The Washington herald., 1915-08-08
Army and Navy Notes.

There are excellent prospects of a
regular transport service for the ben
eft of the army personnel on the
Canal Zone This has been urgently
recommended by the military authori-
ties on the Isthmus. and a plan has
been devised by the acting quarter
master general. who has recommend
Cd the establishment of a service that
"OntempIateS the use in this capacity
Of the army transport Sumner, now
undergoing repairs and overha uling at
New York. That vessel will shortly be
avalla BILE for the service. if the rec
concentrations in this matter are ap-
proved by the Secretary Of War.
Bids are being invited from manu-
faclurers IN this country for furnish
ing machinery for new navy aero
planes. The specifications apply to
Twelve motors from 100 to 40 H. P;
twelve motors from 12O to 40 II. P;
Twelve motors from 40 to 100 H. p
and two motors of greater than $50
u. P. 1t is desired that the motors
" hIch are purchased shall be delivered
1t the naval aviation station at PEN
sacoIa. Fla Among the requirements
prescribed as a test for the demon
stration of the machinery is run of
five hours at full power. using one
supply of lubriCaung oil. which test is
10 be Immediately followed by a SIM
liar full-power run for another five
hours 1t is also prescribed that the
motor under test shall he run at full
power for half an hour under condi-
lions approXimatlng the operation of
an aeroplane in a heavy rain storm.
The engine is also TO be capsized while
running to demonstrate the means
provided to prevent fire.
The War Department has placed the
contract for siNty-siX sets of moving
p!Cture machines a S206 each, as a
result of competitive bidding and an
examination OF various types of ma
chimes. This is the purchase made un-
der authority of Congress last year.
when an Appropriation was made for
an equipment to he used for the en-
1ertainment of the enlisted force of
the army. II was planned that the
availab bile fund should he used in the
acquisition of tents. tent chairs. NOV
inc-picture machines. films, and talk
ing machines" None of the last-named
articles have been purchased. because
il is found that at most of the army
posts these machines have been ac-
Quired Chaplains of the army are
permitted to make acquisitions on the
nuartermaster general for the moving
picture machines and the other sup
plies which have been obtained for use
in this connection.
The investigation in regard to a new
uniform for the enlisted men of the army
is being continued in the Office of the
Uuartermaster general. Six samples OF
a smoke colored fabric have been re-
ceived, together with two samples of a
hrown-clay cloth. the latter being a
natural color while the former is the re-
of do Il hae haa
found impossible to obtain the cadet
gray" used by the West Pointers because
the coloring matter is a German impor-
tation. the supply of which is now cut
off. 1t may be possible to continue to
obtain the material in quantities suffi.
Gent 10 furnish the cadets with their uni
forms. but obviously at a higher price.
That is the color which has been sug-
rested by some army officers as suitable
for the army uniform as being least Wis
ihle in the field lnvisibility, however. is
a questionable factor. especially in view
of the revelations from Europe. At first
ii was reported that the Germans pos
sessed an advantage in their gray-white
uniform as compared with the reds and
blues of the allies but il was found that
in the night fighting the illumination
brought out with conspicuous distinct
ness the German uniform and did not
reflect the uniform OF more solid colors.
1t is desired by the War Department to
acquire a cloth which will be of entire
~ domestic manufacture and colored
with an American dye. OF equal import
ance is the consideration of the proposal
to have but one uniform. that for service
use, doing away with the dress uniform
for the enlisted men. BY this means 1t
is believed to be possible to reduce the
"ost OF the military apparel. a considera-