That is a job that can be done much more economically when the ship is opened up for the other work than it could be done later on. The CHAIRMAN. Is that included in the estimate? Admiral HALLIGAN. Yes, sir. In the case of the Nevada's boilers, her boilers should have been renewed last year, but we have delayed that work until modernization. She now has only 11 of her 12 boilers in operation, and those at reduced pressure. Her speed has been reduced accordingly, so she is not in the condition in which a ship of the first line should be kept. (Thereupon the committee adjourned.) A BILL To authorize alterations and repairs to certain naval vessels Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of modernizing the United States ships Oklahoma and Nevada, alterations and repairs to such vessels are hereby authorized at a total cost not to exceed the sum of $13,150,000 in all. The alterations to the capital ships herein authorized shall be subject to the limitations prescribed in the treaty limiting naval armaments ratified August 17, 1923. [No. 70] AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO APPOINT CAPT. REGINALD ROWAN BELKNAP, UNITED STATES NAVY, RETIRED, A REAR ADMIRAL ON THE RETIRED LIST OF THE NAVY (H. R. 15291) NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 11, 1927. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of December 17, 1926, transmitting copy of the bill (H. R. 15291) authorizing the President to appoint Capt. Reginald Rowan Belknap, United States Navy, retired, a rear admiral on the retired list of the Navy, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to advise you as follows: The purpose of this proposed legislation is to advance Capt. Reginald R. Belknap, United States Navy, retired, to the grade of rear admiral on the retired list of the Navy. Captain Belknap was appointed a naval cadet on September 5, 1887, and has served continuously in the Navy on active duty since that date. He advanced through the various grades, attaining that of captain on May 23, 1917. He was retired on June 30, 1926, under the provisions of the act of June 22, 1926 (44 Stat. 761), which directs the retirement of all officers in the grade of captain who become ineligible for promotion upon the completion of 35 years' service subsequent to graduation from the Naval Academy. Under the provisions of the act of August 29, 1916 (39 Stat. 579), Captain Belknap, if he had not been selected to the grade of rear admiral, would have been retired on June 26, 1927, but, because the temporary legislation of June 22, 1926 (supra), substituted service in grade for age in grade ineligibility for promotion, he was retired on June 30, 1926. The records indicate that the selection boards of June, 1924, 1925, and 1926, did not recommend this officer to the grade of rear admiral, although they did recommend officers junior to him. Captain Belknap is an officer of exceptional ability. He has been assigned duties of great responsibility and his performance of them has been a credit to the naval service. During the World War Captain Belknap, as commander of Mine Squadron 1 of the mine force, held a flag officer's command for a period of two years and two months. This duty involved the preliminary work of organizing and training the mine-laying squadron and the actual laying in the face of an active enemy of the North Sea mine barrage which was characterized by the Navy Department as one of the outstanding achievements of the Navy; it had much to do with shortening the war and the consequent saving of many American lives. For the highly efficient performance of this duty Captain Belknap was recommended by his immediate superior, by the commander in chief, and by the Chief of Naval Operations for the distinguished service medal, and was awarded that medal in the following quoted citation: For especially meritorious service in command of Mine Squadron 1 of the mine force, during the operation of laying mines in the North Sea, and for the excellent work in connection with the equipping of these ships for mine-laying. duty. During the past several years Captain Belknap has repeatedly been recommended by his senior officers for advancement to the grade of rear admiral. In connection with Captain Belknap's retirement, attention is invited to section 30 of the act of Congress approved March 4, 1925 (43 Stat. 1279), which reads as follows: All officers of the Navy and Marine Corps who have been specially commended for their performance of duty in actual combat with the enemy during the World War, by the head of the executive department under whose jurisdiction such duty was performed, when retired by reason of age ineligibility for promotion, shall be placed upon the retired list with the rank of the next higher grade and with three-fourths of the pay they would have received if not advanced in rank pursuant to this section. Had Captain Belknap been retired because of age ineligibility for promotion he probably would have been entitled to the benefits of this act. However, since he was retired because of service ineligibility for promotion, this provision of law could not be applied to his case and he was accordingly retired in the grade of captain. It is recommended that the word "in" be inserted after the word "increase" appearing in line 12 of the bill. The enactment of this proposed legislation into law will involve no additional cost to the Government. In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends the enactment of the bill H. R. 15291. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, A BILL Authorizing the President to appoint Captain Reginald Rowan Belknap, United States Navy, retired, a rear admiral on the retired list of the Navy Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in recognition of the exceptionally meritorious service of Captain Reginald Rowan Belknap, United States Navy, retired, in command of Mine Squadron 1 of the mine force during the operation of laying mines in the North Sea, and for his excellent work in connection with the equipping of these ships for mine-laying duty, the President is hereby authorized to appoint him, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a rear admiral on the retired list of the Navy from the date of his retirement, June 30, 1926: Provided, That no increase nor back pay or allowances of any kind shall accrue as a result of the passage of this act. [No. 71] TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY TO DEVELOP AN · AMMUNITION DEPOT AT HAWTHORNE, NEV., AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (H. R. 16205) NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 11, 1927. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: There is inclosed herewith a copy of a letter, together with a copy of a proposed draft of a bill "To authorize the Secretary of the Navy to develop an ammunition depot at Hawthorne, Nev., and for other purposes," this day forwarded to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, Secretary of the Navy. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 11, 1927. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is inclosed herewith a proposed draft of a bill "To authorize the Secretary of the Navy to develop an ammunition depot at Hawthorne, Nev., and for other purposes. A court of inquiry appointed on July 14, 1926, to investigate and report on the disaster at the naval ammunition depot, Lake Denmark, N. J., made a recommendation for the establishment of a new ammunition depot to serve the Pacific coast and that the said proposed ammunition depot be located "within a radius of 1,000 miles from the Pacific coast, and to be so located as to have convenient railroad facilities to the Los Angeles-San Diego area, to the San Francisco Bay area, and to the Columbia River-Puget Sound area, the land provided to be either Government-owned land or cheap barren land, covering an area of at least 100 square miles, and allowing an unoccupied safety zone of 2 miles." Pursuant to said recommendation an exhaustive investigation has been made of available areas to determine a suitable location for this proposed ammunition depot. Under authority contained in the act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 847), as amended by the act of August 24, 1912 (37 Stat. 497), the President by Executive Order No. 4531, dated October 27, 1926, withdrew from the public domain in Nevada an area of 197 square miles and set it aside for the exclusive use and benefit of the United States Navy for the development of and use as an ammunition depot until the said Executive order is revoked by the President or Congress. It is purposed to establish the proposed ammunition depot within the confines of the area so withdrawn. A small portion of the lands selected for this proposed ammunition depot is now either in private ownership or it has been entered but not yet patented. 20038-27-No. 71 (385) |