The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
Army and Navy News
Best Service Ceiuma In Cit,.

The next examination of graduates of
military colleges for ap-
pointment as second lieutenants in the
Marine Corps will be held April 7, the
dates having been advanced. No change
yet has been made, however. in the
dates of the examination of non-com-
missioned officers and civilians, which
according to present plans, will be con-
Quoted in July.
Many enlisted men Of the navy have
made application for permission to take
the examination for commissions In the
Marine Corps. II any of these requests
are acted upon favorably. 1t Is understood
that for the purposes of the examina-
tion they will be classed among the civil
ians
The appointments will be made in the
following order: Graduates of the N1-
val Academy assigned to the corps. quail
ified non-commissioned officers of the
corps, and qualified civilians, including
candidates from the navy. Assuming that
all those that have qualified up to this
time and now are awaiting appointments
will be commissioned. there will remain
about $50 vacancies in the junior grades
of the corps. of which thirty are in the
grade OF first lieutenant and 10 in that
OF second lieutenant.
second lieutenant in the Marine Corps
cannot be advanced to the grade Of first
lieutenant, even though vacancies exist
in the higher grade, until he has com
pleted satisfactorily the prescribed pro-
bationary service of two years. although
probationaries may be advanced in the
army. Moreover, the Marine Corps au-
thorities hold that there is no. necessity
of advancing second lieutenants before
completion of the probationary period un-
less the grade Is filled. and 1t is desired
to make room for additional appointees
Therefore. the advisability of advancing
probationary second lieutenants at the
head of the list of their grade will not be
considered until that condition is reach
ed. The marking and rating of the pa
pers in the cases of those enlisted men
of the Marine Corps that were examined
in January for appointment to the new
warrant grades OF marine gunner ana
quartermaster clerk were completed re-
Gently by a board of officers at the head
quarters of the corps
Camp Whitman at Green Haven, y. Y,
will be retained as a permanent site for
the mobilization and training of the New
York militia, according to War Depart
ment plans. 1t has been decided by the
department that the claims OF railroad
company amounting to about $lO,On Tor
the construction of sidetracks in connec-
ton with the occupation Of this reserva-
ton may be paid from the army tunos
for transportation.
The site has been approved by the
State militia authorities, while Gen.
Leonard Wood. commanding gen
eral of the eastern department, in a
communication last May urged the
State of New York Ito proceed as
promptly as possible to develop the
place as State mobilization site.
Pursuant to this authority. the camp
was authorized by order of the gov
ernor of the State. and the expense
of railroad construction was incurred
under the direction of the State au-
thorities and to carry out Gen. Wood s
instructions 1t is explained that the
side tracks were necessary in con-
nection with the mobilization of the
troops of the State of New York call
ed into the Federal service.
Col Charles E. Wheeler. ordinance
department. who until recently was in
command of the Watertown (MassD
Arsenal. now is detailed to the office
of the chief OF ordnance of the War
Department and at present Is ac-
companying the interdepartmental
board that is making tour 10 inspect
proposed sites for the government
nitrate plant. Besides performing duty
in connection with this plant, COL.
wheeler will act as inspector Of ar
senals.
Lieut. Col Clarence c. Williams.
ordnance department. has been re
lieyed from duty as ordnance Chlcer
of the southern department and or
dered to duty in the office Of the chief
of ordnance where he is expected to
remain for two or three months. lie
will look after matters pertaining to
organization of an ordnance officers
reserve corps. Later he probably will
return to station at the Sandy Hook
proving ground. where he was on duty
when he was sent to the southern de-
partment for service in connectpn
with the calling out of the militia last
summer.