The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-21
BY y. r.. JOHNS.

A clash between the executive council
Of the National Guard Association and
the advocates Of the business mems and
students military training camps is in
prospect. This grows out Of the opposi-
ton Of the National Guard committee 70
the volunteer army provision Of the
Senate bill.
10 an effort to secure legislation which
will legalize and encourage military
training camps the Senate committee
adopted a provision which authorizes the
President to accept for training at any
time volunteers not to exceed 900 for each
congressional district The provision is so
broad that the President can fix the
training period Of these organizations 70
suit the convenience Of those who desire
to attend the camps. At the same time
the President can place all the business
men and students in the status Of
volunteer or a regular force during the
period Of encampment. He can authorize
the War Department TO give the volunteer
business men and students the pay and
allowances Of regular army officers and
men. In return for this the students are
enlisted in q volunteer army which would
be subject to call in the event Of war and
after serving the term Of enlistment they
would pass into a reserve
This provision is the most satisfactory
proposition that has been made to the
students and business men. At the same
time it has the endorsement OF the mill
tary authorities. But ii Is not saus-
factory 10 the National Guard. The rep
resentatives OF the National Guard As
ISOLATION who are in Washington declare
that it is the Continental army under an
other name. They insist that all cluzeh
soldiers should come into the Nstloha.
Guard while the members OF sluoehts
and business mems organizations declare
that the militia service is not satisfactory
10 them.
The advocates Of the summer training
camps object TO the National Guard on
two grounds. They say control Of the
National Guard by the Federal govern
ment and States is not satisfactory ana
they prefer regular officers as instruc-
tors 10 National Guard officers
Yesterday was field day for members
OF Congress. before the House COMMIT
tee on Military Affairs. Representatives
from both coasts appeared before the
committee asking for legislation to IN
crease their naval defenses-
Representative Kittner. OF California.
and Representative W. L. Humphrey. Of
Washington, presented the appeal OF the
Pacific coast for bsttleship feet "hile
Representative W s. Ware. OF PennsyI-
vania. asked for larger appropriation
for the Philadelphia Navy YARD. NO
part Of the country is more alive TO the
needs OF national defense than the Pa
cinc coast. The Pacific coast delegation
not only lined UP for larger navy, but
supported the Kahn amendment yesteT-
day.
The Maumee which is being toNed
from Mare Island through the Panama
Canal. will be equipped With the b1esel
engines which have been built at the
New York Navy Yard The new Dieeel
engines which have combined ~
horsepower, are the largest Of their type
! in the world. This .ype OF engine mas
been used on destroyers and submarines.
but this is the first attempt that has
been MADE to use oil engines in ship
Of the displacement Of the Msumee. The
inventors Of the Diesel engine are con-
tdent that they will be used eventually
in battleships.
Since the beginning OF the war 10000
tons have been added to the British navy
according to a statement made in the
House Of Commons by Arthur J. Bal
| four First Lord Of the Admiralty. This
means an increase OF about 30 per cent,
a great proportion OF its probably repre-
sentcd by converted vessels used ioT
patroI work But the only class in the
navy which is not stronger than II was
when the war began is the armored
cruiser. and the important role PLAYED
! by battle cruisers appears to have
doomed the armOr cruiser TO extinction.
Vessels in this class which have been
lost have not been replaced. II would
appear from Mr.. Balfour.s statement
| that the British navy is about three tunes
the size Of ours. The slowness OF our
| building programme it has ever deserved
/ a characterize ton program was lever
| more emphatiCally shown than by the
results gained in the British Isles While
that nation was lighting a desperate val.
|
| Second Lieut.. Edward Walin-ford. c
4. c. reported st the War Department
YESTERDAY.