The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-10-24
BY T.. ID. JOHNS.

II is difficult to see where the Sec
rotary of War will secure troops 10
train his proposed continental army
unless changed conditions in Mexico
will make the border patrol unneces-
sary. Last summer there were not
SUFFICIENT regular troops without re-
neying some of them from the border
"a train the National Guard. although
there were no large joint maneuvers
The proposed increase OF hVe resl-
ments of infantry and four regiments
~ field artillery will scarcely be SUI
hcient to take care of the Nationai
Guard.
The troops never served under more
disagreeabIe conditions than they nave
for the past three or Tour
Vera Cruz, Texas City and along the
MEXICAN border Many of the oni-
GERS families have been compelled TO
live under canvas much of the ume-
MEXICAN adobes have been regarded as
a luxury by the families of the OIL
GERS and noncommissioned oHCeIs'
Under the regulations OF the war De-
partment there has been no auihority
10 make allowances for quarters ana
oo,cers and noncommissioned officers
have been at great expense whlle
serving on the border. They nave
been serving under war conditions
hut have not received credit for Tor
eign service. A term OF dut! IN inc
phtIippines is more TO be desired tnah
duty on the border.
The War Department is being ursed
to recommend some Legislation H
which allowances for quarters can be
made- Even with the recognition OF
Carranza there are no assurances that
troops will not be needed on the Dor
dor Tor two or three years. The sug
restion has been made that 1t would
he more economical to build canton
ments than to keep the troops uhoer
canvas for two or three years longer
The Brooklyn which sails for her new
station with the Asiatic fleet on OCTOBER
- Iii, on b,, the Suez Canal instead of
a., panama Canal as was originally plan
ned This will take her through the war
zone and at this time it will be necessary
for officers of the Brooklyn to take eN-
,raordinary precautions not TO become III
voIyed in some difficulties that wou!d re-
onirc the assistance of the State Depart
ment to disentangle.
The question Of securing fuel WheI inc
BROOKLYN reaches the war zone Will De
a serious one. According to report
there is a shortage of fuel in the waters
through which she will pass. ana Inc
commander of the Brooklyn may expert
ence some difficulty In securing the sup
pIy The Brooklyn is sent by the SueZ
canal on account of the slide in the PAN
anna Canal. She is to be the flag ship oil
the Asiatic feet and Is now overdue al
her new station.
Col. I. c. Lucas. L. :. NJ. c. has
hecn retired from the Marine Corps
after thirty years of service. Although
he is entitled to retirement on account
of the length of his service. he made ap-
pIicstion largely on account Of i'll health.
having been at the New York hospital
for three or four months. His retirement
promotes Mai John T. Myers. now on
duty at the Panama Pacific Exposition
Mai Albertus W. Catlin, commanding
the Naval Prison at Portsmouth: Capt
Frederick l. Bradman, commander of
IN. marine barracks. Mare Island. Cal:
First Lieut. F. Il. Garrett, Second Regi-
rnent. now stationed In Haiti: Second
Lieut.. Robert f. Messersmith. Washing
ton barracks.
Col. Lucas graduated from the Naval
Academy in 1859 and was commissioned
in the Marine Corps in 1881. For gallant
service at Guantanamo in the Spanish
American war. he was breveted captain
and distinguished himself in the Filipino
insurrection. Col. Lucas took a course al
the Army War College and also at the
Navy War College. He was a pioneer
in the advance base work of the Marine
Corps and Is recognized throughout the
navy as a high authority on war prob
lens.