The Washington herald., 1916-01-26
BY T.. b. JOHNS.

Following the lead of the National Se-
curity League for uniting. the efforts OF
the different preparedness organizations
under q committee for national defense,
the executive council of the Army League
OF the United States yesterday passed a
resolution pledging its support to the
proposition To emphasize its indorse-
ment OF the matter, the council used the
exact language of the resolution passed
by the National Security League.
II is understood that the Navy League
will shortly take similar action. Prom
inent members of all organizations of
this character. many Of whom attended
the National Secuity Conference, have
already expressed themselves heartily In
favor of the project OF getting the differ
ent organizations together under the d.
rection of a general committee. All OF
the organizations wAl maintain their
the conference committee for national
defense.
''For some time the members OF the
executive council of the Army League"
said former Assistant Secretary of War
Robert Shaw Oliver, president of the
Army League, have felt the need OF
some scheme of uniting the efforts Of the
different preparedness organizations.
There was not a dissenting vote in the
council and there Is no doubt that the
proposal of the National Security League
will receive the enthusiastic support of
every member Of the Army League. Our
annual report, which was submitted at
the meeting of the executive council.
showed remarkable growth in the nnem-
bership of the league. Without any ag-
gressive campaign for membership we
have been able to more than double our
strength In the past six months. The i'm
l. t.xIs
ton of the growth of the sentiment OF
the country for preparedness"
Negotiations are pending by which the
ill-fated Eastland is to become the prop
erty of the Illinois Navsl Militia Owing
to the accident to the Eastland, which
resulted In the loss OF 90 many lives. 1t is
doubtful whether she will ever be put into
commission again as passenger steamer.
and on this account 1t is not thought that
she would bring anything like her value
II She was put up at public sale. The
public would scarcely patronize the East
land even IL she was completely re-
modelled.
Thinking, perhaps that a good ship
could be secured at a bargain price, 1t is
understood that some. of the wealthier
members of the Illinois militia have Sc
cured an option upon the Eastland The
Navy Department has been asked for q
report upon her to determine what
changes would be necessary in order to
convert her into training ship for the
militia. Preliminary examinations indi-
cate that she can be remodeled in such a
way that the Illinois militia will have the
most commodious and perhaps the swift
est ship in the Great Lakes feet
The Eastland is 22s feet long and has
displacement of 22o0 tons.
A wide range OF investigation and ex-
pertinent was outlined IN the hearing OF
Brig Gen. William croEier, Chief of
Ordnance. when he stated his reasons for
an increase of liz In the number Of ord
nance officers. Gen. Croker gives the
duties to which additional officers wifi be
assigned. and thus indicates that the re-
ports from the European war will bring
about an increase in the caliber OF guns
and the adoption of some new features of
armament
Gen. Croker wished to assign two Of
ficers to design the largest type OF gun
for the land forces and fortifications One
officer is asked for to continue the work
of developing an automatic shoulder rifle
and to experiment with improvements
which are designed to flatten the trajec-
tory Of the army rifle.