For the Treaty Navy

For the Treaty Navy

Navy officers of high, resplendent rank last week congregated in Secretary Charles Francis Adams' office for a formal ceremony. Their centre of interest: the old, white-mustachioed face of Admiral Charles Frederick Hughes, Chief of Operations, No. i naval officer in the U. S. service. He, not due to retire until Oct. 14, but ill (having recently suffered a paralytic stroke) and disappointed (by the U. S. Senate when it ratified the Disarmament Treaty), had written the President: "I hereby submit my resignation . . . because of the realization that during the next two months important surveys and plans must be made for the future development of the Navy. In order that authority may accompany responsibility . . . the officer who advises as to these plans should also be responsible for their execution." Last week he had come to see the man who had advised the U. S. delegates to the Disarmament Conference given the responsibility for building the Treaty Navy. He watched Admiral William Veazie Pratt, Commander in chief of the U. S. Fleet, sworn in as his successor. Then he turned to the congregated officers and said: "Gentlemen, I just want to say goodbye and to thank you for your loyal and cordial assistance."

Said Admiral Pratt: "I have nothing to say except that I am sorry to see Freddy go."

The substitution of Pratt for Hughes had long been scheduled (TIME, May 12). But the resignation last week of Admiral Hughes was a surprise. William Howard Gardiner of the (Big) Navy League (a lay body), just returned from Europe, hinted it was because of "reductions in naval expenditures said to amount to $20,000,000 or $30,000,000, to which it is alleged that Admiral Hughes is so opposed that he is resigning." This Secretary Adams denied, saying that Admiral Hughes had been a proponent of the Administration's economy program, by which it is hoped to save $50,000,000 in expenditures by the Army & Navy this year.

Admiral Pratt was a full admiral by virtue of his being U. S. Fleet Com- mander. By virtue of his new, coveted office, he retains that rank. But Admiral Hughes last week kicked himself down a step in naval rating to rear admiral. Last week the Navy Department announced the appointment of a new full admiral to take command of the Fleet: Rear Admiral John Valentine Chase, whilom member of the Navy General Board, who plans to confer over the Treaty Navy with his new chief before hoisting his four-starred flag above the flagship Texas.

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