New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-28
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Five Year Enlistment Term for
Army To Be Urgent.
From The Tribune Bureau.
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washington, AUGUST Il
ARMY ENLISTMENT PERIOD-As a
result OF a canvass by letter of army offi-
GERS stationed throughout the United
States Representative Hay will urge Con-
gress to adopt the fve-year enlistment
plan for the army. In the hearings recent
ly held before the House Committee on
Military Affairs OF which Representative
Hay is chairman. Major General Leonard
Wood, chief of staff expressed himself as
opposed TO any increase in the enlisted
period He indeed preferred a shorter
period than three years. on the theory that
such system would permit the army 70
train a greater number OF men for military
service. who would go out into civil lite
and spread the military spirit. Most cf the
other officers heard by the committee were
either IN favor of the three-year or the
fve-year enlistment with decided prefer
ence for the latter term
There has ensued a more or less spirited
correspondence between Mr.. Hay and the
War Department, the committee chairman
rejecting the suggestion that he call only
on officers stationed in Washington whose
names had been furnished 10 him. for their
views. He has instead sent out a list OF
questions. seven in plumber. TO field officers
outside OF Washington, including those on
duty in the Philippines. with the idea OF
obtaining the views OF those officers whose
rank and service are sufficient to have
furnished them with experience in the army
under both the three and the five year
term enlistment. Resssured by the favor
able replies 10 the five-year term plan. Mr..
Hay will make a strong fight to obtain its
adoption by Congress. Certain army Off
GERS are confident the change will prove
disastrous to recruiting. since II means, in
the end. less pay for the enlisted man.
COMPLEXION AND CLTMATE.-Some
tine ago the medical officers OF the army
on duty in the Philippines were asked to
give consideration 10 the influence Of tho
tropical climate on soldiers Of the blond and
brunette types The subject has been un-
der discussion and observation for the last
eighteen months by the army board on
tropical diseases Two groups Of soldiers
OF pronounced blond and brunette types,
made up Of twenty eight individuals in each
group were examined The blond type
vas considered as composed Of men with
light brown. sandy. red or iaxen hair. blue
or gray eyes and a Hight or ruddy COM
plexion. while the brunette type was de-
fined as possessing dark brown or black
hair brown or black eyes and a dark
complexion. Men IN whom the eyes, hair
and complexion did not all conform to the
same types were classed as mixed" and
excluded from consideration. Some ex-
perts have hitherto considered that blends
are less able 10 stand the influence 81 a
tropical climate AS far as the series Of
observations by the tropical board has JUS
titled any finding II is the belief Of that
board. as expressed in report received
this week by the surgeon general OF the
army that such a view is not supported.
In fact, the statistics and observations
might indicate the reverse condition" IT
is stated. The results Of the investigation
are rather indefinite and II might easily
develop that there is. after all, no particu-
lar difference in the ability OF one or an
other type OF complexion to Withstand the
rigors OF the tropical climate.
GENERAL, GRANT PI-ZZI ED The