The Washington herald., 1917-09-20
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column i'm CITY.

The annual meeting Of the Assocla-
ton Of Military Dental Surgeons OF
the United States will be held at Hotel
Astor. New York City, on October 3.
AL dentists who have taken the ex-
aminations for the Dental Reserve
CORPS. whether they have received
their commissions or not, are invited
to attend. Papers will be read by den
tai surgeons of the regular army on
subjects Of interest to a military den-
tai surgeon. Major Logan. who Is at
present in charge of the affairs Of
the Dental Corps, will be present with
infoi nation of interest.
ssss
The art Of maritime camoufage"
s discussed IN a recent issue of the
new YORK sun by Robert G. Skerrett.
VINO points out that this is by no
means a new science. The late +. 7.
Jane. well-known as a naval expert,
is given credit for the 'irst sugges-
tive idea In the right direction" al
though as far back as the Civil War
both the Federal and Confederates had
camouhaged" to an extensive degree.
Mr.. James initial effort was the paint
ing OF a British destroyer a mottled
coat OF black, white and gray. In
lso2 patent was granted two Amer
leans, Gerome Brush and Abbott II.
Thayer, who started out with the idea
of reserving the coIoring Of the light
and shaded portions OF a vessel to de-
crease her visibility. Naval officers
who have given much thought TO this
idea are Lieut.. Comdr. Joseph o.
Fisher and Lieut.. Kenneth Whiting.
Both Of them started their studies in
connection with the operation Of sub
marines, but more recently. Lieut..
Whiting has continued his experiments
in the field Of aviation. Comdr. Fisher
probably is responsible for the varie-
gated color schemes which have led
inhabitants of coast cities to believe
that large proportion of recent navy
recruits was composed Of patriotic but
irresponsible cubists.
In order that it may make more
enlcient preparation toward supply
ing the gas masks and other equip
ment needed TO protect our troops
against the asphyxiating and poison
Gus gases they probably will meet
on foreign battlefelds, the Army
Medical Department is organizing a
Gas Defense Service" In addition
to assisting in the production and
distribution OF equipment, this service
will include the necessary repair sec
tions for overseas duty. A number
OF officers have been detailed to Fort
Sill, Okla, for a special course in
gas defense.
The surgeon general points out the
needs of that service for competent
enlisted personnel About fifty men
are wanted Immediately who possess
skill and experience in one or the
other of the following lines of work:
Mechanics. glass blowing. pipe fitting.
electricity, carpentering. blacksmith
ing and chemistry. In addition TO
these specially qualified men there is
an opening f. about 100 men to do
routine factory work. Those who are
found qualified will be enlisted in the
Sanitary Corps for the duration Of
the war, with the probability of SER
vice abroad in the near future The
pay is from so to Sii a month, plus
S to $50 a month for foreign service
according to grade: and food, shelter,
clothing, transportation, and medical
care are provided by the government
in addition.
Applicants for enlistment for this
service should call upon the officer
in charge, Overseas Repair Section.
No. 1, Gas Defense Service, at Room
ls9, new Interior Department Build
ing, Eighteenth and F streets, north
west, Washington, d. c. Men regis
tered for the draft may enlist in this
service. Men already called for phys
ical examination may be assigned 10
The Gas Defense Service II they have
special qualifications.