The Washington herald., 1916-03-04
BY E. b. JOHNS.

With the ratification Of the Haitian
treaty and the passage Of the bill auth
orizing the Haitian government to accept
the services of marine corps officers, the
way Is clear for the organization OF the
Haitian Constabulary. The house com
mittee on Naval Affairs yesterday voted
to report favorably on the bill which
permits the detail Of marine corps Off
GERS to the Haitian constabulary. 1t is
expected that the measure will be passed
by both houses at an early date. At the
direction of the Secretary of the Navy
the Marion Corps has already taken pre-
liminary steps toward the organization
of a constabU<ry. BY the time the bill
becomes a law the natives who are to be
enlisted in the constahulary will have
been selected and partially trained. The
marine corps officers and drill sergesnts
have already begun this work.
According to the plans of the Navy
Department thirty-five officers and seven
teen non-commissioned officers Of the
Marine Corps will be assigned TO duty
with the Haitian constabulary. The
una jor will be detailed as commandant of
the Corps and the seventeen non-com-
missioned officers of the Marine Corps
will be commissioned as md lieutenants
of the Haitian constabulary. Three
medical officers of the navy will also be
detailed to serve with the constsbulary.
To assist the medical officers 1t is under
stood that there will be come non-com-
missioned officers of the hospital corps
assigned to the constabulary.
In spite Of the fact that the European
war has affected the metals market
rendering it impossible for the Watrous
Engine Works Company to deliver an
automobile fire engine to West Point
n. Y within a stated time, the Judge
Advocate General claims that the con-
tractor may be held responsible and the
sum Of $ a day be deducted from the
payment.
The specifications forming part OF the
contract provide, with respect to deduc-
ton for delay in delivery, that, for every
day the work is not completed as speci-
fed by contract, the contractors shall
forfeit TO the United States s. damages.
The Judge Advocate General is of the
engine was needed for protection of pub
lie property at the Military Academy and
any damage due to this delay would be
uncertain and difficult to determine.
The sale of clothing by the quarter
masters department to the students Of
the high school at San Francisco, Cal,
is unauthorized in the opinion of the
Judge Advocate General. The statute
sales TO be made to educa-
tional institutions to which IAN officer
of the army is detailed as professor Of
science and tactics In the
case under consideration the detail Of
such an officer would be unauthorized as
the instruction is given there by Of
fcer voluntarily and merely by permits
sion of his MILITARY suDeriOTS
1t is expected that six companies and
band of coast artillery will be taken to
Panama on the Fitzpatrick, which is due
to leave New York April =. They are
the Eighth Company, from Fort McKin-
ley: the Eighty-seventh. from Fort
Totten, New York; the 124th. from Bos-
ton, and the Fifth, from Fort Hamilton.
The Fifth Band. the Eighth. Eighty
eventh and 18th companies will be taken
on board the Fitzpatrick at New York
On the way down the fitzpatrick will
stop at Fort Monroe for the Seventy
third and at Charlestown or Pensacola
for the Fifteenth. The Eighth. Eighty
seventh and Seventy-third com panies will
be stationed at Fort Grant, Panama
Zone, while the Fifteenth and Twenty
fourth companies will report to the coast
defense commanders for assignment.