officer shortage will
probably be overcome by less drastic
operation of selection boards which
annually retired officers of higher
rank-at a minuscule pension-be-
cause there was insufficient on top
for all. Many who were not Sc
lected for higher ranks and retired
have been recalled to replace active
officers training the naval militias
and R. o. T. c. units.
Admiral Nimitz recommended last
November that officers be increased
to 8,67l to man the ships then under
construction That was even before
new appropriations were voted for
more ships and planes.
In 1895 Congress increased the
quota of appointees to the Naval
Academy from three to four per-
mitted for each Senator and Repre-
sentative. Quotas were increased
proportionately for the President,
Vice President, Naval Reserves, en-
listed personnel and from honor
military schools. The basic law pro-
vides for five appointees and would
theoretically give the academy B.
1862 midshipmen. With a quota of
four. the student body should be
theoretically 1927. However, there
are only about 1900 at present. The
remainder failed "to make the
grade" and returned to civilian life.
Thus. when the white uniformed
new ensigns walk away from the
graduation exercises. they will be
assured of more security and fairly
rapid promotion in the expanding
fleet. That is, unless the Germans
are defeated and the British Navy
once again protects the Atlantic
shore of the United States; unless q
new disarmament pact causes the
scrannfn0 ~ Varshfna ,,,aieRs .