The Washington herald., 1916-07-07

The pre-Dreadnought battleship is little
more than a memory, the Dreadnought
itself is a second-rater among battle
ships. while the super-Dreadnought is in
our midst, but the battleship OF the near
future, according to the opinion Of COM
petent naval authorities. will be a super
lative-Dreadnought-a great macs of steel
displacing 5000 tons, mounting fifteen Is
inch guns and tearing through the ocean
at a speed of IS knots an hour, according
to farseeing naval officers.
Offcers declare that the rapid passing
Of older types OF battleship construction
augurs strongly for the coming of the
superla tive-Dreadnou and Senator
Tillman. OF South Carolina, one OF the
foremost big navy advocates in Congress,
is said to favor the building OF such a
ship with the name ~. s. s. United
States"
The argument of naval constructors in
favor of the -Dresdnought is
based upon the fact that battleship con-
struction has steadily progressed. notch by
notch, year after year, each years work
outclassing the dreams of yesterday.
Why not. they argue. jump six notches
in one year and outstrip the world in
battleships OF daring and massive con-
struction.
II has only been a few years since the
Pinch guns Of the Oregon were consid-
cred invincible. Today those same guns
are obsolete and the trend OF sentiment
in the navy favors the mounting of 15-
inch weapons The Oregon's size. 1000
to 1900 tons, was considered little less
than gigantic and her speed OF IS knots.
marvellous
The Presidents call OF the National
Guard into the Federal service has
worked a great change In the sentiment
work is concerned, and this change Of
sentiment, based on the old theory that
charity begins at home, has resulted in
a curtsilment OF the shipment OF sup
plies to soldiers OF the European oellig-
erents.
At the time Pershings expedition was
sent into Mexico, the American people
seemed to feel that the movement was
so minor in character that It was not
necessary for the civilian population to
inaugurate relief measures OF any kind.
This feeling continued, despite the fact
that officers of the army announced
through service papers and elsewhere.
the real need OF gifts to American SOL
diers who had become incapacitated by
reason of the service in Mexico
The calling out OF the National Guard.
however. entirely changed this spirit and
all the vigor which had formerly found
an outlet in European relief work, was
almost Immediately diverted into domes-
tic channels. Incidentally, this relief
work took very practical form. Instead
OF relief measures being centered directly
upon the Gusrdsmen, persons with the
good OF the National Guard at heart i'm
mediately undertook measures to alleviate
the distress of the wives and other de-
pendents OF Guardsmen who had been
called to the colors
The campaign in Mexico has meant the
passing of the regulation army shoe and
while this model of footwear will be re-
tained for lighter service conditions. the
army has adopted a rougher but more
serviceable model for conditions in Mex
leo Nine hundred pairs of this new model
are undergoing tryouts at the present
time.
This makes It necessary to issue two
pairs of shoes to each man, the lighter
shoe for garrison work and the heivier
service shoe for conditions in the field
The army shoe is said TO be one of the
most perfect shoe models ever devised
and this fact has been recognized by a
number of shoe manufacturers who are
turning out a shoe modelled along the
lines of the army type for civilian wear.
The new service shoe will be similar
to the garrison shoe in formation. ex-
cept that it will be rougher. The smooth
side of the leather has been turned to the
inside, thus eliminating the lining a pro-
htc source of sore feet I'm the service
The sole is hobbed and the heel is iron
bound
The application OF Mai Gen. George w.
Goethals, L. S. A, for retirement. is now
in the hands of the President and will
probably be approved as soon as a sue
cessor to Gen. Cocktails post as governor
of the Canal Zone can be selected. For
some time, it has been known that Gen.
Goethals has recommended Lieut.. Col.
Chester Harding, of the Engineer Corps
as his successor. Former Secretary of
War Garrison was understood to favor
the appointment of Col. Harding. but
Secretary of War Baker has not press
ed his opinion.
In fact, 1t is reliably reported that
great political pressure is being
brought to bear upon the administra-
tion, looking to the appointment of
civilian to that post. and with cleo
tion so close, the administration may
not be able to resist Among the
eminent Democrats who have been
mentioned as possible civilian sue
cessors Of Goethals, is Chairman
Adamson, of the House Committee on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce. II
it were not for the belief on the part
of the administration that il would
be charged with introducing politics
, into the Canal government. officers
say the appointment of a civilian
would not be delayed.
The various companies of the Coast
Artillery Corps have ceased to exist
as legal units under the terms of the