The Washington herald., 1916-09-22
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Best Service Column in City.

Commissioned officers Of the National
Guard are not eligible for appointment as
members of the Oficers' Reserve Corps
created by the national defense act of
June 8, according to War Department of
icials.
Their decision was given following the
application of Lieut.. Col ]. E. Muchert,
Of the Fourth Texas Infantry, for ap-
pointment as an offcer Of the CORDS It
was ruled by the War Department that
under the regulations established by the
President, he may not be so appointed
so long as he holds a commission in the
National Guard or organized militia
The eligibility OF such an officer is not
iEterfered with, although his actual ap-
pointment is, in the discretion Of the
President, not accomplished, on the
ground that he already hears a relation
to the government which is equivalent TO
that which would be esta bIshed by ap-
pointment in the Oficers' Reserve Corps
and renders the appointment unnecessary
for the attainment of the purpose Of the
law creating the corps.
Exactions Of the Navy Department re-
garding the periods within which the bat
tleshipe, scout cruisers, destroyers and
submarines authorized by the naval ap-
preparation act of August % must be COM
plCNEu are CACtSElNt ana very little OppOE-
tunity is afforded the contractor for earn
ing any part of the 20 per cent Of the con-
tract price represented by the premium
for most expeditions delivery Of the
ships, in the opinion Of many Of the coun-
try's leading shipbuilders.
1t is stated at the Navy Department
that the time specified for delivery
Sc months in the case OF battleships, a
months in the case of scout cruisers. 2
months in the case Of the S0O-ton sub
marines and p months in the case Of
the coast-defense submarines-was de-
termined upon the basis OF what is de-
scribed as normal conditions. which
ought not to be regarded as exceptional
or as imposing upon shipbuilders an OBJ
legation which they may Justly interpret
as unreasonable.
The Secretary of the Navy believes It
is his duty to carry out the intention of
Congress by encouraging, to as great an
extent as possible. the speedy construC-
ton of the vessels and 1t was carefully
ascertained, from the point Of view OF
the naval authorities, that il was within
the limits Of possibility to build the bat
tleships in 26 months to get the bonus
Of % per cent, the scout cruisers within
80 months, the destroyers within L
months, the feet submarines within Y
i4AOi4NlIS' anu lllS COdSl-lC4tNbc lIlts
within u months.
This contemplates the payment Of pre-
miums at the rate Of per cent a month
for any period less than the maximum
time specified 1t will be made known 70
contra ctors that the payment of pre-
miums will be based on actual time
saved. and no exceptions will be made
to take into account influences beyond
the control OF the contractor.
1t is anticipated IN the Navy Depart
ment that, despite the objections on the
part Of the shipbuilders, there will be g
desperate effort made to gain the pre-
miums. especially since. in the case OF
the battle cruisers. for example. the
extra compensation would amount tc
s. OO0 GO. while in the case OF the de-
stroyers the total premium possible would
be $4,000