The Washington herald., 1916-09-02
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS

The first hydro-aeroplane ever built by
the United States navy underwent her
preliminary trial over the Potomac on
Wednesday. She appeared to be we'll
balanced and to come up TO requirements
In every particular.
The machine was built at the Navy
yard here and is of sufficient size and
sfength to carry two passengers, and
pilot and observer besides a one-pounder
gun and approximately 600 pounds of
dead weight She is equipped with two
so-horserower tractor Curtiss motors.
The Navy Department has issued a
statement pointing out that as gunnery
requirements in the navy vary from year
10 year, the standard of determining
relative merit must also change. Ele-
mehts entering into the competition are
the efficiency of the personnel individual
y. each ships organization. and gums
and mechanical equipment
Ihree destroyers, the Nicholson. Pat
lerson' and Perry, in the gunnery COM
petltlon Tor the year l9l5-l9l6 made per-
rect scores i'm divisions of the competi-
uon' although the Stewards general av-
crase was the highest Eight subma
rlnes received a mark of 100 for portions
OF thelr work Among the cruisers the
New Orleans made a perfect score at
battle practice.
In line with the plan of organizing the
National Guard upon a tactical basis.
brlg Gen Henry a. Greene, L. S A.
VINO mas been in command of the Eagle
Fass (TeND. patrol district has been or
dered to San Antonio to take command
or the Illinois and Wisconsin troops
winch are being combined to form a d.
vision.
Altogether, there will be ten divisions
In the National Guard when the plan now
helng worked out by the army shall have
Deen executed. Two of the divisions are
already in existence. They are the New
YORK and Pennsylvania divisions, station
ed IN the Brownsville and FL Paso patrol
districts, respectively The remaining
divisions will be formed by combining
the militia organizations OF the various
States.
Belief OF the administration that the
National Guard on the border still is
serving the definite purpose OF preventing
bandlt raids is evident in answers sent
by Secretary Of War Baker TO presons
who had written suggesting that the
troops be recalled.
The secretary referred to hardships
caused Guardsmen and their families by
the enforced stay at the border as a re-
DNN 4''NtSodlg. accompaniment
or the service. He explained also that the
framing would he invaluable i'm fitting the
men 10 act as second line in war time.
secretary Bakers letters praised the
spirit and efficiency OF the men. and prom
lsed that they should be returned "as soon
as restored state of order on the
border justifcs it" In general. the COM
plainants alleged that border service wa
entalling loss financially on militiamen
and hardships on their families The de.
partment appreciates, Mr. Baker said in
one letter. the fact that a call for mill.
tary service upon militia organizations
must inevitably present cases Of hard
ship"
To another correspondent the Secre-
tary explained that the National Qua I'd
was maintained for just such exigencies
as that which now exists on the border
and that it had cost the government many
millions to prepare and keep it ready for
such emergencies. He pointed out that
National Gusrdsmen were fully aware OF
/ III" duties they Undertook when they en-.
listed