H

NAVY DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION BILL, 1927

HEARING

BEFORE

SUBCOMMITTEE OF HOUSE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS

· CONSISTING OF

MESSRS. BURTON L. FRENCH (CHAIRMAN),
GUY U. HARDY, JOHN TABER, WILLIAM A. AYRES,
AND WILLIAM B. OLIVER

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-NINTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

MARTIN B. MADDEN, Illinois, Chairman

MARCELLUS C. SHIELD, Clerk

GIFT OF

JUDGE L. C. CRAMTON

NOV 3 1937

NAVY DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION BILL, 1927

HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MESSRS. BURTON L. FRENCH (CHAIRMAN), GUY U. HARDY, JOHN TABER, WILLIAM A. AYRES, AND WILLIAM B. OLIVER, OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN CHARGE OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION BILL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1927, ON THE DAYS FOLLOWING, NAMELY:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1925.

STATEMENTS OF HON. CURTIS D. WILBUR, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY; HON. THEODORE D. ROBINSON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY; ADMIRAL E. W. EBERLE, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS; CAPT. W. R. GHERARDI, AID TO THE SECRETARY; LIEUT. COMMANDER CHARLES A. POWNALL, AID TO THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY; COMMANDER G. C. PEGRAM, AID TO THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS; REAR ADMIRAL CHARLES B. M'VAY, JR., BUDGET OFFICER; CAPT. W. T. CLUVERIUS, ASSISTANT FOR MATERIAL, OPERATIONS

Mr. FRENCH. We have assembled this morning to begin the hearings on the naval appropriation bill for 1927. One of the statements of the President in his message of yesterday could be taken as a sort of text, it seems, by every appropriating committee and it is this:

Economy is the method by which we prepare to-day to afford the improvements to-morrow.

The President in his message called attention to the expenditures of the Government and pointed out that for the present fiscal year the expenditures, exclusive of the Postal Service, will run at approximately $3,100,000,000, of which amount approximately $1,920,000,000 may be regarded as representing disbursements on account of past wars, including, of course, pensions, compensations, interest, and such items as that, leaving a balance of approximately $1,180,000,000 as the cost of the Government for ordinary purposes.

The President then pointed out that the War and the Navy Departments call for $642,000,000 for the current fiscal year, of which the Navy's share is $303,000,000. The Budget we have before us proposes an outlay on account of the Navy for 1927 of $322,869,430. The current year Navy figure that I have given, of course, represents only cash or money appropriations, and excludes the money value of supplies that are being used that are on hand as a result of purchases during the World War.

Mr. OLIVER. In view of the general statement just made by Mr. French, I would like for you to insert the amounts not included in the estimate submitted by the Budget, if there be any, or the reductions that the Budget Bureau recommends in appropriations made for 1926, and also let it appear what amounts have been used by the Navy which were not directly appropriated by Congress in money.

1

Mr. FRENCH. I was about to draw attention to those items for each of several years. The total direct and indirect appropriations for several years past are as follows:

We realized, and stated in presenting the 1925 bill to the House, that we would need to make larger money appropriations from that time on, and, of course, that is being realized in the bill we are called upon to consider.

The amount asked for 1927 is $322,869,430, and in addition. $5,000,000 by transfer from the naval supply account fund and a contract authorization of $4,100,000.

For the convenience of those who may study the hearings, we have prepared again an outline of the subjects suggesting the way we have felt the matter should be presented to the committee and to the Congress. This we have found is convenient to the department, and it is convenient to the members of the committee and to the House, and the plan of procedure is essentially the plan that we followed last year.

This morning we have with us the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Wilbur; the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Robinson; the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Eberle; Rear Admiral McVay, the Budget officer; and other officers from the Navy Department.

At this time we shall be glad to hear from the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Wilbur.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF SECRETARY WILBUR

THE STATE OF THE NAVY-PERSONNEL

MORALE

Secretary WILBUR. Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen of the committee, those in immediate charge of the training and operation of the personnel of the Navy report that the morale of the service. has never been better. This is manifest to some extent in that net desertions have decreased from 3,483 in 1923 to 991 in 1925, or about two-thirds, while reenlistments have increased from 50 per cent in 1923 to 72 per cent in 1925, thus enabling us to retain in the service men of experience who not only will be more efficient but will be of great assistance in training recruits to take the place of those who leave the service at the conclusion of their period of enlistment.

The reenlistment figure of men who have served two enlistments or more is over 90 per cent. The gross desertions are steadily going down. In 1924 the total number was 7,787 and in 1925, 4,657. The net desertions in 1924 were 3,161 and in 1925, 991. It is expected that these figures will be materially improved during the current year. The following is a quotation from the Annual Report of the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, Rear Admiral W. R. Shoemaker:

The fiscal year 1925 has been marked by a return to stabilized personnel conditions, such as pertained before the late war, and by a general improvement in the character and experience of the personnel, as well as in the tone of the entire Naval Establishment in its personnel phases.

The high percentage of reenlistments, the decrease in percentage of net desertions, the reports on personnel from unit commands, and the improvement in material conditions are indicators of a general improvement in the character and skill of the personnel and in its administration. The methods of operation

of the fleet and the cooperation of the naval commanders afloat have contributed to the result, and the bureau is appreciative of the cooperation and effort made in the service at large to assist the bureau in carrying to a solution its personnel problems.

Enlisted personnel conditions particularly have steadily improved, and further improvement is to be expected by continuing the measures now in effect to procure, train, and administer personnel with continuous attention to the many details which contribute to successful administration.

The following extract is quoted from the report of the commander in chief United States Fleet, Admiral R. E. Coontz, United States Navy:

The discipline of the United States Fleet during the past year has been excellent. The number of cases tried by general court-martial has not increased, and these cases, with the exception of a few, have been for military offenses only. The number of summary courts-martial, deck courts, and punishments awarded at most have not been excessive.

The behavior of the men at all places visited has been such as to elicit commendation.

Admiral S. S. Robison, commander in chief Battle Fleet, states in his annual report as follows:

The conduct of officers and men while ashore in foreign cities was excellent. Discipline in the Battle Fleet is very good.

With regard to personnel in aviation of the Battle Fleet, the commander in chief of the Battle Fleet reports:

The commissioned personnel of the aircraft squadrons are decidedly better trained than at the close of the preceding year. Greater permanency of station has been maintained during the past year than was the case heretofore. Approximately 31 additional qualified pilots are required to properly man the squadrons authorized for the coming year.

Sufficient enlisted personnel have been assigned to the aircraft squadrons throughout the year to meet their requirements. Vacancies in certain ratings have occasionally existed, but this condition exists to a greater or less degree throughout the service.

The following is quoted from the annual report of the commander destroyer squadrons, Battle Fleet, Rear Admiral Frank H. Schofield, United States Navy:

The state of training of the personnel is excellent. The morale is high. The discipline in these squadrons is excellent. The conduct of personnel during the visit of the squadrons to Australia and New Zealand was excellent and was favorably commented on by Australians and New Zealanders.