The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-02


Neither OF the military committees
have reached an agreement upon the
terms under which the militia is 10 be
FcderaIiZed. The discussion over this
provision OF the army bill brings up the
old States Rights question and generally
involves members OF the committee in
lengthy arguments on constitutional Law.
1t is apparent that the Massachusetts,
plan by which the National Guard would
be turned over TO the Federal govern
meut j. gaining strength in both com
mitteos. although at this time il is OK
trcmolv doubtful whether either OF the
committees will go that far in report
ing out the bilI. Tho National Guard
provision will probably he worked out
in the Joint Conference Committee like
the one for an increase for the regular
army and the other important features
Of the new legislation.
Some of the senators feel 50 strongly
on the question or tho liberalization Of
The National Guard that it is apt to take
up most OF tho time Of tho debate on
he army legislation. It would not be
surprising if a tilbustor develops in the
Senate against any militia pay hill that
is reported out Of the committee which
docs not turn the State troops over to
the Federal government
So many field artillery suns have hurst
in the European war that it is under
stood the Ordnance Department Of tho
army is making experiments for tho pur-
pose OF improving rroiec1il"s. In tho
French army alone there have been 4@u
accidents to field artillery guns due TO
the bursting Of the shells.
Some OF these accidents have heen at
tributed to thnness or the walls Of
the high explosive shells In an effort
TO increase the amount Of high explosives
carried by proieCtleS it is believed that
the walls Of tn" shells have been made
| so thin that they have been exploded
by friction in tho gun before they reach
its muzZIC. 1t is said that the French
| high explosive shell has a wall that
is not over a half inch in thickness The
thickness Of the high explosive shell
walls OF the American ordnance is two
or three times that Of some Of the Eu-
| opean prciectiIcs. The ordnance EXPERTS
/ think that tho American high explosive
shells are safcEuardcd in this respect
Another cause Of the premature eNpIo-
| siOns of the field artillery shells is at
| tributod to the action of certain cXplo-
sivcs on the iron covering. At present
the interior of the American shells is
Ivarnished. but recently the ordnance de
partment has been experimenting with
aluminium lining 4 thin sheet Of alum
| mum is pressed into the lining Of high eN-
lplosVe shells SO as to separate the high
explosives from the iron covering OF
the she'll
! The office of naval operations is
really performing the functions of a
general staff, according to Rear Ad-
lmiral Benson, chief of naval opera =
tions. Although it has been in exist
hence only a year much has been &C
lComplished toward placing the navy on
a war basis
! Without any additional legislation
! the office has taken steps toward the
! organization of the industrial resources
of the country behind the navy. All
of the merchant marine vessels have
been inspected and assigned to places
in which they would serve in the event
of war. A division of mining and mine
sweeping has ben put into operation.
J The radio service of the navy has been
| completely reorganized and a system
of communication is now in effect by
which messages may be sent by the
Secretary day or night to every part
of the world.
And the work of the office has hardly
gotten under way.
| Capt. Walter F Martin, Second Cav
airy, reported at the War Department
yesterday.
Asst. Paymaster ]. D. Hodapp, of the
! U. S. S. Ozark. registered at the Navy
! Department yesterday.
Plans for War Cruisers.
Unless the "smaIl-nayy" people carry
| the day in ConGress-which is not at pres
emit conceivable-there will be provision
in this years building program for bat