The Washington herald., 1916-08-03

The Secretary OF War does not favor
the legislation appropriating 2,OOO'eo 10
be expended under his direction for the
support of the family of each enlisted
man of the National Guard drafted into
the service Of the United States. under
certain restraints imposed by the bill
He advocates instead the appointment
OF a committee, to consider the Ques-
tlon in all its bearings. In this way
consistent legislation may be suggested
which will make comprehensive provision
that does not discriminate against the
regular army.
A board Of officers consisting OF Capt
William r. Smedberg, Second cav
airy: Capt. Gilbert H. Stewart, ord
nance department, and First Lieut.
Thomas W. Brown, Seventeenth in
fantry. convened recently at the Spring
field Armory to conduct a test of late
model of Colt automatic machine gun.
The report was favorable to the pur-
chase of the gun by the military estab-
lishment in the present emergency. Be
cause of some slight imperfections past
inspection OF caliber 30 ball cartridges
Todel OF 1896 causing jams, the reload
ing of cartridge cases has been discon-
tinued except for guard, dummy, and
blank ammunition. and all caliber 80
cartridges loaded after April Is. 1916. have
cases OF new manufacture. A num-
Der of armored motor cars in the ser
vice of the New York National Guard
at Peekskill have guns OF this caliber,
and the question has arisen whether they
shall be taken over by the government
when that organization Is mustered into
the United States service Two ordnance
officers have been sent to Peekskill to
determine the fitness for purchase by
the United States and operation by the
Federal government.
A remarkable situation was revealed
in the Senatorial debate on the army
bill July 26 respecting the functions OF
the board under the national defense
act for the investigation Of the issuing
OF medals Of honor. The board. of which
Gen Nelson A Miles is the head has
been in session in the War Department
for about month, and considerable Gu
riosity is expressed regarding its find
lngs because of the report that the names
of some Of the recipients Will be stricken
permanently from the list. on the deter
nina ton that the medal was issued for
causes other than distinguished conduct
in action involving actual conflict with
an enemy MIR. Lodge sought to amend
the new legislation SO that section 122
OF the act of June End shall not apply
their medals OF honor in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the law or
laws relating to medals of honor then
existing In explaining his attitude. Mr..
Lodge stated that under the act of 1852
medals were given for distinguished gal
lantry in action or other soldierly acts"
Mr.. Nardaman objected and the point
of order was sustained Mr.. Lodge eN-
planned that the amendment had been
suggested by the board and pointed out
that it was understood that Gen. Miles
and Gen. Sanger, also a member OF the
board, were interested in the modifica-
tion.
A conference was held recently in the
War Department in the office Of Lieut.
Col. George o. Squire, Signal Corps, fol-
lowing an engineer meeting on aero
plane problems at the Bureau OF Stand
ards, that is believed will go far toward
the ultimate cure of motor and propeller
difficulties now experienced by the 16o-
horsepower aeroplanes at Columbus \.
Mex. The meeting was attended by eN-
perts from the army, navy and civil life.
The discussion at the conference was d.
rected in large part to the forces TO
which propellers are subjected. Tho eF-
feet Of the Mexican climate on propell"rS
and the extraordinary stresses put upOh
them by gyroscopic forces was brought
out. These stresses are beyond the
knowledge and calculation of the prop"l-
care should be used in the protection OF