Evening star. [volume], July 21, 1918, Page 13, Image 48

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Army and Navy News
CONGRESS has requested the
adjutant general of the Army
to make a statement of the
number of officers who have
become separated from the National
Guard since the declaration of war and
the calling of the organised militia
into th^' federal service. This action
draws attention again to the fact
that there was a National Guard, for
it has become a habit to speak of the
armies of the United States or the
American Army, and to forget that a
substantial part of it is composed of
the veterans of the expedition on the
Mexican border and the men who
came into this organisation soon after
that kindergarten-practice campaign.
Immediately after the return of the
guard, when the fuss with Mexico was
over, about March. 1916, many of the
most efficient officers and privates, on
one ground or another, resigned from
the organisation, in most cases the
real reason being that in their ab
sence the stay-at-homes had cut too
deeply into their business to let them
stand the expense. With the call of
the guard to the defense of the nation
at war the response came immedi
ately. Many returned to the old
ranks, and other guard graduates have
won high positions in the National
Army. The guard expanded rapidly.
until in April. 1918, the date of the
latest official report of its strength, it
had enrolled 16,971 officers and 409,395
men, besides something more than
35,000 taken from the guard to fill the
ranks of certain divisions of the Army.
It has been reported that a huge
percentage of guard officers, after fail
ing to qualify for the fighting forces
of the Army, had been separated from
the organisation. Nothing can be
much farther from the truth when
compared with the facts of the case.
Of the total number of officers of the
guard. 16.971. there have been elimi
nated from the body a little more than
1,600 officers, or less than one officer
iii every hundred; of the total number
separated from the command, about
one-third were disqualified physically,
and all vacancies have been filled from
the guard itself, with few exceptions,
in favor of higher officers, in many in
stances requested by the governors of
states.
The activity of the militia bureau
was directed to the development of
capable officers and the elimination
of those who-were for any reason not
the best to care for and lead the men
t of the organisation. The result is
that Gen. Pershing hss not made
many changes in the officer personnel
of the guard, and its fighting qualities
thus far demonstrated on the fields of
France have shown the justification
of the judgment in selections.
The attitude of members of Con
gress to the selection by elimination
of guard officers has been interesting.
However well a member might try to
do for his constituent, he always stood
ready to recognise the soundness of
the principle that the men must have
the best of everything, officers in
cluded, and to give support to that
principle.
?
* *
*"pHE brilliant performance of the
~ coast guard has easily justified the
legislation which placed that service on
an equality of pay and promotion with
officers of the same length of service in
the regular Navy, and is another demon
stration of the wisdom of the act creat
ing the coast guard in 1915, which de
clared it to be' a part of the military
arm of the government arid consequent
ly made this later legislation possible.
The creation of the coast guard was
originally proposed in a bill introduced
by Representative George Edmund Foss
of Illinois, for many years chairman of
the House committee on naval affairs.
The act united the old revenue cutter
service and the life-saving service into
t the new body, under the name of the
coast guard. In addition to the relief of
vessels wrecked or in distress and of
the harbor duty performed by the old
revenue cutters their vessels in peaceful
times patrol the coast in search of dere
licts, lcbergs and other hindrances to
navigation. The provisions of the act
creating the coast guard automatically
upon the declaration of war placed the
coast guard under the jurisdiction of
the Navy.
Coast guard vessels were among the
first, when this country entered into
war, to be sent to the other side and
their records for good service are un
broken.
The service of the coast guard, how
ever, is not limited to the ocean or the
shore thereof, for the Navy is now
building two coast guard cutters at
Dubuque, Iowa, for flood relief work on
the Ohio, Mississippi, Illinois, Mononga
hela and other rivers in the Mississippi
and Ohio valleys. It is expected that
they will be launched and ready for
operation early in the spring to >rfceet
flood conditions. In 1915 a coast guard
crew rendered signal assistance to flood
stricken people in southern Illinois and
Indiana. These new vessels will be
much more effective than anything
available, because they are designed
after the typical stern-wheel, shallow -
draft river boat that can be run over the
extended water, fields. They represent a
new field of efTort for coast guard, as It
Is the first organised activity on the
part of the government to render aid
to flood sufferers on the Interior waters.
It is safe to predict that when these
flood vessels have demonstrated that
they are as useful, as they now promise
i to be a sufficient number will be built
for use in other sections below the Ohio
river.
? *
* ?
ADMIRAL WILLIAM & BENSON.
U. 8. N.f chief of naval opera
tions, when asked whether he could
confirm the statement made by Sir
Eric Geddes that the U-boat warfare
was almost at an end, very conserva
tively replied that he knew Sir Eric
and that he would accept any state
ment made by him; that Sir Erio was
near the scene of the U-boat activity
and had all the reports that would
enable him to make an accurate state
ment in regard to what the U-boats
were doing and whatwas being done
t to. them, t , The 'admiral declined:; to.
make any statement
knowledge of the rate of destruction
of the undersea boats or to make uy
prediction as to the time of their dls
^However, It 1? reasonably certain
that the decline hi due in a great
measure to the activity of the Amer
ican destroyers and their """J?*1'*
heavy depth' charges, which by means
of devices produced by the bureau of
naval ordnance are so dtacharred as
to cover a far greater Held than was
possible by the older method of drop
pins the depth charge over the stern.
It has been hinted that other devloes
of the United States Navy In other
fields have been employed with great
success against the U-boat.
The blocking by the Bngllsh of the
Belgian seaports used as home sta
tions for the German submarines was
another deadly blow against U-boat
activity. Reports of therate at
which Germans are building and
launching submarines are so varied
as to be utterly unreliable. They run,
according to the* reports, from three
vessels a month to five a day. In
other words, from thirty-six a year
to 1.800 a year, and except that the
Germans appear to be running out of
submarines, there Is no way of tell
ing which are the more reliable
figures.
* ?
THE Navy reports its health con
ditions both afloat and ashore as
remarkably good "at the present time
and for the whole year general ad
missions to the hospitals lower than
it had anticipated. For several weeks
continuously the list for the entire
Navy from all Injuries and diseases
has been kept well below the P?*<-e
time average. The first six ?onths ot
the present year, which include the wad
months from a health standpoint,
showed a general admission rate lor
the principal shore stations, where
ordinarily there is more sickness thaa
among a corresponding number of
seasoned men afloat, leas than the av
erage rate for apprentice
other unseasoned men for corre"P??r
ing periods In peace-time years im
mediately preceding the outbreak of
the war. The death rate for all dis
eases has been correspondingly low.
averaging between 1.4 and 1.9IP
thousand per annum during recent
WThese excellent results are due to
the work of the medical department
of the Navy, which w? o^n,?d ln
s?""
fjsaggttS
tained even though tte l*r?nnel na?
ei^^orkeand cto? co-opera
tion of the hureau of Jiay^gatlon^^jn *
other bureau. con?r?ed^n the m.^
pUiye^an^mportant ?n'Vn? t'he pre
vention of sickness. a
?
* *
?he bureau of navigation Is In
dustriously completing its plans
to provide nearly W.000 P??onneU
&&&??&%
sis*?as'itssti
definite schedule of the P???Se m?
TgZlXl'JS?*ih.d^-.Tlantyis ?o
give to^he officers for the mercantile
?Mt a course of at least three months
training in their Prep^orym. d~^
before they can "a ,0
give toshes? a^^reight
^^^t0boP^Tsrhlpthe,Th?e,^n?ng
stations to be used exclusively
for the purpose of training this per
Sss'^sa^'K
SfflfSylettuW-tSS
proposals for an this ~W?lo?al con
struction to accommodate the new
2? t^t^re'S^'M^-^
firm in bis attitude against cost plus
forms of contract adds to this anx
iety since the alternative method of
awarding contracts will require
rIx weeks for advertising, scrutinis
ing Th? bids and making the award*
The secretary Insists, however, that
mT. older way of awarding the con
tracts has resulted very satisfactory
cepV^n^TTLi^caises of great emenfency,
SabSndS? iTfSr the cost plus con
trTOe success of the Navy In develop
ing its increased fighting Perf?"n?[
and the experience It .^H,*lt to dL
that operation peculiarly lit it to ae
velop and train the mercantile Per
sonnel. but It will throw a great bur
den upon the bureau of
bureau of navigation and the bureau
of supplies, burdeas. however, which
they are well organised to carry.
* *
ONE or the plagues of the fighting
forces of Europe has been the
vermin, principally lice, which find
lodgment In the garments-and on the
persona of the troops In the trenches
and In a less degree in the camps. In
order to relieve the troops of the
Army., both In this country and In the
expeditionary force, the surgeon gen
eral has established In all camps and
at the ports of embarkation PlanU ln
which large bodies of men and their
garments may be completely disin
fected. Those at the ports, when
completed and ready for uae^lllbe
on so large a scale that lMge unlts
of troops may In a very short time be
fumigated previous to embarkation.
Similar plants have been erected for
the use of the American troops in
France, with the result that the nui
sance and discomfort arising from
these Insects are reduced to a mlni
m Despite all vigilance It is Impossi
ble to eradicate lice from the camps
and cantonments, but rigid inspection
andiprpmRt pt&ventiye. measures do
k?i'h"n fairly free from the pests.
?*"y bodies of tr?opr?I
S?ft ??n,1? of the labor units.
Practically from the
<te v e l!?. ? SSLS"*"* *re Uahle to
all uSft^ r of active cases. So
uiuta going over must be thor
b?rklittnia!nfeci6d Et the Po*?t of em
?US ord-er ,hat the transports
frw 6." them m?T be kept
'"?m ""eee Insects. As a further
"y/* of Precaution similar planta
b"k*twfn *' **? Point of de
oarKation In France, and there the
a**ln?<t?t7>lln 'umlKated to insure
Ukin* any vermin with them
&t8a-"2X2? "?lch they ?? ?*T
?sy tms practice the men will b?ffin
their soldiering on the other side
and unattached, and it may be
}' tor Ptm remain " uit
?? ?? '?
at**.'??
that the men will arrive in thla coun
try in good condition, at least as far
LASSOS* ?' "noylng inaecta
are concerned. The treatment in
these disinfecting stations is not at
all unpleasant for the men. On enter
ing the station the men and their
garments are separated, to come to
gether again before they leave, after
" thoroughly cleansed
pressed!? K*rme"U free hened and
*
* *
GEN. WITJ.TAM U KENLY,
U. S. A., chief of Army aeronaut
ics, it is reliably stated, haa recom
mended to the Secretary of War that
all aviation officers of a grade above
that of lieutenanta be required to un
a th?rough grounding In aero
? that they ?h*Il not be
eligible for promotion until they shall
J1,"*6 Passed a satisfactory examtna
U.? respect* *"* "?ua?a<!ation. ">
th's recommendation is followed
?and If foreign practice is regarded
'SF* wlU be followed?all
JJ.St^on officers who have not al
thf / ?,en av'atlon training, with
HfntSfS01' some lieutenants, will
be obliged to take a thorough ciurse
avfitl? ;lmll?r to that of the
aviation ground school. They will
SrcT?,/>.-*tyd5r construction and con
con"ructlon and ad
Justment of all parts of the airplane,
tne theory of flight as well as actual
flllnsr wi.m 8iJnPiler Processes of
nytng. Whether failure to pass the
ZFIVZZ 11** wi" rMU,t in tb? loss
7 ion or transfer to some
?""r branch of the service is a ques
tion which thus far does not appear
flrst discussed. So many men,
Pby?lc*"y and of high edu
h.V? applied for service as
fhi? k ' haa been reported
earaed8^"" ,0nly tho?? who have
.W,'DBS a,ter a complete
?' training to qualify them to
5W A^o'r'^v'wi'ir^."
mmS^'LnA>i0au"ir"k Wh"eVer ,n
bv him ?! ,n*P?ctions initiated
by him soon after he was placed in
charge of the division of military
areonautics Qen. Kenly learned thLt
on some of the Beidaihe ???? ??
flying under the orderi of z~non-ay"Z
feT" reaUlU wh"* not ?t^
*
* *
?pHE nomination of Brig. Gen. Harry
1* Rogers. Quartermaster Corps,
to be quartermaster general of the
fhTa ?T a.Ptrlod of four y?rs from
prU?^oem?. "P?oltne"?- was a sur
S,Vs*^nf jssma
gSiws *? airs
re
There hav. r^anent appointment.
nave been many surmises
?? ??cers concerning the reason
for the change, and tht>. ?,?
estlthifhto men>bers of the military
establishment. Many senator* u-,
ShlPn^sBrf'n6 nominations of 'Gens,
anarpe and Crosier to be maior pen.
Wil UmSdtthltiofvQ?n- Clarence B.
WiLlams to be chief of ordnanc"
without the formaiity, even, of re
miHtifv thS-m, xt?u committee on
hesitated over the
tlo?^5i25?*f ? Ro??r*' nomina
w?th the otheri*" upon " ?,onK
Secetary of War Baker lut Tdm.
^e"1,? ^ heth5'Sht'5fer.hewSn,2
made It n^ff
coul2nhi0 <5cn- Wood. and that there
Gen Won50hi? whatever upon
uen. Wood by reason of his not beintr
made quartermaster general of the
tl^sicreuri' n?^ ?0t appear that
tn TL m?d? any statement as
be had given onsldera
tlon to the effect of the Overman
?ct as applied to this case or to the
?"r'h" f?t that Qenlw^i might
have been continued In office as at
e^f'*! taCUn?i <I?artermaster gen
fELJ Blddle was "on
tlnued In office as acting chief of
staff. It Is a fact that In , cu,
S??e"h*t **""ar to this, where the
Senate proposed legislaton to permit
a ,?hang? 'n the law, the Secretary
the that the provisions of
tS act were broad enough
tte rUu.il ? ca*?l and that under it
Sj^?k,??t couW make the changes
the mrSS., t0^- the Interest of
' , "d such a construction
tntenriLf to have been
the^m. ^ e Con?T?" that passed
_ Tbe law that the Secretary re
to la that under which the
? th.e commlsaary general, the
r **neral and the pay
f"l* on. were consolidated. Section
viatf. ?'kA"K,Mt 1#12. thereof pro
vides that promotions In the new
?>rps created under the act should
be from a list made up of officers
Sf. fvC?nsytu<int 00T"- with a pro
viso that after January I, 1917. any
vacancies above the rank of colonel
occurring in the corps might at the
discretion of tbe President be Oiled
i? 1 i from among officers
who shall have served by detail in
said corps for not less than four
S?n. Wood, who has served
J2,3 i ne of the Army, retired in
lfllo and entered business, where he
V very successful, and he has given
very little service, if any, in the Quar
termaster Corps. Brig. Gen. Harry
L. Rogers, nominated to be quarter
master general, I, the senior officer of
tee corps. He Is now on duty in
Europe and la spoken of highly by
Waahlngtea thB Arwy Rationed In
In and Around the City
Information come* to
hand^' especial when jrou hook It
white flahln for inirtMnr else.
As the American and French flues
were railed at last Sunday', celebra
tion of Bastlle day every man on the
Ellipse took off hi* bat except the
marine* on guard.
A patriotic young lady, who la going
to h*aven wben she dies, provided
?he takes ai good care of her soul as
of her Classy pink (laser nails, ob
jected to the omission, but as no one
paid the least attention to her. that
was all there was to that?except:
A woman who happened to be stand
ing next a uniformed youngster on
camp leave asked Into the matter and
learned that no marine may take off
his hat when he la wearing his belt.
Being a sociable chap, glad or the
chance to talk to so obviously a nice
woman, he told of soldier life gen
erally, until he came at last to the
inside information that:
"Every marine Is his own chink."
This explains for you why it IsHhat
some uniforms look so much niftier
than others, from a laundry point of
view. It all depends upon whether
? U wearer has Inherited the feminine
art of suds, starch and iron, or goes
around in limp khaki that proves his
virtues to be exclusively of the mas
culine gender.
Also, it may account for a wise gov
ernment's Changing army blue for a
color that won't show dirt. You have
to know the reason of a thing to have
proper respect for its value.
A marine has to wash a uniform
every day?and he has four, unless it
may be more or less, for a listener
gets the wires crossed now and then
?and he uses a brush Instead of a
wash board, which saves wear and
tear on the garments, to say nothing
of his knuckles and Immortal souL
Try It once, sisters. In preparedness
for the vanishing of that patient
>??n creature who laundered us as
white as snow for a mere price to
swear by?and which was too often a
price to swear at?and whose forever
absence ia aping to take some of the
sweetness oat of old-lime life, the
sweetness of brown sugar.
So now you know what to do when
tuDbing time comes to help you win
the war, and also?which is really
nwe important?the lady of the glassy
Pink nails will find from this important
document just why the marines kept on
their hats.
You don't have to ask Mr. F. for
every little thing that comes along.
There are others.
?
* ?
'pwo girls on a Glen Echo oar were
giggling at a strap-hanging
young man.
They were not flirtatious giggles,
understand, for the two werfe blocked
in from undue frivols by a family
party, headed by ma and pa. Mbre
over the young man had eyes only
for his newspaper.
He didn't seem to be a mirth com
peller, either. His face and figure were
nicely conventional and his clothes all
they should be?palm beach suit, cor
** whlte Pikea
*^eak, with its collar pinned down by
?honest, you would have giggled
7~by a Pin of the sort
that fastens your blouse in the back
when you don't wear it bare in a V.
It may be that the young man was
paying the penalty of a bet that had
gone wrong; maybe, again, he was ex
ploiting some kink new to Washing
i?^?ftyJeS.w,ToU never <?n tell why
Piople do things, probably for the rea
son that they so seldom know them
selves.
which is merely to show how
little it takes to make girls giggle
when girls are at the giggling age?
Of them way and way be
It?and to put this really im
port ant Question to you: _
breastpin found its way to
the mans store?
*
* *
JT looked like a tricycle that had
decided at the veKy last minute to
become an automobile. And in the middle
of its green lacquer and burnished brass
was seated a young woman. She was
such a bouyantly smiling young woman
and so generally good to look at that
people on the street stared as she
the curb as If they en
^1 J'Kkt. But yon always have
tion^ w for the irrepressible excep
n'.'P?"'1 people have the luck?
Riding as if she owned the streets
r?V?? lnd 1 have to walk like all
the other poor dubs."
. Troma" made the criticism
for *** machine. She
vlit? 8ee the two crutches.
tPErXZ'*1 ??L?ht havc occurred
to her that walking on a pair of
* whol? lot more bless
eder than-pegging around on sticks.
* *
'P'WO woman clerks started to walk
to work in the early days of car
crushes and have kept it up ever since
?going and coming, without missing
a day.
One of them has bought thrift
stamps with her ticket savings and
the other lets her little pile grow. They
have become acquainted with every tree
and bush along the way from George
town to the Treasury, and. what is a
whole heap better for theta, one has
resurrected a tinge of the color of her
dead youth, and the other can no longer
be called a positive bone.
Also, again, they have developed the
crusading seal of the reformer, and
with the loftiest Intentions in the
world are making life raspy tor
friends who prefer to ride.
"It Is so much healthier, don't you
knpw, and look at what we save if
you would only take the trouble to rise
a bit earlier?all it requires is will
?^<1" that and more.
thH? I *** always others. One of
them 1s a man in the same ofllce
enwaders have known
years enough to nag Into salvation
bSSSZOSkL* j-?-y'd'old uct th<"
peopu* good* honeafc. everyday peo-j
Pto?obfrot to brtng made over br
WjttenM not of their own ehooaW
*?d *Mlu crowtactaC
cheerfully accepted
their reformatory raids, but Ton
know abont that last straw?the o&sr
he MtUed them with a mas
culine protest which be doubtless con
sidered orlirtn.l K.,?
protest which be doubtless con
ABt "Wch^SS.
sot la ahead or him, and no tellinc
?tS?/ <^n ,n ??D* ?onT b^:"*
-,-Z. _^e wont of you good
women. You never know when to lot
?v?
'Jf ^ time, anyhow, the crusaders
brothers!? defe"t- but *U the same,
- What sort of world would this be
?fr you and for all of us If nod
women should learn to let go?
*
gHE wore musey white?one of
t.,., v -?* Iace-curUI"y readymade,
that had every appearance of having
StntimTk"!, d?Wn f?r ?*?
T,U?e "I no alteration??and her
piano legs of near silk were suited
on pumps that boiled over at the
'whiff'""1 dou?h' ?*>"? ">PI>osed
nSs\S1|faC^>t,y^d?"1'^"
meeting concern^ ??bject of the
in Its relaHon Mpeake B???h
named Thome* an an'ortunate
s>Anow? I'mer goinir* 1
"ays. 'If I caii miw morninK. Tom,* I
outer a ahn* ?'te ??* with a dinner
trifle at theRe^' ,??ith any
cone," I aays L*e a crab an- a
sump'n at a calf"? Uy can Ket y??
?ides.' I says -Tw..,.1 **?? *"'? be
unner?a"d^I,^"t "n to dietlnkly
man s door ? ? ??h*t 1 alnt no
WM.e,fS,e1,yWj^rntw? 1??' mat. She
Norway's Concrete Ships.
N??7tlich"u:lngr with Ameri<m *?
see which country will *?*? thm
ve?r, ?tLtUwd,nK ^
ocean!
of the shipbuilding wor.d lnreg?S
( 'M?btr of concrete ship.^,
M the "* b*,ngr constructed
n?r JZZZ\ "T But *'<**?*
hniMi a concrete ship
building company of Christianla. Nor.
the Ul*t h* bopes to cross
bolu whtoj" ?ne the larKer
building
Thu mnnr i f1?0 or three months,
the front iifti fast comin* to
?5 wSSS Md ??ryin TLe, Bhor^?
era fo^ihSSSffi:
ordei^ to offset St EST"8 1?"**
the depraSSlns" oJ0"" v%?L
coastwlse^ni!10# cont,nu<! both their
?TJffiTJR and transatlantic trade
, ' Stier, a 1,000-ton concrete ves
2fthTsSSS. bu,,t by ,he shipyards
of the tv,^ ?fCOmPany is a
isir
fe7nn&rn7?n. ft ^ ^
enu"DDi, ir.t,Inch molded depth. It is
sKSsSS5
stakable P Practically ?n.
lighters, motor ships and drydocks
S325a5?ehttah?,",.a?s11? ,o <=?"
^..'n^rdb&rvS6f
^ Emergen cy?Fie?*
The Sensitive Man.
ANDREW CARNEGIE, compliment
ed one day at bis Scottish castle
on his gifts to the cause of education,
said to a young: lady:
"There's nothing so pathetic as the
self-made man who is conscious of
his lack of education. These poor fel
lows seem to think that everybody la
educated but themselves.
"Once, in a smart New Torir
taurant, I heard a man with a dtfl
wa!ter^0rSe#t,0e Pln 8ay hoar?ely to a
" ,t,here chandelier.*
waifl. v chandelier, sir,' said the
WSS?? ** h? obeyed, it's a cruet'
edbJfck'Sd* 0X9 di?D?^s blush
.k? v11- ' neT*r mlDd ?hat she is.
b5srts ?u?g*i..^aa,d ^ ?">'t ??
The Poor White.
^ CONGRESSMAN, praising Amer?
ii?'s marvelous war producUon,
said the other day:
"Our war work is going to be so
splendid that it will make other
countries seem like poor whites be
side us.
i;'.'Y?U-,*'2?? th,? Poor white storyT
? P ,V?^y about a man in a Hissis
? PP' y"'?ee whp squatted down on
his Porch?or gallery, as thev sir
out there?at seven o'clock in the
morning and sat hour after hour mo
tlonless except for the steady move
head. ' chew,?* nlgger
'T'^'Jy kls wife came to the door
vol1*f^ a dMpalrin8 kind of
?t .ye ??*n* to work today?*
? said the man.
T?h? ?h? whined.
r * rf A4nH gat thne/f ?., ^