Monday, Feb. 28, 1944

22 Officers

The Navy, which is not celebrated for liberalism in handling its race problem, announced unprecedented measures to broaden the scope of its Negro personnel. > Twenty-two Negroes will be commissioned in the Naval Reserve, the firstr in the history of the Navy. Twelve will be selected from qualified enlisted men for line duty as ensigns. Ten civilians will be appointed to serve as ensigns or lieutenants (junior grade), two each in the Chaplain, Dental, Medical, Civil Engineer and Supply Corps.

> Two new antisub vessels will have predominantly Negro crews. A destroyer escort will be manned by 160 Negroes and 44 whites, a patrol chaser by 52 Negroes and nine whites. The whites will hold billets requiring specialized training, will ail be replaced by Negroes as they qualify.

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