The Washington herald., 1917-12-16


sigma on the shoulder loops Of the
service coats of second lieutenants
henceforth shall be a gold bar. To
date there has been no insignia on the
shoulder of a second lieutenant, and
many found it difficult to distinguish
between a private and a second lieu
tenant. Also according to the new de-
cree, these officers will be designated
on the sleeve of their overcoats by a
brown braid in the same design as the
black loops of a first lieutenant.
Word comes from London that the
warmest welcome was extended to
Lieut.. Col. Stephen L. II. Slocum,
who recently succeeded Brig. Gen.
William Lassiter as United States
military attache in London. Col. Slo-
cum, when a captain. was our official
representative with the British army
in South Africa in 19O0-01. and was a
great favorite OF Lord Roberts, Lord
Kitchener, Lord French and all the
other notables Of the Boer campaign.
There is work in plenty these days for
our London military attache, and Col.
SIocum, though he has been out Of
the army for some time. has plunged
into it in splendid fashion.
In addition to Lady Gordon, wife OF
Sir Charles Gordon. OF Canada, who Is
here with the British Commission.
there are several other charming Ca
madam women passing the winter
here. Lady Gordon is from Montreal.
There is Mrs. Arthur Scott for one,
also from Montreal. She and her hus-
band, who is attached to the British
war commission, have an apartment
at the Brighton. They have been here
about a month. Another is Mrs. Wal
ter Miller. They, too, have been in
Washington about a month and have
an apartment at the st. Nicholas.
Her husband was formerly with the
Canadian Sixtieth Battalion. but is
now assigned to duty at the War Col
lege here. All three OF these ladies
are working hard for the Washing
ton committee Of the British war re-
lief organization, Of which Miss Helen
Ernst is chairman. Lady Spring Rice
is also an active member.
A late arrival among the Cana
dams in Washington-a man this
time-is w. H. Stewart of the British
War Mission. He was originally
from Montreal, but has been with
the Interior Munitions Board in OF
tawa for some time. He has an
apartment at the Montana. Mrs.
Stewart did not accompany him to-
Washington.
What does the service flag mean?
The question is asked on all sides.
The big query is, For whom can the
star rightfully be placed in the ser
vice flags that are now flying from
almost every business and residen-
tial property in Washington?
Naturally enough the answer to
this is, For any person in active
army or navy service of the United
States whose service exposes his
life to danger. Then it is said that
no one can wear a star on the flag
for a relative of more distant rela-
tion than a nephew.
The criticism has been heard that
service flags are being hung in win
dows and displayed elsewhere for
men who belong to home defense
units not in active service, for mem
bers of the guard who are not
guarding our water works and 9TH
er public properties, for girls who
are acting as yoemen in the naval
reserve.
Mr.. Baker has made it appear that
the service flag has no official ap-
proval from the War Department
The originator Of the flag, a one
time officer in the Ohio National
Guard, outlined his idea to the Sec
retary of War, it is said. but no fur
ther action has been taken by the
government. The flags, however.
are being manufactured by the
thousands and find a ready sale.
But the criticism Of army men is
that the government should at least
prescribe regulations under which
a service flag of any description
can be exposed to view and the per-
sons who may be rightfully repre-
sented by showing the nag. There
certainly is a confusion Of ideas on
the subject at present
Former Commissioner Newman
that is, Maj. oliver N. Newman. U. s.
R.-who was on duty at Camp Lee,
Petersburg, Va, is now attending
the school of fire at Ft. Sill. Mrs.
Newman is also at Sill. Most of
the reserve artillery officers of the
rank of major and captain have to
go to Sill for a three months
course at the artillery school there.
Next week the graduates Of the
last reserve officers training camp
will report for duty. Those from
Ft. Myer all go to Camp Meade.
with a few exceptions. Those Off
GERS who have been serving for the
last four months, all graduates of
er hard to have the new officers
without their actual experience
with troops. placed over them. For
instsnce. a first lieutenant who