The Washington herald., 1916-08-10
The Heralds Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most Complete News Service and Personnel Published
in Washington

meeting was held in Washington Au-
gust 3. by a board of officers consisting
Of Lieut.. Col. Jay Z. Hoffer. ordnance de-
partment, Mai James A Shipton. coast
artillery corps and Maj. Norman
Ramsey. ordnance department. for the
purpose of making recommendations for
the detail of lieutenants from the army
at large for duty as student officers in
the establishment of the ordnance de-
partment for a period of two years The
national defense act of June 3. author
lied the Secretary of War to detail not
more than thirty lieutenants for duty as
such student officers and this action was
taken in accordance with that measure.
The act provides that the completion Of
the prescribed course Of instruction shall
constitute the examination for detail in
the ordnance Department to I'LL vacancies
therein. Fifteen lieutenants will be de-
tailed for duty this year, and fifteen a
year thereafter. so that that number
will complete the course every year. The
probable aptitude OF the eligible officers
for work of the ordnance department.
their efficiency records, the reCOmmenda-
tions submitted by their superior officers
in regard TO them, and any other mat
ters concerning them which is known.
will be considered by the boa rd. While
from thirty TO forty lieutenants have al
ready made application for these assign
ments, the board is not necessarily con-
fined to those applying in making its rec
ommenda tons On the other hand, how
ever. no officer will be detailed as an
ordnance student unless ne signifies his
willingness to accept the detail.
The Secretary Of War has decided
that the 100000 appropriation in
the Eundry civil bill for continuing
the construction of barracks, quarters.
storehouses and other buildings nee
essary for accommodating the mobile
army and Coast Artillery troops. will
be available for the same class of
construction and repair work here
tofore done under the existing pro-
vision in other years. The fact that
the estimate prepared by the canal
authorities was limited to the con-
struCtion for the Coast Artillery and
for reserve storehouses. raised the
point as to whether the appropriation
was available for other new construC-
ton. Th2 language in this respect is
held to be plain. and expressly au-
thoriEes the construction of barracks.
quarters. etc. for accommodating the
troops of both the mobile army and
the Coast Artillery on the Canal Zone.
Another question which was raised
related to the expenditure of $4,000
to maintain the old posts. it not being
clear whether this should be made un-
der the supervision of the quarter
master general or the governor OF the
Canal Zone A provision in the ma
tionaI defense act states that all work
pertaining to the construction and re-
pair hitherto done under the quarter
master corps shall hereafter be done
by or under the direction of the Off
GERS of that corps This language has
reference to class of work without
regard to location, it is held, and all
work to be performed on the Canal
Zone falling within the class is to be
done under the direction of the quar-
termaster corps.
The decision of the Secretary Of War
based on an opinion of the judge advo-
cate general to the effect that the in
crease in that branch, authorized by the
national defense act of June 3, and the
subsequent promotions. may be made
from July /. on the basis OF first in
crement OF one-fifth. came as a disap-
pointment to officers OF the Army Medical
Corps. With the determination of the
War Department of the enlisted strength
OF the army as 1306oo, it was expected
that il would be possible to make the pro-
motions on the basis OF seven commission