The Washington herald., 1916-06-13
The Herald's Army and Navy Department
Latest and Most Complete News Service and Personnel Published
in Washington.

The American Red Cross has offered
to supply forty nurses to supplement
the existing nurse corps of the army
until this corps can be increased per
manentIy. This Offer has been re-
ceived by the surgeon general of the
army and it is proba BILE that the serv-
ices of at least twelve Red Cross
nurses will be accepted.
Under the terms OF the offer. the
Red Cross will pay the nurses salaries
and necessary transportation. while
the army will furnish quarters and
subsistence. The Southern Depart
ment is in need of additional nursing
help, as twelve army nurses have been
withdrawn for service at Fort Bis.
Tex
The law prohibits the acceptance of
volunteer help Of this sort. except
during time Of war or when war is
imminent. 1t is generally held that
war with Mexico is so imminent that
the offer of the Red Cross could be
accepted with perfect propriety,
though it is possible that the surgeon
general will await the outcome Of G--
velopments in Mexico before officially
accepting the help extended.
Fourteen enlisted men of Company
l. Fourth Texas militia, will be re-
luired to continue in the service, de-
spite the fact that their families are
in destitute condition. due to the
withdrawal of the men from civilian
pursuits. Such is the opinion held by
army legal officials, concerning the
appeal of the fourteen militiamen for
discharge.
According to the construction gem
orally placed upon the law, there is
no provision made for militiaman to
purchase his discharge, for such rea-
sons. private in the regular army
may purchase his release in time of
peace. but the militiamen seem barred
from the advantages OF this provision.
Gen. Funston has reported the ap-
peal OF the militiemen to the War
Department but it is regarded as al
together proba Bile that a negative de-
cision will be rendered
1t is quite probable that a year will
elapse before the Navy Department is
furnished with a report on the fuel-oil
situation of the United States, as ap-
piled 10 the navy. At the present time,
a board of officers. headed by Rear
Admiral John R. Edwards. L. s n, re,
tired. is working out the problem.
One of the jor questions to be
solved by the investigation OF the board
will pertain to the underground storage
of oil A report favoring such storage
methods will mean an enormous expense
to the navy. if adopted. vet if the boards
! recommendation favors underground
storage the idea should be carried into
effect, officers believe, regardless of the
cost.
Among the other problems TO be solved
by the board will be the question of under
ground tank construction. sources of oil
supply, probable volume OF material and
the best methods of controlling fuel
prices
There is little doubt that the conclu-
sions of the oiI-fuel board will have a
far-rea ching effect upon future battle
ship obstruction in the navy. 1t has
been held by some officers that it will be
ineXpedient to continue building battle
ships largely dependent upon oil fuel
unless the oil supply is safeguarded.
Army officers are interested in two
very important experiments recently con-
Quoted in the matter of transporting in
fantry units oy automobile. One of these
tests was made by Gen. Funston. the
other by Gen. Sibert. Both throw new
light on the problems of troop transporta-
ton.
With twenty-eight three-ton trucks,
Funston moved a force Of 900 armed and
equipped officers and men, including
machine gun company and its equipment
and the usual corps of sanitary troops.
About thirty-nve men were loaded on
each truck. The force was moved seven
miles through San Antonio, Tex, to
point outside the town. The time re-
quired to pass a given point was thre'
minutes and fifty seconds.
Gen. Sibert's experiment was made with
touring cars and big trucks and included
a route of thirty-four miles. Greater
speed was obtained than by Funston, but
lAhe capacity OF the machines, of course.