FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF LIEUT. COMMANDER RICHARD E. BYRD, UNITED STATES NAVY, RETIRED, TO THE GRADE OF COMMANDER ON THE RETIRED LIST OF THE NAVY, AND AWARDING HIM A CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR (H. R. 15048) NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 20, 1926. 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 14, 1926, transmitting the bill (H. R. 15048) providing for the promotion of Lieut. Commander Richard E. Byrd, United States Navy, retired, and awarding to him a congressional medal of honor, 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, first, to authorize the advancement of Lieut. Commander Richard E. Byrd, United States Navy, retired, to the grade of commander on the retired list of the Navy, to date from May 9, 1926, with the highest retired pay of that grade under existing law; and, second, to authorize the President to present Lieutenant Commander Byrd, retired, with a congressional medal of honor in recognition of his flight to the North Pole. The Navy Department is of the opinion that Lieut. Commander Richard E. Byrd, United States Navy, retired, is deserving of a reward for his flight to the North Pole. The bill H. R. 15048 was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with the information that the Navy Department contemplated making a favorable recommendation on the bill, and under date of December 20, 1926, the Navy Department was informed that this report would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President. In view of the above, the Navy Department recommends that the bill H. R. 15048 be enacted. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, A BILL Providing for the promotion of Lieutenant Commander Richard E. Byrd, United States Navy, retired, and awarding to him a congressional medal of honor Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to advance Lieutenant Commander Richard E. Byrd, United States Navy, retired, to the grade of commander on the retired list of the Navy, to date from May 9, 1926, with the highest retired pay of that grade under existing law. SEC. 2. The President of the United States is hereby authorized to present, in the name of Congress, a medal of honor to the said Richard E. Byrd for distinguishing himself conspicuously by courage and intrepidity at the risk of his life in demonstrating that it is possible for aircraft to travel in continuous flight from a now inhabited portion of the earth over the North Pole and return. [No. 51] PROMOTION OF FLOYD BENNETT, UNITED STATES NAVY, AND AWARDING TO HIM A CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR (H. R. 15049) NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 20, 1926. 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 14, 1926, inclosing the bill (H. R. 15049) providing for the promotion of Floyd Bennett, aviation pilot, United States Navy, and awarding him a congressional medal of honor, and requesting the Navy Department's views and recommendations thereon, I have the honor to advise you as follows: The Navy Department is of the opinion that Floyd Bennett, aviation pilot, United States Navy, is deserving of a reward for his part in the flight of Lieut. Commander Richard E. Byrd, United States Navy, retired, to the North Pole. The bill H. R. 15049, if enacted, will cost the Government $53.90 per month while Bennett is on shore duty and $92.90 per month while he is on sea duty. The bill H. R. 12360 (69th Cong. 1st sess.), which is similar to bill H. R. 15049, was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with the above information as to cost and a statement to the effect that the Navy Department contemplated making a favorable recommendation on the bill, and under date of May 28, 1926, the Navy Department was informed that this report would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President. In view of the above, the Navy Department recommends that the bill H. R. 15049 be enacted. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, A BILL Providing for the promotion of Floyd Bennett, aviation pilot, United States Navy, and awarding him a congressional medal of honor Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized to appoint Floyd Bennett, aviation pilot, United States Navy, to the grade of machinist in the Navy from May 9, 1926. SEC. 2. The President of the United States is hereby authorized to present, in the name of Congress, a medal of honor to the said Floyd Bennett for his gallant service to the Nation as a member of the Byrd Arctic expedition, which medal, when presented, shall entitle him to the benefits provided by the act approved February 4, 1919. [No. 52] STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL E. W. EBERLE, CHIEF OF NAVAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The committee this day met, Hon. Thomas S. Butler (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. We have, among others, Admiral Eberle, Chief of Operations of the Navy, with us this morning, and we will be glad to hear him further. STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL E. W. EBERLE, UNITED STATES NAVY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS-Continued The CHAIRMAN. Admiral Eberle, doubtless you too have read the statement of the President that attention should be given to submarines, cruisers, and air forces. Now let us talk about submarines; and I will be indebted to you if you will tell us what attention the submarine fleet needs in order that it may compare favorably with the submarine fleets of other nations, or any other nation. I believe you are the proper officer of the Navy to call in regard to that subject. We have gone into the subject of cruisers quite thoroughly, and now we will discuss submarines for a little while. I suppose we have all the information about cruisers that we need: at least, we have learned that we are in third place among the nations of the world. It is possible that if we keep drifting backward we shall not be in any place at all. Admiral EBERLE. We have in the Navy to-day built or building or appropriated for a grand total of 124 submarines. Of these different types we have 8 of the H type, 8 of the K type, 4 of the L type, 3 of the N type, 15 of the O type, 27 of the R type, 50 of the S type, 3 of the T type, and 3 of the V type, the V's being commonly known as fleet submarines. We have three other V's building. The CHAIRMAN. Admiral, I don't know anything about what those letters mean. Will you not kindly explain them? The fleet submarine is indicated by what? Admiral EBERLE. The V's are commonly known as fleet submarines. I will give you the displacement in tonnage of the different types of vessels. The 8 H boats have a displacement of 358 tons each; the 8 K boats have a displacement of 392 tons each; the 4 L boats have a displacement of 440 tons each; the 3 N boats have a displacement of 350 tons each; the 6 O boats have a displacement of 485 tons each; the 7 R boats have a displacement of 495 tons each; the 50 S boats have a displacement of from 850 to 993 tons each; the three T boats have a displacement of 1,200 tons each; the 3 V boats have a displacement of 2,100 tons each; and the 3 V boats building are of the larger type. |