The Washington herald., 1916-01-27
BY T.. b. JOHNS.

Both the Senate and House military
affairs committees have responded to the
Presidents appeal to speed up the hear
ings on army legislation. Chairman
Chamberlain and Chairman Hay are at
tempting to complete the hearing OF the
army officers this week so that the
militia officers and other interested wit
nesses can be called next week. BY the
original program the militia officers were
not to be called before the committees
until week after next
Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood is to appear
before the House committee today and
Brig. Gen. Clarence Edwards is on his
way from Panama to appear before the
Senate committee as soon as he arrives.
He is expected in Washington the last
of this week or the first of next. Gen.
Leonard Woods appearance before the
House committee today is apt to develop
a very spirited session as in his state
ment to the Senate committee he de-
clared that the Hay bill is totally made
nuate.
The policy committee OF the War Col
lege, which consists of Lieut.. Col. George
II. Cameron, Maj. o. B. Lockridge, and
Capt. Franck S. Cocheu, have been sum-
moned to appear before the committee.
This is the committee which wrote the
War College report, and the members
OF the House Committee on Military Af-
fairs are anxious to 60 into details as
to how the War College reached its con-
clusions. They are especially interested
In knowing how the estimates of the
strength of the armies that can be land
ed by the different powers was compiled.
When the militia officers appeared before
the committee there Is apt to be some
heated discussions of the statements of
the Secretary of War as to the avail
force.
In volume of range and topics covered,
the statement of Rear Admiral H. r.
Stamford, chief OF Bureau of Yards and
Docks, before the House Committee on
Naval Affairs is masterpiece. The
statement fills a volume OF S53 pages and
includes the discussion of practically
every dock and naval station that is
maintained or ever has been maintained
by the government.
On January 5, when Admiral Stamford
made his first appearance before the
committee, Chairman Padgett remarked
that the estimates for the maintenance
for the Bureau of Yards and Docks had
been increased to sl.S0o.000 from 81, ,5So,
i69 1t took Admiral Stamford until jan
uary q to explain this increase and why
all of the local docks had not been en-
larged. Even in the Closing page OF
the hearings Representative Galloway in
dicated that he was not fully informed
as to the condition of the yards and
docks and suggested that the committee
call Admiral Standfords successor.
While he was before the committee
Admiral Standford's term expired and
his successor was appointed by the Sec
retary of the Navy.
According to a radiosram from the Ca
nal Zone received at the War Depart
ment yesterday the Twenty-seventh in
fantry. which has been held up at PAN
anna by the slide in the canal sailed
for the Philippines at a. m. yesterday.
A ship was sent down from San Fran
cisco to take the regiment to the Islands.
There were on board the ship when she
sailed from the Canal Zone twenty-seven
officers and $40 men, and twelve officers
and ten men who were on the way to
the Philippines to join other organiza-
tions.
After rendering the government eight
cen years Of service, the naval collier
Justine has been sold at profit of about
5000 The collier was purchased during
the Spanish-Ainerican war for $l45, 900 and
was sold by the government for $21S, 800.