The Washington herald., 1917-03-12
Army and Navy News
Best servtes CeIunn IN cftyi

The work OF instructing enlisted men
OF the army In the operation OF tree ana
captive balloons 10 progressing sans1ac-
torfly at the Army Balloon School q.
Fort Omaha, Nebr.. under command OF
MAJ Charles def. Chandler, OF the sis-
nal Corps.
So far only one officer, First Lieut.
Lewis c. Davidson, OF the infantry, has
been detailed to balloon instruction, al
though recommendations have been made
by the chief signal officer Of the army
for the assignment OF at least twenty
Junior officers.
The two kite and two spherical bal
looms for which contracts were let some
months ago have been delivered at the
school. Recently MaJ. chandler. Lieut.
Davidson and d. II. Bower went up In
one OF them and Travelled thirty-nye
miles. landing at Pershia, Iowa
Besides the fixed equipment at the
school, including a hydrogen-gas general
ing plant, neld equipment is being grad
ually assembled. including transport vehi-
cies and mobile sss-charsing OUTFITS.
Because OF the prospect of war, secre-
tary of War Baker has indefinitely sus-
pended all the rules and regulations
which have prevailed In regard TO the
tour OF duty Of army officers in the Canal
Zone, Hawaii. and the Philippines. The
foreign service roster pertaining to line
and stan officers will, therefore. be
ignored for the present and until the In
ternational situation Is adjusted on q
basis OF something like assured peace
The tour OF duty beyond continental
limits has been regarded and recognized.
as far as possible. as two years, and
this has been the duration Of duty abroad
prescribed by law. from the terms of
which 1t is possible to depart when the
exigencies of the service justify or re-
quire 1t. Such a situation now II con-
sidered a. prevailing.
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels has not
yet acted on the recommendation Of the
board Of naval officers that the pro-
posed naval experimental laboratory be
located at the Bellevue Naval Reserva-
ton. on the Potomac, near Washington.
There is opposition to the site on the
part OF some members Of the naval con-
sulting board. which will have much to
DO with the equipment and operation OF
the new institution. The principal oppo-
nent Of the proposed site appears to be
the president Of the board. Thomas Edi-
son. the electrical wizard, who has CON-
siderable influence with the adninistra-
ton and Is emphatically IN favor of hav-
ing the laboratory situated at Sandy
HOOK. which is place not at all favored
ny naval omcerB who have given the
problem Of location special attention.
Most OF the naval ofhcers who have
studied the situation prefer a site in or
near Washington or Annapolis.
Consequently there is a growing sppr.-
henston Of the difficulties destined n en-
sue from the operations Of the consulting
board. made up OF experts and inventors.
some OF whom have a personal or com-
mercisl interest in many OF the projects
and problems referred to the board for
consideration. Very little has been ac-
complished by the consulting board I'm
any technical direction since II began its
work. II is pointed out
Complaint has been made by some Of
the members OF the consulting board that
only insoluble problems have been sub
mitted TO II, but this is not surprising in
We" OF the fact that the usual facilities
Of the Navy Department, which is in DOS
session OF experts OF its own. are capable
OF handling all problems that can be
solved. Apparently all that was left for
the consulting board-oomposed. ss II ia
Of men supposed 10 have the opportunity
and the ability to do greater things than
the departmental experts-were the prob
lens that baffled the bureau of6ciaIs