The Washington herald., 1916-07-15
The Heralds Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most Complete News Service and Personnel Published
in Washington
in Washington.

The navy, within the next few days, is
expected to announce its decision as TO
whether the new bettleships recently au-
thorized by Congress will carry ls-inch
guns, or whether the department will ad-
here to the former policy of mounting
heavy batteries of l4-inch weapons.
This has been an open question in the
General Board OF the navy for many
months, and some time ago the board
recommended the adoption of the ls-inch
weapon, but the naval authorities are
not thoroughly agreed on the subject.
The British bsttleships of the new type
are equipped with 15-inch guns. limited
to eight in number. Owing to the OBJ
tsction of the Secretary Of the Navy to
increasing the displacement of the new
American battleships, it is strongly
can be mounted in numbers equal to the
l4-inch csliber.
1t is said that the preliminary plans OF
the new battleships carry specifications
for only eight l6-inch guns, and accord
ing to opponents Of this weapon. a YES
sci equipped with twelve 14-inch wea pors
would be a much more formidable ship
than one equipped with eight OF the l6-
inch guns.
The new battle cruisers, according to
the plans of the department. are TO be
number. They will have, 1t is said, two
three-gun turrets and two two-gun tur-
rets. Officers say it is plenned to sacri-
fee some of the weight of arnor on the
new cruisers to speed, as il is planned
to give these vessels a speed of thirty
FIVE knots an hour. This will make them
the fastest capital ships aioat
Indications from Norfolk point TO the
rr ~ he 1r5lzr ,f~of t,s
tleship Pennsylvania from that port
either today or tomorrow. which is in
kee' = With published orders to the ef-
that the Pennsylvania would sail
about" July Is. For several days the
crew has been taking aboard ammunition,
which means that the Pennsylvania will
receive full battle supply of 14-inch and
b-inch projectilcs. The Pennsylvania is
also putting on 4 new coat of invisible
gray paint.
The vessels coslins operations have
been completed. which was a job of
minor dimensions. as she is an oil-burner.
The fact that the physical standard OF
the National Guard has been lower than
the standard of the regular army for
years, caused some fear among army Of
fcers that in the first rush Of recruiting,
due to the Presidents call, there would
be a slackening OF physical standards on
the part Of medical recruiting officers.
This led to the issuance of telegrsphic
orders by Gen. Leonard Wood to such
officers that the standard must not be
relaxed in the slightest degree. This or
der has been reflected through later dis
qualifications Of Guardsmen, notably in
the District camp at Radio, Va.
Apparently, those men who passed the
rigid tests and who have been sent to the
border have fully justified this policy OF
demanding a nigh physical standard. for
there have been few reports of sickness,
aside from those men who were reported
victims of aged" beef and bad salmon.
Maj. Gen. Hugh l. Scott, chief OF the
staff of the army is being urged. it is
understood. to recommend that another
increment be added to the strength of
the cavalry arm Immediately, although
the proposition has not yet been sub
mitted to the General Board Of the army.
Many Officers believe there is a real need
OF more cavalry on border duty and those
officers would like to see the increase
authorized by the national defense act
made effective as soon as possible.
.
Gen. Frederick Funston, in command of
the border forces, has submitted. 1t is
reported, a memorandum, asking for i'm
mediate increases in the infantry, as well
as In the cavalry arm. Funston is of the
opinion that the border will require
large number of regular troops after the
National Guard has been relieved from
service, and he also believes that this
force will not be brought up to the neces-
sary strength by the addition Of the first
Increment of new regular troops. author
lied by the reorganization law.