The Washington herald., 1916-03-26
The Herald's Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most Complete News of Service and Personnel Published
In Washington.
BY Il. b. JOHNS.

BY u. b. JOHNS.
received at the War Department Of the
engagement between the Thirteenth
Cavalry and Villa bandits at Columbus,
IN. Mex, which brought about the punt
tive expedition, no credence is given TO
the reports that the camp was not prop
lerly guarded. Under the conditions gov
erning the troops guarding the border It
would have been possible at any time for
the Mexican bandits to surprise sarri
son or a command Of troops. Even from
the western frontier In the European war
There daily accounts are appearing in the
papers of surprise attacks by both bel
tligerents. II under the war conditions of
4 Europe there are surprise attacks how
can American troops on the Mexican bor-
der be expected to prevent them is the
Question that is frequently asked at the
WAR Department.
The instructions to commanding officers
from the War Department require them
to wait until they were attacked by the
Mexican forces. They were not per-
United to interfere with the movement of
Mexicans across the border nor to pre-
went any OF the Mexican leaders from
mobilizing threatening force on the
Mexican side. While the Mexican troops
'were not permitted to come across in
body, they could cross the line in small
parties and gather on the American side
The report that Col. Slocum and the Of
fcers AT New Mexico had been warned
ibid not justify them in preparing for an
attack. Officers now on duty at Wash
lington who have served on the border
Ideclare that they were warned almost
daily of approaching attacks by Mexican
bandits. II they had paid attention to
these warnings the troops would be con-
lstantly under arms awaiting an attack
! Doubtlessly the officers of the Thirteenth
Cavalry II they had received warning
assumed that 1t was not any more serious
than hundreds of other rumors that had
come to them. The dispatches i'm the
daily papers as to engagements and the
movements of Carranza and villa since
the punitive expedition has been launched
give an idea Of the conflicting rumors
that have constantly been ahoat along
the border
4 Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt, who will appear before the
House committee Monday II is un-
lderstood intends to discuss at length
the departments personnel bill From
the beginning the Assistant Secretary
has taken a deep interest in this legis-
lstion. For this reason Secretary
Daniels appointed the Assistant Score
tary chairman of the personnel board
and he has devoted much of his time
to consideration of the subject
/ Mr.. Roosevelt Is a staunch advocate
'lof promotion by selection. He will
ldoubtlessly take occasion to answer
some Of the testimony that has been
given to the committee against the
proposition. The Assistant Secretary
will probably take up the question
1 of the cost of the provisions of the
personnel bill and his testimony will
lamount to the opening of the hearings
on the bill.
After the House Committee reports
out the appropriation bill, it will take
up the personnel legislat ton.
!
Even in heavy seas the new torpedo
boat destroyer Tucker met her contract
speed requirements Of twenty-nine and
a half knots on her four full hour
run. Her fastest run on this test was
29.s3 knots an hour. During the
Standardization trial the Tucker OFF
the Maine coast made mile at the
rate of 3O.s4 knots an hour which is
more than knot in excess of her
contract requirements. The average
for five top speed runs was 3O.31 knots.
ION her fastest mile the Tucker pro-
pellers made 617 revolutions and the
engines were developing horsepow err
in excess OF 1900.
The United States torpedo destroyer
Rowan, named after Vice Admira
= Stephen c. Rowan. has been launched
: from the yard of the Fore River Ship
building Corporation at Quincy, Mass.
Miss Louise Mclean Ayers. of Cincin-
natl. performed the traditional cere-
mony of naming the vessel. The Row
an is a sister ship of the destroyer
Sampson which was recently launched
from the same yard
| Among the Officers who registered
at the War Department yesterday
were Capt. H. J. Nicholas, Medical
Corps; Capt H. ]. Kerrick. Coast Ar
> tillery. and Lieut.. A. H. Erck, Fifth
Infantry.
!; District Signal Corps
Last Thursday night fifty members OF
the Signal Corps Company, District Ma
tional Guard. reported for drill and
were given a fifteen-minute section and
platoon drill before settling down to
class work
NJ. s. E. Lansford reports a class OF
fifteen receiving instruction in radio
: telegraphy. Three new men filled out
application blanks, and will report for
physical examination on Friday evening.
Hugh ]. O'Neale, the latest recruit, was
sworn in Friday night.
The installation of the new pool table
proved drawing card. and the men are
coming down every evening in the week
now. Non-commissioned officers have
been detailed in charge of quarters and
the armory will be open every night In
the week from now on.
j The rife and pistol range at the First
Street Armory is nearly completed. and
practice will be commenced tomorrow
evening.
Capt. Terry is hoping that the outfit
will be called out for active service, and
practically everything is ready. He says
that he can have the company under
canvas at Fort Myer within six hours
after receiving orders to move.
The detailing of Capt. Stephenson, OF
the Medical Corps, to conduct physical
: examinations of recruits at the First
Street Armory on Friday nights has
proven a big help to the organizations
Iquartered in that building.
The campaign for recruits in the radio
company is progressing in a most salts
factory manner and there is no doubt
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