The Washington herald., 1916-10-30
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Best Service Column I'm City.

Although progress in filling the I,5OO
vacancies In the grade of second lieu
tenant in the enlarged regular army has
Deen rather slow thus far, the War De-
partment has decided not to hasten the
graduation of the senior class at West
Foint' II had been suggested that the
class OF approximately 40 cadets COM
plete the term in January next year in
stead OF June, but after careful considera-
ton, the department has directed that
the regular course be pursued.
Since Congress authorized the selection
Of second lieutenants from civil life after
examination, almost 1000 men have been
designated TO appear before examination
boards. Almost 800 of these men have
been examined and about two-thirds
have passed the tests, although there
are details still to be completed in many
cases which make 1t uncertain how many
new officers will be obtained. Additional
examinations will be held in November
and again in January, and still others
as rapidly as new classes Of candidates
are organized.
Department officials expect to obtain
a hundred or more second reutenants
from the enlisted personnel Of the army
on the basis of reports of examinations
received thus far. 1t is regarded as i'm
probable, however. that all vacancies can
be filled before July l next, when an ad-
ditional shortage will be shown by the
organization of the second annual in
crease OF the military establishment al
ready authorized. Several hundred new
vacancies in the grade Of second lieu
tenant will be created at that time
Word has reached here Of the death in
Philadelphia on Friday of William c.
Meyers lieutenant OF engineers in the
United States Coast Guard Service. who
was awarded a medal Of honor by Con-
gress for service in the Philippines under
Admiral Dewey. He was 81 years old
and was first assistant engineer of the
revenue cutter McCulloch, which pre-
ceded Dewey's feet and ascertained the
position Of mines in Manila Harbor.
Coast Guard Headquarters here has re-
ceived an interesting report from First
Lieut.. w. H. Munter on birds inhabit-
ing the Hawaiian Islands and on other
items Of interest noted during the cruise
of the Coast Guard cutter Thetis from
January "a to February 13
In the Pacific are ten islands devoted
to bird reservations and owned by this
government, coming under jurisdiction
Of the Department of Agriculture.
On the French Frigate Shoals II was
found that a great many more albatross
OF DOtn varieties were nesting this season
than last year. attributed to the fact that
the birds had not been disturbed by man.
Among other birds noted were nOddies,
found in great numbers nesting every
where on the island: blue-faced BOBBY,
quite common; a few sooty tern and gray
backed tern; Curlew, turnstone, and pIover
in small numbers.
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Roose-
Welt has issued a vigorous reply to
Charles f. Hughes recent shot at the
navy policy of emphasizing punctuation
rather than target practice"
In casting a veiled aspersion on the
United States navy, Mr.. Hughes is not
only insulting every officer and man in It,
but talking of something he knows moth
ing about" says Mr. Roosevelt. 1T
would have been more fair and honora BILE
II he had obtained the opinions Of the
fleet and ship commanders before he made
his attack"