The Washington herald., 1916-07-11

Contracts for 4p0 motor ambulances. OF
d type recommended by a board Of naval
officers consisting Of Mai. r. f. noble
Mai. A. w Williams. Capt. P. l.. Jones,
and Capt a. c. Christie. are being award
ed 10y the Surgeon General Of the Army
for service along the border, should
actual hostilities cnsue. The ambulanCes
VIII become part Of the armys equip
ment.
The board Of officers which selected
the type of vehicle was materially aided
in its work by the recent observations
Of capt Jones. who made an extensive
tour along the hOrdcr. and had rrst-
hand opportunity to study the needs OF
the hospital service in that region.
The problem Of the hoard has been
10 find a light vehicle which will Iun
oasrly-with a maximum load of about
80 pounds The type ordered calls for
. motor vehicle Of the four-Cylinder type
equipped with pneumatic ures and re
silent springs. In a recent test to which
this type was subjected in lOnS trip
from Pershinss headquarters IN Mexico.
10 a border hospital in Texas, Il was
found that the results entirely jLstinod
the adoption Of the type. This test was
made under tho direction Of Capt Jones
One Of the patients transported on this
lournc" was sufIe' ing from compound
fracture OF the taiEh. and the condition
ur the patient whcn he reached the hos
pitaI wEs such as to lead officers 10 en-
pcCt great things or the type approved
Capt Jones is ais, engaged in working
Iout the details Of two hospital trains.
each composed Of ten cars. including
complete operating car personnel and
kitchen cars and cars fOr patients. These
last named cars will not nave the hunks
in ranks. one above The other. as ,s tac
tF.aE. -
armies hut will have comfortahl BILE beds.
The standard Pullman equipment Will he
used for the kitchcE "a. IT - proposed
Army ,.Iarter!lasterS are inclined to
regard as 4 reflection upon their corps
certain ,'-uSc IN the arm" Appropriation
hill which authorizes the Secretary OF
War TO secure the services OF such PER
son. or persons whether in the military
service or not. which may seem To him
necessary and desirable for the efficient
organ zs5ion of the uusr,ermaster de-
partment. the transportation OF troops.
the gathering. distribution and movement
of supplies and ;hr orderly operation OF
all tho functions Of said department
The source Of the clause. il - said is
obscure and mysterious. and it is con
srrucd . A subtle slap" iuasnHrh 40
tho Secretary. officers say. already pos
services of civilian experts for any
branch or the military establishment
One example of this is the fact that the
War Department has already called in
the services Of railroad officials tE~o .ch-
out the Courtry. who are working win
army QuartermasteTs on the task Of solv-
ms he military transportation prob
lens which might arise in time of war.
Congress seems inclined in the opinion
Of War Department officials to properly
provide for the maintenance Of two sea
sons OF civilian military tra!nInc during
the present year Il has been proposed
to appropriate the sum Of $4.$ro.olo for
this work which will furnish training
for fully 100 G0o m-n. according to depart
ment estimates. 1t will give basis Of
thirty days trainInc. per man. on a per
pita basis OF $40 per man.
This per capita amount. it is said. Will
provide s. for subsistence. SO for trans
pOrtatiOn. NL74 for clothing. SIS 70.
temporary shelter and the remainder for
repairs to tents, telegram service. freight,
hight and heat This estimate is rcssrd-
ed as ultra conservative and takes into
consideration tho return Of clothing and
its reissue. ard also is based on thu life
of a temporary shelter at three wears on
government reservation and 4 LITTLE
shorter period II on leased ground
1t is a matter Of some speculation as
TO how many men will present themselves
for training at the various military camps
which would be created by such an aD-
preparation. but it is certain that an
adequate sum will call forth a far greater
number than the .l2,CCO men Congress
originally provided for. II is not 10 he
regarded as an improbabintv that tie
full number Of 10000 will desire tra:HinC,
officers say.
Two second heutenants OF infantry. two
second lieutenantS of coast artillery and
one first lieutenant of cavalry arc at pres
ent suspended from promotion. owing to
their failure TO pass the recent army tests