The Washington herald., 1916-02-26
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The Herald's Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most Complete News of Service and Personnel Published
in Washington.

The strength of the regular army under
the provisions of the Chamberlain bill.
as agreed to by the Senate committee,
will be $4,000 The plans for the reor-
SANITATION and the number of regiments
recommended by the War College, have
been followed very closely by the Senate
committee. but the committee has re-
jected the War College plan for keeping
the army at war strength. This has re-
suited In a reduction of the proposed
strength from about 10000 to $4,000.
AS the bill is now pending before the
committee the number Of cavalry regi-
ments will be increased from fifteen to
nineteen. the field artillery from six to
twenty and the infantry from thirty to
sixty-four. The SiXty-fourth Infantry
will be the Porto Rican battalion, which
will be expanded into a full regiment.
The exact increase in the coast artillery
has not been determined, but will be in
proportion to the other increases.
1t has not yet been determined by the
committee in how many increments the
army will be raised to this strength II
was originally proposed that the increase
would be extended over a term OF FIVE
years, but the committee now has under
consideration a plan by which the num-
Der of increments will be reduced to
four and possibly three. 1t is understood
that the War College does not think that
1t should be made in less than three as
efhcient officers cannot be obtained in a
shorter period. To make such large
increase in one year as is proposed by
the committee would lower the standard
of efficiency Of the regular army accord
ing to the opinion OF the members of the
General Staff.
In answering the resolution introduced
by Representative Gardner, Secretary
Daniels admits that bids could not be Sc
cured for twenty-fve-knot fleet subma.
rines and UP to this time satisfactory
terms have not yet been secured from
contractors for the construction of
twenty-knot submarines. The contrac-
tors have asked for a long time limit
on the twenty-knot submarine and the
Secretary is now making an effort to
secure a reduction of the time which
the contractors say will be required to
place the submarines in commission.
Incidently the Secretary states that 1t
is the belief of the department that the
Schley now in the process of construc-
ton. Is larger than any submarine that
has been built. He states that other
governments are constructing submarines
which are almost as large as the Schley,
but no data was obtainable as to their
specifications AS result, the contrac-
tors for the Schley were required to do
considerable experimental work and the
Navy Department has allowed them
thirty-six months to complete the con-
struction Of the new submarine. BY the
terms of the contract the Schley should
be completed by March 10, 1918.
In relating the difficulties that have
been encountered in the construction of
the Schley, the Secretary states that It
was the original intention to equip the
Schley with two-cycle double-acting en-
gines. Experiments with this type de-
veloped that they were not suitable for
the submarine and that better results
could be obtained from four-cycle single
acting engines. ..a.
In adopting a different type Of engine
II was necessary to lengthen the Schley.
AS the result the Schley was redesigned.
causing considerable delay. The entire
correspondence indicates that there must
be considerable experimental work before
satisfactory results can be obtained in
the construction of feet or larger sub
marines.
Lieut.. Col George Fl. Cameron, cav
airy, will succeed Lieut.. Col. B. A. Poore
as senior director Of the War College
class Col. Poere has been ordered to
join the Fifteenth Infantry in China.
Seven aero souadrons are provided for
In the army bill as 1t is now pending be-
fore the House Com mittee on Military