The Washington herald., 1917-08-02
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column in City.

Postmaster General aBurleson has
written to Senator Simmons, chairman
Of the Finance Committee, asking that
an amendment be made to the war
revenue bill. now before that commit
tee, which would make 1t possible for
United States soldiers and sailors in
Europe to send letters home by mail
free of postage.
The Secretary of War has authorized
department commanders of the army
to discharge for fraudulent enlistment
enlisted men under Is years OF
age, who have enlisted fraudulently,
when satisfactory evidence of age is
furnished, the provisions of paragraph
1880, army regulations, to apply in
each case. Evidence in such cases
should consist of ~ a duly authenti-
Gated copy of municipal or other
official record Of the soldiers birth, II
such record exists; (2) the affidavit of
the soldiers parents (or guardian) as
to the date of his birth; and (3) the
affidavits of two or more disinterested
persons who are able to testify from
their own personal knowledge as to
the soldiers age.
The commission on training camp
activities, of which Raymond Fosdick
Is chairman, has decided to organize
recreational activities in all of the
military training camps, including the
officers camps. In each camp one or
more men will be placed to have gem
eral supervision, to form committees
among the recruits and officers them
selves, organize athletic contests, etc..
to do coaching, and in every possible
way provide for wholesome use OF
such leisure time as the men In camp
may have.
Conditions vary so widely in the
camps that no definite program is out
lined by the commission. The officers,
for example, have much less time. be-
cause of the intensification of their
training, to spare for recreation, and
the possibilities will vary greatly with
the location of the camps, the climate,
the natural facilities, and so on. In
some places winter sports, at least on
limited scale, will be possible; in
some of the Southern camps swimming
will be a feature: and in each case
the field space available will have
something to do with determining the
activities.
The policy everywhere, however, will
be to encourage general participation
in pastimes which require as little as
possible in the nature of special equip
ment.
Announcement was made last
night that special precautionsi are
being taken to safeguard the food
bought for the navy. and that or
ders have been issued to continue
to enforce rigid inspection and re-
ject all food that does not come up
to standard.
Paymaster General MCGOWAN,
chief of the Bureau of Supplies and
Accounts. which has charge of the
purchaseSof supplies for the navy.
has issued the following order:
Because adequate and satisfac-
tory subsistence is the very foun-
dation not only of real efficiency
but Of discipline itself, there fs no
class of purchases for the naval
service that needs to beyrmore con-
stantly watched than provisions.
our men being no poison squad,
but human beings and American
citizens for whom we stand in the
relation Of trustee in SO far asare-
lates to the question of food. Ills,
therefore. directed that every EFFORT
to try on the navy any experiments
or tests Of any food product what
ever shall be promptly suppressed.
No provisions will under any
circumstances be accepted IL there
be the least question as to purity
or nutritive value. 1t being con-
stantly borne in mind that doubt
ful food is bad food and will be
treated as such"