The Washington herald., 1916-11-02
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Best Service Column in City.

A series of decisions regarding longevity
and continuous service pay of officers and
enlisted men of the militia brought into
the service of the United States has been
issued by the Comptroller of the Treas
ury.
Neither officers nor enlisted men," ac-
cording to the rulings, "are entitled to
count their service in the militia before
the date when brought into the actual
service Of the United States, for the pur-
pose OF longevity or continuous service
pay. officers are entitled to count their
service after the date when brought into
the actual service of the United States
for the purpose of longevity pay. En-
listed men are not entitled to count such
service for the purpose of continuous
service pay.
Officers who had prior service in the
regular army or marine corps" continues
the ruling, ARE entitled to count such
service for the purpose Of increase Of
pay, but enlisted men who had such
prior service are not entitled to count It
for such purpose. except for one enlist
ment period.
"A commissioned officer of the regular
army who holds a commission in a high
er grade in the militia brought into the
actual service Of the United States under
the acts of 1903 and 1908 is entitled to the
pay OF the grade he holds in the militia,
and for such time as he holds It he is
not entitled to pay of his grade under
his commission in the regular army"
The several regiments OF marines main
tained for eXpeditionary and similar
service soon will be put on the basis OF
400 enlisted men to n regiment Each
regiment will include three infantry bat
talions, each Of three compa nies Of 100
men each; one maChine-rifle company Of
100 men, having sixteen guns; one ar
tillery company OF 100 men, having four
3-inch landing Eurs; one signal company
Of 100 men, and one headquarters detach-
ment of 100 men, including the regimental
band.
The first organization to be placed on
this basis probably will be the Fourth
Regiment now in Santo Domingo. The
home station OF this regiment is San
Diego, Cal Four additional companies
for this regiment are being Orga niZed at
Mare Island. Cal. and as soon as they
are ready for service they will be sent
to San Diego.
Bids soon will he Invited for the fur
nishing OF 1N military hydroaeroplanes
for the army. Specifications call for
twO-plaCe biplane or triplane. with power
plant consisting Of two motors and two
propellers. The machine must be capable
OF carrying a load that includes a pilot
and one other. supply Of gasoline, lub-
ricating Oil. and water necessary for
flight Of five hours duration.
The Navy department Ila sent a letter
of commendation to commander Ken
meth NJ. Bennett, /. :. N, commanding
the L. s. s. Cas,iHe, for his skillful sea
manship as exhibited last August when
the vessel faced destruction in the West
Indian tidal wave.
The commander OF the cruiser force,
United States Atlantic fleet. has sent to
the Navy Department the following com
mendation.
The saving Of the Castine from what,
to every one watching her from ashore.
seemed to be sure destruction, was due
entirely to the Consummatc skin and
cCol, persistent courage Of her command
ing officer, Commander Bennett, and the
able assistance rendered him by every
officer and man, particularly those Of the
engineer force. I doubt If in the whole
history OF the navy there is a record Of
more skillful scamanship than was eN-
hibited by Commander Bennett upon this
oCca sion"