The Washington herald., 1916-07-04
The Herald's Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most Complete News Service and Personnel Published
in Washington

in Wast
All armament and equipment for the
three new regiments Of field artillery
which are being organized as the first
years increase OF that arm ~ ready TOT
issue by the Ordnance Department OF
the army according to a current an
nouncement
According to the present plan, the Sew
enth and Eighth regiments are being or
ganized in the Southern Department as
regiments OF two battalions each. These
new regiments will he organized around
a nucleus OF veteran artillerymen from
the Third. Fifth and Sixth regiments. 1t
is proposed to arm the Seventh Regiment
with three-inch field type guns.
The Ninth Regiment is being organ
lied i'm Hawaii as a three-battalion or
ganization OF heavy artillery. The Sew
enth and Eighth regiments will be light
artillery organizations. To carry out the
general idea OF formation. the Ninth will
be equipped with heavy guns of the ~
inch type. and two batteries Of this reg
iment will be issued siX-inch howitzers.
The Ordnance Department is also plan
ming to issue 47-inCh howitzers and
equipment to a field artillery regiment Of
the New York militia, while other plans
are on foot TO equip a New Jersey militia
type Of weapon will be issued to a new
battery of Colorado militia.
About 2!1 firing batteries and forty
seven ammunition batteries will be re-
quired, it is estimated. to complete the
equipment OF militia batteries called for
by the present organization plan. The
appropriation Of SS,0O0O0O at present
templatcd for this work will fall far
short, it is believed. Of the actual amount
required
Tho names Of no less than l,6sb officers
Of the army. VINO are eligible for promo
ton under the national defense act. but
whose promotions require the action of
the Senate. have been fled in the Ad-
jutant Generals cffce OF the War De-
partment
These nominations are the result Of
army examinations which have been held
throughout the country during the past
few weeks for officers whose promotion
and qualifications for advancement must
be passed upon by an examining board.
In these examinations. incidentally. there
has been A very small number Of fail
ures. most OF which resulted from the
inability Of officers to pass physical tests.
This class includes a captain OF coast
artillery a first lieutenant of coast ar
tillery, one second lieutenant of coast
artillery. two first lieutenants OF cavalry
and one second lieutenant of infantry.
1t is the present plan to retire these Of
fcers at once. together with a number
of other officers who have been physically
disqualified through circumstances in
cident to service. There arc several cases.
however. Of officers who failed profess
sonally. including one coast artillery
captain, who failed both professionally
and physically.
The War Department it is believed. will
not await the receipt of written formal
reports on these cases. but action prob
ably will be taken on telegraphic or
cabled advices, as examinations were also
held in the Philippines. This promptness
Is necessitated by reason Of the fact that
promotions must date from July l and
new officers must be assigned to regt-
ments without delay
There is a strong possibility that the
army will find it necessary to call for
volunteer engineers for duty with the
Engineer Corps, on account OF lack Of
existing provisions for such service in
the National Guard.
Nearly all the engineer equipment Of
the army has been sent TO the border, it
Is said. Heavy shipments of bridge
stringers picks. shovels, saws and en-
trenchment and heavy bridge construc-
ton material have been forwarded to the
southwest.
At the time hostilites along the border
first became threatening, there was prac-
tically no engineering material on hand
there and before the urgent deficiency
appropriation could be passed, the chief
OF engineers was told by Congress to
go ahead with the expense and provide
all such material necessary for Funston's
forces
The Adjutant Generals Office of the
War Department is already laying plans
for examinations to fill 1,6O0 vacancies
in the grade of second lieutenant of the
army. provided by the national defense
act A great many OF these places will
be filled by civilians.
The first appointments to this grade,
naturally, will be the graduates of the
West Point Military Academy and then
will come the enlisted men of the army
who have qualified for the commissioned
ranks. These men will be followed by
the graduates of military schools and
finally, the candidates from civil life
who may become eligible through exam
nations to be held next month. at the
times examinations are held for commits
stoned appointments to the Corps of En-
gineers.
The army authorities, in selecting
places for these civilian examinations.
have chosen locations with a view to
taking advantage Of the presence of army
officers, particularly officers of the Medf-
cal Corps, who will be available for sp-
pointment as members of examining
boards.
In view of the demand for officers along
the border, it may be difficult to obtain
the proper examining boards at some
places, but the Department is receiving