The Washington herald., 1916-08-28
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS

Army ordnance experts are at work on
designs for huge field howitzers as large
or larger than the German 42-centimetre
guns which wrecked Belgian and French
forts early in the war They will be Of
at least l6-inch calibre, with a range OF
u to 10 miles, hurling a projectile weigh
ing more than a ton. and carrying
huge amount OF high explosive.
In addition to placing several of these
mammoth weapons along the coast line
for mobile defense against naval attack,
army officials now are considering the
creation of a special regiment, equipped
with six OF the howitzers TO work as a
unit OF the mobile army. The problem
confronting the designers in that regard
Is to distribute the enormous weight Of
the gun and carriage in such a way that
1t can be moved over any good road.
That difficulty is a determining factor
in American heavy artillery designs
About a few of the largest cities, well
sallasted roads which would support the
weight of the huge guns, can be found.
But even such a highway as the Boston
Post Road, from Boston to New York.
ii is said, has many sections so lightly
built that the great weight would crush
through.
For those reasons 1t is planned to build
the new howitEers primarily for trans
portauon by rail on special cars. The
regiment could not be attached to any
army corps, as is the case with lighter
artillery, but would be directly under
the orders of the General STAFF to be
sent TO a point where it was desired to
blast a way through an encmys field
works. It is believed possible, however,
that the weight can be so distributed on
several carriage drawn by motor tac-
toys that IL could be dragged over any
fairly well bsllssted highway.
Federal Jurisdiction over national
guardsmen serving under the new federal
catch is supreme and paramount and the
State cannot interfere with officers and
men in the military esta blishment when
such interference might deprive the
government of the services Of soldiers.
according to a ruling by Judge j 7.
Safer. of the United States District Court
at Columbus, OHIO
The decision was handed down upon
evidence submitted in the hearings Of
a writ of hsbeas corpus growing out
iof charges Of assault brough against Capt
w. G. Wulzen and Sergt T. Doyle. OF
the Third Regiment. Ohio National Guard,
who were alleged TO have assaulted
Charles Baker. a socialist orator, at
Hamilton. Ohio. June >. when he made
statements considered derogstory to the
-NdNi'udi 1udNN TODLlllLdl llOll
The men were arrested while enCamped
on the statehuuse lawn at Columbus
while actinc il capacity OF provost
2 yards. judge Safer ordered the men re-
leased. His opinion was that even
temporary confinement under civil re-
straint might interfere with their move
ment as United States soldiers in case
the Ohio troops were ordered to the bor-
der
Military authorities infer that the men
may bC tried on the charges in court mar
tial. bLl il is considered that the ruling
has closed the case. Oficers consider
The ruling the most important rendered
in connection With military service in
ffty years
Capt Charles w Barber. Third In
fantry. stationed AT Eagle Pass, Tex,
former chief Of police OF the Panama ca
nal Zone, has been retired on his own
application Because Of his service OF
sIx years in Panama, he will have the
rank of major on the retired list under
the Canal service act Of March. 1915
At the beginning Of the war with Spain
Capt. Barber was studying law in New
Jersey and raised a COMPANY for the
Fourth Volunteer Infantry oc that State
in July. 1898. being mustered. in as sec
ond lieutenant
In september lS'< he was promoted to
first lieutenancy. and in March of the
following year received his caD;aincy
He has been TO the Philippines three
times. In the fall OF 1918 it was reported
that Mayor Mitchell wanted capt. Bar
her for the head of the New York police
department.