The Washington herald., 1915-11-14


ment would be prohibited. under severe
penalties, from selling. demonstrating. or
explaining to any person or government.
other than the United States anything
or any part thereof covered by the con-
tract or anything pertaining TO or con-
nected with the matter covered by the
contract. and whereby the act will be
oroadened In scope In certain other ma
teriai respects 30 as to provide protec-
ton against the obtaining of intorrna-
ton concerning the national defense in
ways that are not now forbidden by the
terms Of the act
The naval medical ofheers have been
giving consideration TO the adoption OF
tdentincation-t tags. which. Il Is believed.
should be worn without exception by all
ofhcers and enlisted men of the naval
service. Surgeon General Braisted has
urgently recommended this measure as
necessary to be taken In time of war
In order to provide for conditions en-
oraced in paragraphs and OF the
Geneva Convention, 1906, but occasions
may and do arise even in peace times
that indicate the value OF a means OF
nary ravages OF decay.
The ordinary hazards OF naval life in
peace times embrace not only such men
aces as submarine cruising. but also
drowning from the usual causes. as well
as deaths from combustion. as In turret
or aeroplane accidents or prolonged ex-
posure to steam, as experienced unfor-
tunately in freroom or engine-room cas-
ualties, any one OF which may SO dis
figure as to render Identification dificult,
II not impossible. In adopting such a
procedure now, not only will humanL-
tartan needs be satisfied. but a perfect
ing OF another detail Of organization will
be accomplished which would otherwise
lecessarily be undertaken at a time
when II could be least accorded the
proper attention.
The Navy Department finds IL i'm
possible to determine upon q definite
time which must elapse in the absence
OF naval officers before the death
gratuity may be paid to the designated
beneficiary. Circumstances in individ-
ual instances must be the governing
factor. There may be evidences which
leave in doubt whether or not IN Of
icer is a survivor and. in such a case.
the period in which determination Of
death may safely be made will be a
matter in which all the attendant cir
cumstances must be taken into con-
sideration.
Where a submarine, known to con-
tain persons in the naval service.
sinks and remains submerged about
two and a half months, the depart
ment decided that such persons were
dead. and that the necessary steps
could be taken without further delay
by law 10 their beneficiaries: that it
was not deemed advisable 10 TX the
definite date on which such persons
may be regarded as officially dead.
pending additional evidence which
might be available when the subma-
rine is brought to the surface
The revision of the regulations for
the mobilization OF the organized
militia has been under the considera-
ton of a board of officers in the War
Department. the report Of which has
been made the subject of q memoran-
dunn Of the adjutant general. who has
submitted the recommendation that
the army regulations and the muster
militia now in force should be so
amended as to leave no doubt what
ever that militiamen called into serv-
ice Of the United States can be In
Quoted into that service only by the
process of a formal muster-in or by
some other form OF acceptance on the
part OF the general government held
as equivalent OF a muster-in-
II is held by the War Department
that a miltiaman called forth by the
President to be employed IN the serv-
ice OF the United States must obey
that cal under penalty Of such pun
shment as a court martial may direct:
that such miltisman does not. how
ever. become subject to the rules and
articles Of war until mustered or ac-
cepted into the service OF the United
States: that the law requires such a
to be mustered into the
service of the United States; that
formal muster-in should invariably be
waived and a constructive muster-in
adopted by the United States by sucF
treatment of the militiaman through
Is own agents as clearly shows its
Intention to accept him into its serV-
&c. and that the army regulations and
he muster regulations for the or .
ysnized militia should be modified IN
whatever particular they do mot agree
With this decision.