Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-29

was organized has been accomplished.
according to government
The Naval officials who are in close
| rr.,.A. touch with this branch OF
the Navy Department. The
object Of the formation and the MAIN
tanning of naval militia is that de-
pendable force may be available for the
use of the federal government in case of
actual or threatened war. Now that the
government has reached that stage Of
actual war" the Navy Department has
on hand several thousands of fairly well
| trained men who have been called out
and will help a great deal in the train
ing of new men that must be added to
the naval force to bring it up to war
strength
BY the Naval Militia act. the Naval
| Militia. qualified according to the act.
| and any existing naval reserve now or
hereafter organized. shall be called into
| the service of the United States in adj
vance of any volunteer force which it may
| he determined to raise. Such was the
| intent OF the congressional act, and such
| has been the action recently taken by the
Navy Department. 1t has been the aim
| of the department in times of peace so
| to train the Naval Militia that the off1-
| GERS and enlisted men might be able to
| render the most efficient service in time
| of war. Orders have been so worked out
| that the militia might know what its
| assignment would be in time of war, and
this incentive has. it is believed by off
| Gals in charge of this work, made the
| Naval Militia realize that it is part
| Of the national defense. and has caused
| It to exert every effort to become efh-
cient IN its respective war billets-
| Specialization of the Naval Militia
| was not recommended by officers who
| had charge Of this work. it being be-
| lieved that the best results could be
| obtained IL every officer and enlisted
man were trained in time of peace TO
become efficient for general naval serv-
| ice. 1t was the opinion Of those OFF,
GERS no worked out the curriculum for
| the militia that the officers and enlisted
men of the regular navy were better
| fitted than the Naval Militia for spe-
| cial work. such on torpedo boats.
| mine-sweeping vessels. mine-laying
vessels, submarine etc, in spite or
the fact that it might be necessary in
| time of war to augment the crews OF
such vessels by n limited number OF
naval militia officers and enlisted men.
| It is interesting to note. in connec-
| ton with the present conditions. that.
while the Navy Department has been
| interested for some time in bringing
| the Naval Militia up to the hest pos
| sihle footing. 1t is only within the
| past few years that it has been the
| endeavor of the division in charge OF
| this branch of the service to increase
| to the greatest possible extent the eff
cheney of the Naval Militia. so that II
might reach that point where 1t could
he modified with the shortest possible
notice and he available for the federal
service The events of recent weeks.
and almost days. show to what de-
gree this was accomplished.
Many manufacturers and business
houses throughout the United States
are showing their patriotism by making
allowances for their employees who en-
list, but it is interesting TO note in
| this connection that many large bust
ness corporations. banks. etc. have in
the past directed that their employees
who were members of the Naval Militia
he allowed leave with full pay to at
| tend to their military duties. This
leave was not to count AGAINST their
regular annual leave. which was still
given them with full pay. These firms.
through this help. doubtless did their
bit for the country by allowing these
men who have now been called out. to
gain the training which they can now
use to good advantage.
In view of the probable shortage of
the domestic sugar supply this year,
experts of the Department
| Honevhee of Agriculture are advising
beekeepers throughout the
culture. United States to increase
the production of honey to the great
est possible extent. To this end. they
| say, immediate steps should be taken
to insure the proper building up of the
colonies before the honey flow begins.
There are experts connected with the
department who have made lifelong
! study of bee culture. and these men
| say that bees need just three things
during the spring. all of which can be
| readily supplied by the beekeepers.
These are plentiful stores. plenty of
room for brood rearing and plenty of
protection. The stores. they suggest,
should have been provided last fall, but
in case colonies are found which are
not abundantly supplied. a sirup OF
granulated sugar should be fed. Small
quantities from day to day. the experts
explain. are usually less valuable than
a considerable quantity all at one time
This may be given on any warm day
and should if convenient be fed in a
feeder entirely inside the hive.
The experts say that room for breed
ing usually can best be given by pro-
viding each strong colony with two
hive bodies as soon as freezing weather
has passed. The one-story, ten-frame
hive is usually not large enough. It has
been found. for good queen during
the spring and. of course, smaller hives
cramp the colony still more Extra
room will be valueless unless abundant
stores are provided and unless the
queen is prolific
In any locality say the bee experts.
where the temperature drops to freeZ-
ing in the winter bees need winter pro-
lection, but many beekeepers fail to
realize this. II proper protection has
been given during winter this should
he left on the hives as long as possible.
Even if colonies have been neglected.
say the experts. during the winter,
spring protection may help wonderful
" in permitting the bees to build up
in time for honey flow. Protection
from wind is quite desirable.
If bees have been adequately cared
for. spring manipulations usually are
not necessary, but every beekeeper
should be sure that his bees are well
supplied with the three essentials for
intensive brood rearing. 1t is not adj
visahle. it is said. to spread frames of
brood in attempting to stimulate brood
rearing.
Now that the spring has arrived Of
l.ia!s IL the forest service are advo-
eating an increas-
No4icno1 porl> ed use of the ma