The Washington herald., 1917-07-28
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column In City.


Letters have been sent out to all
the county committees and special
inquiries have been started through
the State committees. medical section.
Council of National Defense, in an
effort to check up the number Of medi-
cal men who have actually accepted
commissions in the Medical Officers'
Reserve Corps, and the reasons why
commissio offered to others have
not yet been accepted. Our records
| indicate that to date something like
l,C00 commissions have been accepted.
Various general reasons why more
commissions have not been accepted
are known, but there doubtless exist
in different sections of the country
special difficulties which could be
overcome, and the section is making
an effort to determine the exact
status of the matter.
A board Of officers to consist Of Mai.
Henry II. Arnold, Junior military
aviator, Signal Corps; Capt. Henry
w. Harms. Junior military aviator.
Signal Corps; and Capt. Lewis II.
Brereton, junior military aviator, Sig
nal Corps, is appointed to meet in
this city at the call of the senior
member for the purpose of examin-
ing such officers of the aviation sec
ton of the Signal Corps as shall ap-
pear before it to determine their fit-
ness for rating as Junior military
aviators.
A board Of officers to consist OF
Lieut.. Col. William Mitchell. aviation
section, Signal Corps; Capt Willard +.
Harmon. jr., Junior military aviator.
Signal Corps; and Capt Davenport
johnson. junior military aviator. Sig
nal Corps. is appointed to meet in
Paris. France, at the call of the senior
member for the purpose of examining
such officers as may appear before IL
to determine their fitness for rating as
Junior military aviators.
Our naval officers who have been
in London have encountered an in
teresting state of affairs in the form
Of a controversy among the British
service experts over the strategy as
signed to the grand fleet. The policy
of the former admiralty appears now
to have been retained by the reor-
ganized body. and the fact that Ad-
miral Sir JelliCo il chief of the naval
stan supports the view that there
will be no material Change-that is
to say, there is no idea OF leading
| the DTeadnought squadrons against
the batteries and mine fields of the
German coasts in an attempt to blaze
| a way into the submarine lair. The
grand fleet remains as before at its
war stations. ready at any moment
TO perform the function for which Il
was created, that Of lighting and de-
stroying the encmy's ships. Critic!
of that policy are being reminded by
its advocates that the German battle
fleet is very much in existence, &
| fact that is in danger OF being over
looked apparently in some quarters
1t IS remarked. too. that none but the
most modern and powerful vesseli
carrying guns of the longest range
and the greatest weight could put VI
a fight against the batteries which
| defend the Jade and Elbe. While
certain OF the British monitors carry
guns of the requisite power. thell
! batteries are too limitsd TO maintain
an intensive and continuous lombard
ment, which alene could be expected
TO silence the concealed and formida,
bic defenses ashore. Besides. a dis
aster to the grand fleet would have
| consequences infinitely more ruinou
than the most effective and prolong
| ed submarine war on British shipping
| Certainly there would have to be &
reduction in the strength of the fee
and incur. as well, grave risks IL an!
! serious attack were undertaken on TIL
! Gereman bases.