The Washington herald., 1916-12-04
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column In City.

Members of National Guard regiments
that have returned to New York are as
turbed over the failure Of employers to
take back Guardsmen who were as
charged while doing duty on the ooroer.
Maj. Gen. Organ has written TO some
7C0 such FIRMS calling attention TO the
law which forbids dismissal Of employees
because they are doing military service.
In many cases this step has resulted IN
the Unemployment Of Guardsmen' put
most Of the firms have failed to comply
with the request.
The Seventh Regiment, which was mus
tered out Saturday, Is wondering whetner
its members will be able to get oacK
their positions. The government gives
them 80 cents a drill, but these occur only
once a week. Col Fisk has taken up
the cases of employers who have display
ed unwillingness to give employment TO
members of the Seventh Regiment VINO
were working when the President called
out the militiamen.
Naval officers are interested In the rec
ommendation made to the House Naval
Affairs Committee by Capt. Jonah NC
Kean, who favors the purchase OF the olo
jamestown Exposition site, facing the
anchorage ground in Hampton Roads. TO
help meet the need Of the Atlantic Fleet
ducQudle DdSo ldSihNiSc
peake BaN Capt. Mexican is aid Tor
material to the chief Of operations.
Capt. Mexican appeared before the
I committee to explain estimates OF $5.l33,
900 for the air service, and since there
| would be an aviation field at the propos-
ed base. he went into the scheme In de-
tail, although the Navy Department has
not yet recommended to Congress any
action on the project. The owners ask
| Q 90 ~ land which
includes about $40 acres. Capt. Mexican
said. Chairman Padsett remarked that
such a figure would mean a wide mar
gin OF profit, but the officer thought the
| facilities offered for sale were worth the
price.
Explaining the tentative development
scheme for the tract, Capt. Mexican said
the training school, fuel storage, fleet
| stores, mines and mine-laying equipment
all would be removed from the Navy
Yard at Norfolk. which would be devel-
oped as an adequate construction and re-
pair plant. while the rendezvous of the
\ active ships would be transferred to the
new base.
The primary submarine base Of the
Fifth naval district would be established,
he said. at a new site, where large
enough deep water frontage would be
available to provide for ten 1,20o-foo'
One OF the most important features OF
the proposed station, the officer declared
would be a recreation ground which
would provide the men Of the fleet with
proper places for athletic games. He ap-
proved the suggestion OF Representatives
Roberts and oliver that a sailors club
house also be established.
| Capt. Mexican said the navy had pur-
chased 12 air craft since the air service
was established in 1911. There now are
nineteen aeroplanes and three kite ba-
! looms in actual service, he said, while a
nonrigid dirigtble and seventy-seven aero
planes have been ordered. As yet. he
added, American manufacturers have not
turned out a satisfactory seaplane. The
| department has issued specifications,
however. from which good results are
/ expected.
! Capt. Plunkett, director Of gunnery ex-
ercises in the navy. favors the largest
| possible guns for the fleets. and he be-
lieves the battle cruisers should carry
! 16-inch instead of 14-inch weapons. He
recently expressed his views to the men,
bers of the House Naval Affairs Commit
tee. He believes that 1s-inch and even
20-inch guns should be under design now
for future need.
The War Department has issued in
, structions to transfer to the nd
lands comprising the Puuloa military res
ervation in exchange for the tract en-
braced in a part of the naval reservation
on Ford's Island. in accordance with the
provision In the army act OF August g.