The Washington herald., 1916-06-08
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The Herald's Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most Complete News Service and Personnel Published
in Washington.

The enlargement of the West Point
Military Academy to the size OF Columbia
University, where 1900 students are en-
rolled, is the plan advanced by J. p.
Lombard, OF st. Louis. Mo.
Lombard's idea is to either enlarge
West Point or TO establish similar ser
vice training schools throughout the
country. preferably at army posts like
Fort Ethan Allen or Fort D. A. Rus
sell. He would also apply the same idea
to the Naval Academy establishment at
Annapolis.
According to Lombard's plan. it would
be discretionary with graduates as to
whether they remain in the service or
sought civilian occupations, but all
graduates who did not remain in the
army would bind themselves to service
at least one month each year. to prevent
them from becoming rusty"
In this way the regular army would
obtain the pick Of the cadets graduated.
as it is Lombard's idea that many men
who pass through the West Point Aca-
denny hnd themselves unadapted to the
service. yet remain, rather than sscri-
fee their years OF training. Those who
like the army at the end OF their school
course would naturally gravitate to the
service as a permanent occupation.
There is well-defned movement
throughout the country toward medical
preparedness, according to army officers
stationed in Washington. These men de-
clare there is no more important reserve
in time OF war than the Medical Corps.
In time of war, officers think, the
services of civilian doctors and surgeons
would almost inevitably be demanded by
the armed forces and while nearly all
doctors who posses knowledge OF sur
gerry are more or less equipped for the
work it Is important that a large pro-
portion OF these men should undergo a
course In military medicine, camp sani-
tation and emergency methods. In other
words. it is altogether likely that the
Army Medical Corps may soon announce
training camp for doctors.
Only few years ago, the medical pro-
ression devoted itself TO the cause of
germ research. This same energy, while
not misplaced, will be of vast help to the
army. officers believe. They point to
| the fact that several universities, notably
Harvard, have already added courses in
military medicine to their curriculums.
New York City has started a municipal
movement which is meeting with the
greatest appreciation from officers and
men Of the service. This is plan to
provide a suitable landing place for the
personnel of American and other navy
ships which may visit New York.
The city authorities have already pre-
pared plans for the improvement of River
side Drive, which runs parallel to the
North River, where most OF the naval
vessels anchor when stationed at New
York. These plans include the building
OF a landing place, and the Navy Depart
ment has been so informed.
The action of the New York authorities
is expected to go a long way toward
stimulating interest in other sea-coast
municipalities Naval officers say Il
! should be matter of local pride to a
city to provide hospitable landing place
for men and officers from visiting naval
vessels. This same idea. OF course, ap-
plies when the various ports along Ameri-
| can coasts are visited by foreign wal
vessels
One of the best methods of showing pride
in the armed forces of the United States
is to send some gift or remembrance
officer who is now stationed on the Mexi-
to observe the effect of such gifts upon
! the enlisted personnel
Just at the present time, there is q
little group of sick and wounded soldiers
at Fort Bliss, Texas, who have recently
received a consignment of gifts from the
, American Red Cross. According to this
/ officer, the enlisted man attaches a great
deal OF importance to a gift Of this sort
particularly IL 1t comes from some un'
known donor.