The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

the TACT that they were not a BILE TO COM
pete with the established manufacturers
abroad Since the war broke out the
army engineers who have to do with this
matter have been meeting with more suc-
cess in this direction and have now
reached a stage in which two different
American manufacturers have made ten
tative offers To the War Department, ,to
manufacture SearchliEht mirrors, pro-
vided they receive an order for spccl-
fled number.
The Secretary of the Navy has COM
municated to certain members of the
naval committees his personal views con-
corning the proposal to create the office
of chief Of naval operations. He admits
the necessity of such place in the Navy
Department, but urges that special pains
he taken to define the duties devoving
upon the officer so that there may be no
confusion at any time as to the au-
thority and responsibility vested in him.
There appears to be decided senu-
ment among naval officers against the
retention in the naval bill of the House
clause repeating the section of the per
sonnet law providing for the annual
plucking of officers. At least it is MAIN
tanned that if the plucking board is abol-
ished by legislation by this Congress
there should be provided something in
the way of substitute to create vacan-
cies and maintain the flow of promotion.
If the Senate refuses to agree to the
House provision, the paragraph will come
up for consideration in conference. and
it will be difficult matter to obtain the
consent of the House conferees to re-
cede from their position. The House Is
determined to abolish the pluckinc board.
and the prejudices which prevail in re-
gard to that method of elimination sus-
gest the line of action likely to be IA
vored in connection with any plan OF
selectcn-out. such as that which will
create an active reserve list contem-
plated by the departmental personnel
bill
The army recruiting officer at In
dianapoliS has had occasion to re-
monstrate with a citizen of Mat place
who has organized a body ofNmen I'M
der the title of the United States Re
serve Signal Corps. 1t appears that
the organization isSan independent
one. having no connection with the
regular army or the militia; that the
name adopted is misleading and likely
10 deceive young men. and especially
to lead people to believe they can en-
ter the army reserve without prior
service: that the enlistment papers are
similar in form to those in use in the
army. calling for an oath, and that
recruits are sworn in. While there is
no law which makes the use of the
objectionable term a criminal offense.
it appears its employment is mislead-
ing and is, therefore, hurtful to the
interests of the government. The War
Department can take action. of course
through the courts to prevent the use
of the title. The organization is I'M
derstood to be 4 worthy one, and
upon being informed of the situation
by the recruiting officers. those re-
Sponsible were quite ready to change
the name to the Independent Signal
Corps.
War Department officials who have
TO do with militia affairs are gratified
ut the marked improvement which has
been made as result of the policy
that requires the militia to comply
with departmental regulations in the
matter of numerical strength. organi-
cation. equipment, and training. The
personnel and policy of the former
executive committee of the National
Guard Association, which gave so
much trouble, have been changed, and
the committee now is made up of
militia officers. who have been in
structed to cooperate as far as pos
sible with the War Department. Tn
der these circumstances, the previous
dissatisfaction that has existed among
militia officers is eliminated, and there
are indications that, with this har-
monious relation, il will be possible
to increase the efficiency of the militia
and obtain the legislation that is
greatly needed.