The Washington herald., 1915-05-16

detail of pay. allowances. and supplies
in anticipation of an increase of the
army. are being carefully made by she
quartermaster general. 1t will be some
, weeks before the reports from different
sources have been digested and ar
ranged into u comprehensive plan. The
Secretary of War desires that the tent
ative project shall be drafted with as
little delay as possible to the end that
the program for army reorganization
may be perfected in all its manifold
ramifcations in ample time to be thor
oGghly studied before Congress meets.
either in December or at an earlier date
IL an extra session should be called.
Much animated comment has prevailed
in some quarters concerning the prospec-
tive speed of the submarine on the sur
face and while submerged. and confidence
is expressed in the development of mo-
tive power SO as to give fifteen knots
in the former state and twenty-five knots
in the latter. The naval authorities re-
sponsible for this characteristic in the
submarines' are very far, of course. from
saying that such achievement ultimately
is impossible but there Is nothing In the
latest or the contemplated design In the
various types of engine that gives much
assurance of any such increase in sub
marine speed.
In the submarines for which bids short
| ly are to be opened in the Navy Depart
ment. the submerged and surface speeds
will be slightly increased as compared
! with the submarines of last year. and 1t
may be that other Developments In engi-
neering will still further increase the speed
| in future designs of the type. Much in
lterest is naturally taken in A more or
| less mysterious German submarine that
| is described as abnormally long and OF
narrow beam. which evidently OBTAINS
increa sed speed bya forc-and-aft arrange
ment of engines. But considerable doubt
| is expressed as to whether this improved
type is in possession of speed of twenty
five knots on the surface. Submarine de-
sign, as in the plans of all types of war
vessels. is constantly improving in all
respects. and no one can safely assert
tnat the twenty-five-knot submarine will
ever be realized: but the talk OF such
speed as a present achievement partakes
of the fanciful.
Judge Advocate General Crowder. of
the army. recently passed on an inter-
esting civil war case. An officer OF the
United States army rendered his resiC-
1861. and in November, 1861, Joined the
Confederate army. No record was found
of his having been granted any leave.
nor of the acceptance of his resignation.
but December 26. 1861. it was announced
in general orders from the War Depart
mtnt that the officer was dismissed
on that date by direction of the Presi-
dent. because of his having rendered his
resignation under circumstances showing
diSloyaIfy fo the pOyernmenf
The judge advocate general held that
in view of section of the act of August
:. 1851. providing that an officer leav-
ing the army under such circumstances
shall be registered as deserter and
punished as such.' his status from the
date he rendered his resignation and quit
the service Of the United States with
intent to join the Confederate army until
his discharge December IS. 1861. was that
of an officer absent In desertion.
Considerable interest attaches to the
opening of bids soon at the War De-
partment for army clothing and equip
ment Following the practice adopted by
the quarterma ster general in other sched-
ules for animals supplies. the quantities
in the clothing specifications were made
indefinite. This policy was applicable to
supplies which are of commercial type,
readily obtainable in the open market
But in the case of army clothing and
equipment, which must be specially man
ufactured and which is not of a COM
mercial design it is believed to be de-
sirable to have stipulated definite quanti-
ties upon which bidders may base their
prices and avoid the necessity OF specu-
lation, where the element of uncertainty
as to quantities to be purchased is
bound to increase the cost.