The Washington herald., 1916-04-20
By f. b. JOHNS.

The trip Of Maj Gen. Hugh l. Scott
| Chief of Staf, to San Antonio is more
for diplomatic purposes than to investi-
gate the military situation. AS is set
! forth in the Secretary's statement Gen.
Funston remains in full charge Of the
affairs of his department including the
expedition into Mexico. The Secretary
furthermore states Gen. Funston has the
full confidence Of the department and his
dispositions have the departments entire
approval
1t is not thought that Gen. Scott is ex-
pected to bring back to the department
any new suggestions as to the conduct
Of the campaign, but that he may be able
to do something that will harmonic the
relations between the government and
Carranza. For years Gen. Scott has been
the peacemaker OF the army and It is
generally conceded that If any one is
able to make Carranza see that his atti-
| tude toward the military forces in MeIi-
co is apt to force Intervention, Gen. Scott
can.
He was successful on his former trip
when he succeeded in inducing the COM
manders OF the Villa and Carranza forces
to transfer their field of operation from
the border. 1t would not be at all sur
prising if when he arrives at the border
Gen. Scott took a trip into Mexico. II
he sees an opportunity to straighten out
the situation Gen. Scott will doubtlessly
advise the War Department and be
authorized to act for the government in
its negotiations with Carranza. In all
probability he had that authority when
he left Washington last evening.
Gen. Scott speaks Spanish fiuently and
has an intimate knowledge of Mexican
politics. He also speaks the language OF
several of the Indian tribes in Mexico and
on the border. He has the confidence of
the natives and is especially equipped to
deal with the situation.
When the feet returned from Guanta-
namo its paymasters found that con-
tions by which they could purchase sea-
sonable vegetables and fruits. Not only
were all of the vegetables that were OBJ
taInable listed. but the prices were given
so that the crews of the ships could
cure the freshest fruits and vegetables
at reasonable price.
This may seem a small thing, but 1t
meant much to the sailors on their re-
turn from a long trip at sea Accord
ing to reports the Jackies fairly revelled
for two or three days in home-g grown
vegetables. II was one Of the most pleas
ant features Of their Homecoming.
The subcommittee Of the House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs expects to complete
its work on the Naval Appropriation bill
tomorrow. Its report will be made to
I the whole committee Monday when the
committee will take up the bill. It is
expected that the committee will con-
sumo the larger part of next week in
going over the bill Usually the consid-
Grafton of the appropriation bill by the
the whole committee Is a perfunctory af-
fair, but there is so much in this years
program that the committee will proba-
bly, take a record vote on all Of the i'm
portant provisions of the bill. II is pos
sible that the committee may report
out the bill before the close of the week,
but according to the present program it
will not come out before a week from
Monday.
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, commander
of the Eastern Department. was called
to Washington yesterday to discuss the
plans for the summer military training
camps with the Secretary of War and
Chief of Staff. On account of the large
force of troops kept in Mexico and on
the border the problem of furnishing
enough instructors for the military
camps is going to be a serious one for the
department Gen. Wood reported that
the prospects are that there will be be-
tween ten and fifteen thousand students
and business men at the training camp
In the Eastern Department alone.
Gen. Wood was accompanied by his
aid, Capt. Halstead Dorey.
Among the army officers who regis
tered at the War Department yesterday
were Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood and Capt
Halstead Dorey, Fourth Infantry.
Lieut.. Uunior grade) A. H. Miles, NJ. s.,
Pennsylvania and Ensign r. G. Rem