Evening Star Newspaper, September 27, 1935, Page 41

IRCREASNE AV IRGED I FORUM Assistan¢ Secretary Roose- velt Declares Service Is } “Woefully Lacking.” ‘(Continued From Fourth Page.) gress to authorize these increases as their need is indicated. Officer personnel presents another problem. The naval officer is a spe- cialist and a technician. His edu- cation for his profession begins the day he enters the Naval Academy, and continues as long as he wears the uniform. The officers’ corps of the Navy presents the continuity of | the tradition and devotion of 160 years of naval history. When the young midshipman puts on his blue coat he joins the company of John Jaul Jones, of Porter, and Decatur, and Farragut. He becomes kin, in a very intimate sense, to generations of able and loyal men who have found it good to devote their lives to the eervice of the Republic. The life that | he elects is not an easy life; its stan- | dards are high and rigidg and its | requirements are exact. It rewards are in the realm of the spirit, rather than in material things. His service pay will never make him rich, but with prudence, he and his family can get along. After he has accomplished his years of active service he can look forward to retired pay for the rest of his life; something modest, but assured. For a long time promotion in the haval service went by seniority. You ‘were elevated when the man ahead of you was elevated or died off. Since simple longevity is, in itself, no con- ceivable claim to sdvancement, it readily can be seen how such a system became intolerable. In 1916 the Navy adopted a plan of promotion by selection for the higher ranks. It has worked excellently well, and | has had the merit, for one thing, of | bringing able men to high command while they were still young enough to function at something like their highest usefulness. After due con- | sideration, the system of selection has | been, in the last two years, applied | to the Marine Corps; and the Navy selection laws were extended to reach | officers in the lower grades. ! Retirement Explained. No human institution ever func- tions perfectly, and the Navy is a very human institution. The actions | of selection boards, as formed and | proceeding along the lines indicated | by law. have failed to please every- | bedy. They have resulted in the re- | lease from the active service of young | men, otherwise perfectly able, on re- tired pay computed according to the length of service each individual has had. Formerly, the laws governing retirement strictly limited the lines of activity which officer on the retired list might follow. He was cut off, by their provisions, from many occupations which, by reason of his naval experience, might other- wise have been open to him. Taking this consideration in mind, with the increased number of retirements brought about by the new laws, the Navy Department has procured sub- astantial relaxations in the restrictions surrounding retired officers. A young officers, now placed upon the inactive list, has his small but assured stipend from the Government as long as he lives, and his energies and abilities may be directed pretty much as he desires to apply them. About the only restriction remaining upon him is that he cannot act as a direct sales agent for a concern selling material to the Navy. Let it be remembered, finally, that an officer on the retired | list is still a part of the Navy, and may be called back in a period of emergency. | As for the principle of selection, it | s so sensible and logical that I do not consider it to need extended comments. It simply applies to the naval service the governing factor in every civilian occupation; ability and initiative are made elgible for reward. I find it in no way unrea- sonable that competence be made the basis for naval promotion. The naval service has never been attractive to the type of weakling who fears life and the problems of life or doubts himself and his abilities. I believe that our officers find, in the enlarged scope of selection, a sharper and more zestful challenge to their manhood. I wish that there were time, also, to speak to you of the officers who fill the high command posts in the naval service. They, every one, are officers who have come up through years of rigorous selection and elimi- nation. In the Navy the reward for hard work is more hard work; and the recompense for responsibility ad- equately administered is higher re- sponsibility. The admirals afloat and the chiefs of bureaus and com- mandants ashore have proved their competence many times before they attained their present high station. It we have in this country a class of men more able more loyal and more intelligently confident in them- selves and in their co-workers, I have never heard of them. ‘There is much more that could be taid on this subject. Our air force 15 superb. The Marine Corps, the oldest combatant arm of the Federal service, has always been adequate to its occasion. The Navy, in any emergency, will do its best with the tools that you provide for it. And its best is a very good best. Observ- ing events in the world today, we wish only that there was a little more of it. But, the remedy for that 18 in your hands. Reardon’s Washable ter. BTz v 2,0 Tmakes one W hatat er-Flynn 609 C St. N.W. Met. 0151 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 193 “Pretty as a Picture” The Hecht Co. Points With Pride to ‘Coats of Velama De Luxe With the Velvety Surface $25 We scarcely ever have a chance to tell you about these soff, downy Velama fleeces before. Eager young women snatched them just as fast as we could get them in. Here's a new group. Barrymore collars, butter- fly, little stand-ups; loosc swinging and fitted styles. Monotone checks and plaids in pecan, rosewood, green and wine. Sizes 14 to 20. ’ (Third Ploor, Coat Department.) turns out this dapper Senora 2. “Senora” is a swagger hat in the Descat manner deftly tailored by Gage. There's a “good fellow™ look to the triple tucked crown and an autumn tang in the mellow colors in velour or fur felt. Black, brown, navy, wine and Kent green in headsizes 2115 to 23. Other costume colors to special order. (Third Floor. Hat Department.) ———— YOUNG WASHINGTONIAN SHOP ANOTHER YOUNG IDEA Sesvin Lanvin's Pet in chif- fon with silver kid buttons running up the sleeves and around the neck. 16.95 *k Big fur sleeves and & tiny collar is the recipe o 1 thi: rt At the openings every eye was focused on the sleeves of the new clothes. Frivolous sleeves, daring sleeves, slightly mad sleeves— . and above 2ll, young sleeves. The Young Washingtonian Shop believes that a sleeve can make an outfit and proves it with three fine examples. Come in and see everything we have up our sleeves! Sizes 11 to 17. Rfatot 2,00 ¢ 8 272 8.2 20860 8.8.0 0088088880822 Zephyr twin sweater set with wood buttons, 3.95 Wool flannel skirt. 3.50 Above I'wo - piece chenille with the flattering young artist's collar Wooden buttons. Lovely colors. 8.95 Right Action back coat sweater in soft zephyr wool. Mellow Autumn colors. 2. 9 5 Two - piece wool flannel Watch the gay young people pouring into the Embassy for tea. Look at the young crowd strolling briskly down Con- necticut Avenue. Look at the career girls in the busses. All wearing sports clothes and all looking gala and de- bonair. It’s a real bit of Americana—and the Hecht Co. aids and abets the great national habit of wearing sports clothes for everything. Above, right Two-piece dress of delustered boucle with hand-finished necklire. Vivid colors. 10.95 The very important velveteen coat dress with a sporting printed crepe tie. 10.95 (Third Floor. Sportswear.) reefer B suit. Notice the ' clever velvet col- lar on the jacket, 7.95 '3 = A 3 7 ek ek s ek Aok ko ok ‘ . Paris Applauds VELVET for dinner The in wine in black perfect answer to the problem: What to wear to dine and dance and to the theater when vour escort doesn't dress, Classic button-up- thefront d r e s s with squared stitched collar. Sizes 14 to 18. (Third Ploor, Better Dresses) **************************************** * * »* » * ¥ * ¥ % »* * » »* ) 2 * 95 % s »* SR » * * » » » »* % » b 2 » »* » * * ) 3 » THE HECHT (0. F STREET AT SEVENTH e e e NATIONAL 5100