The Washington herald., 1916-06-02
The Herald's Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most News Service and Personnel Published WASHINGTON

: The American soldier of the future who
considers his chances against the bullets
of the enemy too slim for comfort may
be allowed TO purchase a coat OF mail
which differs not one whit in principle
from the chain -armor of the Middle Ages
| Gen. William Crozier. chief of ordnance
has Just received from the office OF the
military attache at the American EN-
bassy in London a sample coat of mail
! (which has been approved by the British
! army and which is being purchased by
! soldiers who do not care to take too many
chances with the enemy
The foundation OF this coat of mail is
an ordinary khaki uniform. but covering
tthc entire front, back, shoulders and
neck of the garment is a close arrange
ment OF small steel plates. Joined together
with wire brads. which gives the garment
certain heNibility. In addition, soldiers
are permitted to buy a clOse-ftting. ad-
Unstable steel cap which is said to be in
valuable in protecting the head from
shrapnel fragments
| The British army officials have made no
attempt to OUTFIT their soldiers with these
coats OF mail. Men whose duties in the
field take them into exceptionally exposed
positions are merely permitted to buy
them from their private funds
| Ordnance officials said yesterday that Il
was quite likely protective armor would
be tested by the United States army, with
view of permitting American soldiers
to buy it il desired.
Within a few days. the hospital ship
Solace is expected to reach Santo
Domingo City, where she was recently
ordered. The presence OF the hospital
ship will be a great boon to the Amer
lean forces which are there to pre-
serve order.
The ordering of the SoIace to
Dominican waters was quickly inter-
preted in some quarters as an indica-
tion that the American naval and
marine forces now on the island had
either been ordered TO execute some
military understanding liable to in
VolVe bloodshed Or were expecting an at
tack from the native soldiery.
| The Secretary of the Navy dissipat
LED these impressions yesterday, when
| he declared that the Solace had been
ordered to her new station simply to
add to the comfort and health Of the
men. The Dominican climate is hard
on Americans. and there many minor
ailments occur among officers and en-
listed personnel
| The Secretary of War has ordered the
| preparation of regulations for the Platts-
burgh camp. The provision of the re-
organization bill which authorizes the
payment of the expenses of the students
specifies that the Secretary shall pre-
scribe the regulations under which the
students are to be trained
As most of the students have planned
to attend the camps under practically
the same Gonditions that they were held
last year it was understood that the Sec
retary has decided that 1t would not be
wise to fix the term of enlistment on
the basis of the original volunteer army
plan. In all probability the students will
! be required TO enlist only for this years
training period.
Already the students in some localities
have taken steps to organize themselves
into companies and even regiments. 1t
L. said that 4 movement is on foot to
organize brigade in Chicago. During
this summers camp an effort will be
made TO perfect and fill out these or
Eanizations. Next year il is planned to
fix regular enlistment period of a num-
Der OF years. After a student attends
camp for a certain number of years he
Will pass into the reserves. BY this
system the strength OF the Plattsburgh
organizations can be gradually increa sed
and placed under terms of enlistment
that will give the country large
army. which will be required to respond
TO the call of the President in the event
of war.
Remarkable work Is being done at the
uisciplinarian barracks IN the reforma-
/ tion of military prisoners. Enlisted men
who have been convicted Of military of,
fenses have not only been restored to
duty, but quite a number Of cases have
! been reported where they have been pro-
NOTED to noncommissioned officers
majority OF those who have been restored
not only strive to demonstrate that the
| War Department did not make a mis-
take in placing them back into the army.
but have developed into splendid soldiers
Il was restored to duty on June 16
last" writes one of the enlisted men