The Washington herald., 1916-02-27
By Z. b. JOHNS.

NJ n. ID. JOhNs.
DEVELOPMENTS In both the Senate and
House military committees during the
past few days show that Congress has
been impressed profoundly with the inn
portance of having a large corps of
trained ofY,cers. Both of the commit
tees, II is stated, have gone farther In
providing for both active and reserve
officers than was recommended by the
original War Department program.
1t was stated yesterday that the House
committee reached an agreement for a
thousand additional regular army OFF,
GERS. These oficers, IT Is specified, are
to be used as instructors for the Ma
tional Guard, educational institutions and
military training camps. The increase in
number OF officers will make IT abso-
lutely necessary to enlarge West Point
and to provide some system by which
college graduates can be given tempo
rary commissions in the regular army.
The Senate committee had made the
Pomerene bill to establish a reserve off,
Ger training corps part Of Its program
Under this measure the Secretary Of
War is authorized to prescribe a stand
ard military course not only for the COL
leses which receive Federal aid under
the Morrell act. but for all other insti-
tutions which maintain military depart
ments. Students who take this course
are to receive commissions in a corps OF
reserve officers Part of this course
Is a temporary second lieutenant's COM
mission in the regular army for at least
! eriod OF six months. Training camps
| for students who take the reserve corps
officer course are TO be maintained by
the Federal government. The Secretary
| OF War is authorized 10 detail 800 reg
I\ular army officers to act as instructors
at colleges, which have reserve Officers
corps.
The bill has not only the Endorsement Mt
of the General STAFF, but of the presi-
dents OF the larger colleges.
The proposal to equip the new battle
ships with sixteen-inch guns has been
revived. and il is stated now that the
Secretary OF the Navy has about decided
| to make this increase in the caliber OF
the Dreadnoughts Of the future. The new
ships, IL the plans are approved that have
been submitted to the Secretary, will
carry ten sixteen-inch guns.
Some time ago 1t was reported that the
General Board in a confidential commu-
nication to the Secretary of the Navy.
| recommended sixteen-inch guns. 1t is
stated that this recommendation has
been reinforced by reports from Guam
| tanamo where some long distance expert
mental target practice has been con-
Quoted. The Secretary. II is reported. is
So favorably impressed with the results
at Guantanamo that ne has indicated to
his advisory council that he will approve
the plans for the larger guns.
| A model sixteen-inch gun has been
built at the Washington Navy and Gun
Factory and tried out at Indian Head
The Ordnance Department has all the
plans prepared and can begin to turn out
sixteen-inch guns as soon as the depart
ment decides to equip its Dreadnoughts
with them Plans have also been pre-
pared in the Bureau of Construction and
Repair for sixteen-inch gun ships. and II
is only a matter for the department to
decide.
Not only will the new ships have great
Ell gun power. but it is stated that they
will have higher speed. With the electric
drive the speed of the new ships has
been increased about a knot an hour
without changing the design of the hull
! Brig Gen Samuel W. Fountain retired
and Mai E. J. Dent Engres visited the
| War Department yesterday.
| Among the navy officers reporting al
the Navy Department yesterday were
| Pay Director s. Hunt. n. P. o., Newport
Assistant Naval Constructor 4. B. Court
lPaymaster r. T. Hagner, Navy Yard
Boston. and Lieut. J. NJ. McClaren, U. 5
s. Beale.