The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-06-13

dries almost instantly under these con-
ditions. Filled to the capacity of forty
gallons. il weighs $50 pounds, and the
contents are sufficient to fill the canteen
of each man in the company. The water
in the bag is purified by the use of hypo-
chloride carried in tubes. each weighing
ten ounces. one tube being sufficient for
n baSful of water. In the tests in Texas
the bag mained absolutely water-tiSht
for a period of thirty hours. The only
thinS to he determined IL durability. and
of course. il will take time to demon
stratc whether the bag has the necessary
keeping qualities which are at present
promised.
There s""Ins to he apprehension in
most quarters as to the characteristics
of the sixteen submarines, authorized
at the last session of Congress and bids
fer the construction of which will he
opened on August , at the Navy Depart
rnent. Tho prevalent view has furnished
occasion for complaint that these new
submarines will he OF the n type. As
a matter of fact. they will he nearer and
someu hat superior. to the l. type. 1t
has been found that the limit OF cost of
$5-nCn1 on each boat fixed by Congress.
will nable the Navy Department to pro-
duce submarine larger and slightly
better than the vessels of the l. type.
The main difference will he in greater
speed under water. OF course. every
thing depends on the bids received. and
some account must he taken of the in
Crea So in the cost of labor and material:
but inasrluCh as The l. type cost $50. 900.
it is expected that the additional limit
Of cost $4,000 in amount. will serve to
furnish en- improved l. type. The Navy
Depa rtmcnt expects to secure wider
competition for these submarine con-
tracts than in previous years. q num-
her Of shipping firms have manifested an
rtcrcst in the specifications.
The army radio tractor set No. > de-
signed ard built at Washington under
tn. supervision of officers of the army
signal CORPS is in use and is giving salts
factory results The apparatus is of two
X. W. bower. 1t recently was inspected
10y radio experts Of the navy. and the
bureau of steam engineering. which has
charge of navy radio apparatus. has
taken particular note of the mica con-
d.n-..r used in the transmitter. It is he
IieVcd that this is 4 superior type and
one that might he adopted for low-power
navy radio sets. and arrangements are
being made to this end.
The signal corps has designed and had
built at Washington later tyne of radio
equipment Of a divisional organization.
The electrical equipment installed in
Guides , one *. w. alternating dynamo
Of high frequency. which by means of
special lever may he thrown into gear
with the propellinc engine OF the vehicle.
On top Of the body is a maSt-hOiStinS
shears that is folded down during trans
portati0n. The crew consists OF two
chpuffaurS. two radio oper itorS. two mos
senccrs. and one noncommissioncd officer
in charge This crew is sufficient to put
up tho 60 foot mast supporting antenna
Of the umbrella type in about five min
ut"s.
COL John Caswcl. retired officer Of
ordnance Of the Massachusetts, volunteer
militia who appears to be employed with
the American ambulance organization in
France" has written to the Secretary OF
War stating that he was ordered by
member OF the American ambulance to
hoist the American flag below the Red
Cross emblem and to fix a staff in the
ground for the French flag: that he re-
fused to do this on the ground that no
foreign flag can he raised upon "A staff
in alien soil. unless concession has been
made to the fore ign power Temperate
to have rights on the ground. Col. Cas-
wcll asserts that foreign flag may he
+ rised on any building. tent or structure
without permission of the alton owning
the soil. but that whenever the American