The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-04-11
By f.. b. JOHNS.

The President. it is understood. will
be asked to issue an order allowing
clerks who will attend the summer mill
tary training camp, vacations with fuu
pay. This request will come from the
Plattsburg Association. which IL max
ing a campaign to secure similar ar
engagements with the large concerns in
all of the cities. The Washington bust
ness men will also be canvassed by the
PlattsburGers for the same purpose.
Just at present the Plattsburg organi-
zation, which is developing into one of
the strongest national defense societies
is giving its attention to New York and
Chicago. From these two large cities
it is able to reach many of the other
cities. where the large concerns have
branches. Last week practically all Of
the New York banks decided to give
their Plattsburg military students va
cations with full pay during the camp
1t is understood that the Plattsburg
committees are taking up different con-
Germs by classes so that competitors in
any line of business will be on the same
basis.
The movement has grown to such an
extent that it will be difficult to secure
instructors from the army with such a
large force on the border and in Mexico.
The prospects are that the number OF
Plattsburg students will be limited on
account of the scarcity OF regular army
instruction. The Plattsurg Association
is insisting that it will be a waste Of
time for the students to go to camp I'M
GERS and noncommissioned officers to act
as instructors.
That the chief of Naval operations be
given the rank of admiral and authority
to sign orders like bureau chiefs was
recommended by Secretary Daniels in the
course OF his hearings before the House
Committee on Naval Affairs. Aside from
urging the early consideration and
passage of the departments naval per
sonnet bill the Secretary asked the COM
mittee to report out some legislation
which would give the navy an immediate
increase in the number of engineering
officers and avistors He thinks that
this should be done by opening the line
of the navy to civilian engineers and
aviators. While the engineers and the
aviators would be commissioned in the
line 1t would be provided that they be
kept on engineering and aviation duty.
For this purpose he would create thirty
vacancies in the line annually for ten
years which would be filled by civilians
who could qualify for engineering duty.
The standard OF examination should be
fixed so that the navy could secure
high class civilian engineers. The same
provision the Secretary urged should be
made for aviatoTs creating twenty-five
vacancies annually for ten years.
The Secretary in making his recon-
mendations for an increase m the enlisted
strength of the navy frankly admitted
that he had changed his mind since he
wrote his last annual report. He raised
his Increase in the number OF enlisted
men by 1900.
Miss Theadora Booth. daughter of Bal
Iington Booth, organizer of the American
Salvation Army. has become interested in
the question Of national defense and is
making an effort to organize the Girls
National Guard" She has already re-
ceived most encouraging letters from
President Wilson, Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood and eighteen governors Of states.
Miss Booth says: We pray that there
will be no war. but if 1t should come and
you men are called to the front the
thought of unprotected women and chill
dren need not be added to your burdens.
There should be a corps of girls who
stand ready to take care of them and
themselves"
The United States collier Maumee has
arrived at the New York navy yard from
Mare Island after being lowed 1000 miles
by the collier ProEletheus under the COM
mand of Commander Franklin ID. Harms.
This tow was clever piece Of work and
one of the longest on record.