The Washington herald., 1916-12-12
Army and Navy News
Best seryice Column in Cffx.

Ihe Naval Consulting Board, official ci-
Slllan advisory board of the navy, Of
which Thomas A. Edison Is chairman, de-
ciared in an official statement last night
that the national defense would be. i'm
perilled II any legislation were enacted
portlon OF its petroleum. fuel reserve.
The following preamble and resolutions
have been made public
whereas the Navy Department, after
years OF study and consideration has def
niteiy committed itself to the use of oil
tuel on our naval vessels on account Of
It's superior military advantages; and
whereas, the permanence and con-
unulty or such fuel supply must be as
sured both for times Of peace and of
war: and
Whereas, legislation is now pending
IN Congress which jeopardizes the inteS
rity or naval petroleum reserves, hereto
and
whereas. action by Congress ADVERSE
TO the Navy Departments interests in
these reserves will constitute a precedent
Tor tuture actions and make any reserve
Whatever uncertain and liable to diver
son;
Therefore be ii resolved, That the
Naval Consulting Board. composed of
members of eleven national engineering
and scientific societies. is convinced that
any legislation which may divert from
the navy any portion of its reserves will
seriously weaken the navy and imperil
the national defense. The Naval Con-
surfing Board therefore urges upon the
sress TO permit no steps to be taken that
VIII impair the integrity OF the existing
naval petroleum reserves"
-
The big barn-like buildings OF the
Army Young Mems Christian Associa-
uon In the military camps on the Mexi-
can border will be comfortably heated
throughout the winter, or as long as the
troops remain in camp, according to an
houncement by George A. ReedeT, secre-
tary Of the Army and Navy Young Mems
thristian Association. who has charge
ot the work on the border.
At FL Paso where the Temperature fire.
quently falls to twenty degrees, large
sheet iron stoves have been placed in
the buildings. five or six to each struc-
ture. and they have thus been made very
comfortable. The attendance at the FL
Paso Ccntcrs. which fell of on the first
cold nights, became normal again after
the stoves were put up. the warmth in
creasing the homelike atmosphere of the
building.
u NV Sdlile SlSl now are IN
use at the Y. N. c. A. buildings at Dem
ing and Columbus. n. Mex. and at Doug
las and N"SaleS. Ariz. East of Ell Paso
test is being made of oil-burning stoves,
These promise TO be satisfactory. as the
temperature along the Rio Grande in
Texas does not fall so greatly as in the
high attitudes of New Mexico and Arr
zona.
The navy is short of 20OOO men and is
racing a still greater shortage when new
ships now under construction are ready
for service
The question of securing sufficient
crew compliments for ships of the navy
Is serious one. So far the failure to
DO so has resulted in several ships being
put on the reserve list, so that the men
they had on board could be transferred to
newer and bigger ships in active service
The Battleship Louisiana recently went
to sea from Norfolk with less than half
her regular crew complement. This ship
has since been placed on the reserve list,
along with the New Hampshire. Yer
mont, and several others. All of these
ships are vessels Of the highest class
There is no reason for taking them out
of active service so far as age is con-
cerned. The New Hampshire made an
excellent record while she was in service
both at target practice and in speed and
ship maneuvers. She was considered
among the best Of the ships in her class.