The Washington herald., 1917-01-01
Army and Navy News
Best service Ceiumn I. CITY.

Estimates prepared by the technical
bureaus Of the Navy Department, show
that the latest design Of battleship, which
contemplates a displacement OF E,e00
tons, and battery Of twelve 16-inch guns.
viii cost close to s5,0O0. 000
II the contract for such a vessel could
be awarded today. It would cost s24, 4,64, 900,
1t Ia estimated. This price Is based on
current rates for labor and material The
naval authorities have information that
there has been recently an increase by
10 per cent in these terms, SO that by next
summer, when the Navy Department is
In a position to place the contracts for
the battieships that are included IN the
building program now under considera-
ton, 1T is likely there will be a material
increase over the latest estimate of total
cost
For the first time since 1886. Yellow
stone National Park il without a detail
Of United States Army troops. A law
passed in 1888 provided for the detailing
OF troops to the park to guard It against
trespass and intruders. Troops had been
kept there continuously until recently.
II was at first the practice to detail a
certain number of troops of cavalry for
this duty. In 1914 It was arranged to use
for this purpose a detachment of eight
officers and 200 enlisted men.
The Interior Department being charged
with the care OF National Parks, the
use OF regular troops for police purposes
ma turally caused conflicting responsible
ties between the War and Interior De-
partments. Since the passage of the act
OF 1883 conditions have materially
changed. The States surrounding the Ma
tional Parks extended the protection OF
State laws governing killing of game,
and the sentiment OF communities sur
rounding the parks became more law
abiding and favored complying with the
laws and regulations governing park ad-
ministra ton.
In the interests OF economy as well
as the efficiency OF the army. 1t was
deemed advisable to urge the transfer
of the guardianship of all national parks
to the Interior Department. This was
effected for the Yosemite and Sequoia
parks in 1914 The transfer of the Yel-
lowstone National Park was not accept
able at that time to the Interior De-
partment owing to the lack of appro-
priations necessary for the employment
Of civilian rangers.
Last July the Secretary OF the Interior
advised the Secretary of War that the
Department OF the Interior was ready to
cooperate in making arrangements for
the complete withdrawal of regular
troops from the Yellowstone National
Park, suggesting that the detachment OF
troops now on duty In the park be re-
tanned there until shortly after the close
Of the tourist season, between September
Is and October l. and that specially Be-
lected cavalrymen be made available for
service as civilian rangers upon the with
drawal of the United States troops. In
structions were given for this transfer
of the guardianship of the park to the
Interior Department to take effect 90
tober l. Such enlisted men as are quail
fed and desire to become rangers will
be discharged from the army for employ
ment by the Interior Department.
A report Is expected within several
weeks from the board of army officers
appointed in October to consider and re-
port upon the Standardization Of motor
transportation for the army and the
methods of purchase and upxeep of mo-
tor vehicles.
The board consists Of Lieut.. Col Chaun-
cey B. Baker. Quartermaster Corps;
Lieut.. Col. John H. Rice, Ordnance De-
partment; Maj. Palmer E. Pierce, Gen.
eral STAFF; Maj. Harold w Jones. Medi-
cal Corps; Maj. BENJAMIN D. Foulois,
aviation officer, Signal Corps, and Capt
Alvin B. Barber, Corps of Engineers