The Washington herald., 1917-04-04
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column In City.

For the purpose Of demanding that the
National Guard be divorced from the
united States army and that compulsory
universal military training and service
be inaugurated under exclusive Federal
control several officers Of the National
Guard have formed the Mexican Border
service Association. These officers have
all seen service on the Mexican border.
Those behind this movement feel that
the opinion Of the great majority OF the
officers and men who went to the border
runs to exclusive Federal control of the
army. and that IL the National Guard
Is retained as such II should become
again a strictly State institution. The
new association invites all other mem
bers of the National Guard Of the United
States to join in bringing these views
''in a proper and military manner" to
the attention OF the President and Con-
gress.''
Headquarters Of the organization are at
a2 Nassau street. New York City.
The latest war perplexity Of the Navy
Department Is how to uniform the young
women now being enlisted in the service
as yeowomen and apprentice seawomen.
Under the regulations made merely to
accommodate men, because women re-
cruits heretofore were not dreamed of,
the naval rookie is entitled to $50 worth
Of raiment. This may not be drawn in
cash, but must be drawn in clothing.
Under this regulation the young women
recruits being taken in large numbers,
may draw broad-buttoned trousers, heavy
shoes. socks, shirts and other articles Of
seamen's apparel, but no lingerie, trim
skirts or silk stockings are available in
the Quartermaster's stores.
The women are anxious that q uniform
be provided. but don't quite see how they
can keep up with even naval styles on
$50 for q four-year enlistment period
Hopeful inventors, young, old and mid
dle-aged. are as plentiful in the National
Capital these days Is pro-Germans are
scarce. A great spring drive Of them is
on; they come in regiments, in hordes
and bring their engines Of destruction
with them. They bring them-or models
OF them-in suitcases, telescopes and
newspaper bundles. They resist the lure
of the Smithsonian Institution, with its
curios of all ages. They've got a curio all
their own-buc don't know It. They walk
away from the beaten track OF the tour
ist and sightseer and head straight for
the war office. Here, with trembling
hands and tear-dimmed eyes, they dis
play their wares.
The submarine. the German submarine.
Is virtually the universal target. Methods
Of trapping It, spearing It, melting II, dis
solving 1t In thin air. all have been pro-
pounded in Uncle Sans long-sufferinE
ear
To one and all of those who are sd-
mitted to him. Capt. Strowther Smith,
or the United States navy. accords a
suave attention. The Implication is
that the government is not out OF new
Inventions at the present time. 1t
isn't exactly In the market for them,
but still, II q man comes along with a
magnum opus that will sink a C-boat
simultaneously with the turning on
or an electric light or the boiling of
the morning coffee the government is
willing to hear about II. Capt Smiths
job. nevertheless. consists primarily in
listening to those who really have
something to say.
get beyond the first line Of trenches.
They meet their Waterloo on the top
step OF the big. red. martial-looking
building. They are sent down to OBJ
livion by the exhaustive blanks that
the guards at the door compel them
to hlL Obviously II q man can't state
terssly what he has invented not much
attention Is paid to him.
There ts much shaking OF nst and
gnashing Of teeth. There Is much
raving about Simon Lake. who had to
go to Germany for recognition OF his
type of merchant submarine. Even
old Eli Whitney, whose invention OF
the cotton gin which revolutionized
the cotton industry and was stolen
from him before he had claimed Uncle
Sans attention. is dragged into the
conversation.
But the guards are adamant. The
war office has not even standing room
for nuts" in these days.
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