Evening star., 1947-11-21
Green Bowl Banned,
Navy Denies II Ever
Aided Promotions
BY the Assoeioted Press

The Navy today issued orders
banning forever the 40-year-old
Annapolis secret society known
as the Green Bowl" because of
"rumor and speculation" that
its members had the inside track
for promotions and high-rank-
ing jobs.
A Navy memorandum to the
press" said there is no evidence that
the group had any such influence.
But there had been, 1t added, an
adverse effect to limited degree
on service morale, because of the
fear of the potentialities of an al
legged self-serving secret society"
The report said total of 1856
naval and Marine officers now on
active duty belonged to the Green
Bowl in midshipmen days. Armed
Forces, an unofficial service publica-
ton, said recently 18 of these are
admirals.
IS Officers Quizzed.
A full-scale investigation of the
Green Bowl was ordered after Capt.
j. G.. Crommelin, jr., testified before
a congressional committee that 1t
was an innocently-started organi-
zation grown vicious with the
years"
Seventy-five officers were ques-
toned during the two-month inquiry
which followed. 1t was under the
direction of Rear Admiral Frank
j. Lowry.
Today's memorandum said the
Green Bowls sole purpose was
social" and aimed at evading strict
academy rules against smoking or
drinking by midshipmen.
The investigators did not receive
any persuasive evidence that the
Green Bowl, or any of its members,
Disseminated against nonmembers,
or that the association attempted in
any way to obtain promotions or
preferential duty assignments for
any of its members" the Navy de-
clared.
Report Kept Secret.
The full report Of the investiga-
ton is classified confidential" by
the Navy, and officials declined to
disclose the names Of the 156 Green
Bowlers now on active duty.
Admiral Lowry's findings" on
which the memorandum is based
could not be obtained Immediately,
but one high-ranking officer prom
ised it would be made public later.
No evidence was produced, the
memorandum said, that any Green
Bowler had benefited professionally
or financially by his membership in
this association"
The Understanding Green Bowl
er, Admiral Dewitt C. Ramsey, vice
chief of naval operations, told
reporter recently he had never dis
covered how to resign from the Or
ganization since it held no meetings,
collected no dues and had no officers
or records.
He said he personally promoted
the investigation and wanted Ito
lay the ghost forever"
Harm Psychological.
The Navy memorandum said the
only harm done by the Green Bowl
Association has been psychological,
the investigators concluded, because
it's mere existence, no matter how
innocuous its purpose, gave rise to
rumor and speculation.
while the investigation was crit
ical of graduate members for their
failure to initiate action to stop the
perpetuation of this association, and
while these members, as midship-
men, violated Academy regulations
In joining a secret sociey, it was
concluded that no alumni members
should be penalized at this
late date for the youthful indiscre-
tions of their Naval Academy days"
The Green Bowl was organized by
midshipmen in 1907, the Navy said,
and existed until 1914 In that time
there were 387 members out of a
total of 13.267 graduates.