The Washington herald., 1916-12-03
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column On City.

Naval officers are interested in the re-
cent testimony Of Capt. Charles p. Punk
ett director Of gunnery exercises, before
the House Naval Affairs Committee, In
improved its battle efficiency by great
strides. Much yet remains to be done,
however.she pointed out
The Atlantic Fleet showed an improve
ment Of 20 per cent in target practice last
fall at short range firing, which is the
only method of determining individual
efficiency!
Target practice is 90 per cent crew and
per cent material" said Capt. Plunkett,
adding that the greatest stumbling block
for the navy lies in the fact that IS per
cent Of officers and men of q ship are
shifted each year through expiration Of
enlistments or the necessity of filling va
cancies elsewhere
Lack Of surplus Of personnel on which
to draw to fill these vacancies or to COM
mission new ships, he said, created this
condition, which made 1t necessary to
begin all over again each year in train
ing gun crews.
1t was brought out that the navy is
preparing to work guns Of its new ships
up to 5000 yards. although 1900 was con-
sidered maximum battle range up to the
outbreak Of the European war.
To spot the fire at fifteen miles, kite
balloons will be carried by every battle
ship.
The War Department is trying to get
900 national guardsmen to take the dual
oath. These men baked at the double
obligation. although the 10000 other mill
tiamen on the Mexican border took the
oatl.
Instructions issued some weeks ago set
November 30 as the date by which all
guardsmen should take the new oath or
be automatically ruled out Of the service.
but 1t Is stated at the War Department
that further time will be readily allowed
state officials and militia officers in which
to induce their men to take the new oath
pledging themselves to the service Of the
nation as well as Of their State. The
principal objection is to the six-year term
OF enlistment.
There is no way to compel the militia
men to take this oath, but II they re-
fuse. It means that they must quit their
militia organizations in present service.
for unless they take the oath. they may
not receive federal pay, arms, or equip
ment. No man may enlist In a militia
Organization from now on unless he will
take the dual oath.
The scheme OF national defense based
upon the federalizing Of the militia has
been a failure, in the opinion OF the ma
jority OF army officers. The Hay bill con-
templated an increase of 10000 in the
National Guard. but thus far the recruit
ing has merely kept pace with the losses
through discharge.
In the drill season for the militiamen
which is now at hand the program Of
training and instruction as prepared by
the militia bureau Of the War Depart
ment will be more rigid than any hereto
fore attempted.
Radical change must be made in the
law providing for the organization Of the
| United States army as the result Of the
experience of the National Guard on the
Texas border, according to a high militia
officer.
The opinion OF this officer. which Is re-
Elective of that of a majority of his fel-
low Officers, has definite value.
Our service" he says, has clearly
demonstrated that National Guard troops
| cannot be utilized as a part of the first
line of national defense. Such a use of
the Guard is utterly foreign to its pur-
pose and organization. The new military
law which contemplates such service will
have to be radically amended.
Our men went to the front cheerfully
and gladly. They did not have a square
| deal in the Spanish-American War and
| they wanted to show that they were
| ready and willing. But they did not have
the training. They did not have the ex-
! perience. Soldiers are not made over
night Guardsmen do not At into a
scheme which Is designed to place them
on the same footing as first line troops.
Guardsmen and regulars cannot reason
able be expected to cooperate efficiently"