The Washington herald., 1917-01-12
Army and Navy News
0est Service Column u city.

BY direction OF the President, the COM
mandant of the United States Disciplin-
ary Barracks at Fort Leayenworth,
kans.. has been empowered to appoint
general courtmartial whenever neces-
sary.
The school to be established at Fort
Omaha, Nebr.. for training officers and
enlisted men for duty with balloon COM
panies. to be organized as a branch OF
the aviation section of the Signal Corps,
has been designated by the United States
Army Balloon School. according to an
nouncement by the War Department.
The object of the United States Army
Baiioon School is the organization and
training of commissioned and enlisted
personnel for balloon companies as q
branch of the aviation section of the Sig
nal Corps. The equipment will consist
principally Of the kite type captive ball
looms, intended for the observation of in
direct fire of field and seacoast artillery
and for military observations in general.
The course Of training for officers will
require approximately four months. de-
pendent on weather conditions. and in
ciuoes instruction in plotting free ball
looms Oficers who complete the course
OF instruction and qualify as balloon
pilots Will. within the limits allowed by
law, be detailed to the aviation section of
the signal Corps until a sufficient num-
per is secured for the balloon companies.
Other graduates will be returned to their
regiments for future assignment to that
service when required. Such officers
completing the course of instruction at
this school who are considered best quail
ned will be assigned to duty in developing
dirigiole balloons for the military serv-
ice.
Officers desiring to take the course of
instruction at this school should submit
applications 10 the adjutant general of
the army through regular channels. The
physical examination will be the same
as now required for aviation students.
There are no limitations rs to age or
rank for the balloon service.
The next examination of candidates for
appointment as second Iieutenants In the
Philippine Scouts will be held beginning
February 26, according to announcement
by the War Department. Applicants for
authority to undergo this examination
should forward applications to the
Adjutant General at as early a date as
practicable and, in any event, in time to
reach the Adjutant Generals Office NOT
later than February Is, as applications
received after that date may be too late
for proper consideration in connection
with this examination.
Although the Slater law, providing for
the military training of all boys of New
York State between the ages of IS and Is
who are not engaged in earning a living.
has been in effect since September l, no
effort has been made to enforce 1t and
none probably will be for several weeks.
The Welsh law, providing for the physi-
cal training of the school children OF
the State. a companion measure, is now
in force.
Meantime many schooIboys of New
York City are voluntarily taking military
training. Gen. George w. Wingate, presi-
dent of the Public Schools Athletic
LeagueS is quoted as saying that fully
1000 New York City boys are drilling OF
have agreed to do so. Nothing can be
done to force the young men of the State
to live up to the Slater law until the
Military Training Commission, which has
charge of mapping out the physical and
military training program. decides upon
a military curriculum.
1t is understood that the military train
ing will not be difficult Maj. Gen. John
r. Organ. chairman of the Military
Training Commission. said that ever
pacifists will not be able truthfully tc
call the program militaristic.