The Washington herald., 1917-03-24
Army and Navy News
best servie. colun, n, cfty.

The Marine Corps post at Annapolis
viii be taken over for the use OF the
Naval Academy, according to provision
contained in the new naval appropriation
act. 1t is planned to utilize the buildings
to accommodate part of the increased
number of midshipmen. the barracks
being available as a dormitory.
An appropriation of $4,000 is made
available for the purpose of altering the
buildings to make them more suitable to
the needs OF the academy. The Annap-
oils post has been the home station Of the
field artillery battalion OF marines, which
now is in Haiti and Santo Domingo
Hereafter the home station of the bat
TALON will be at the navy yard at Nor
folk. The appropriation act carries an
item of $4,000 for the erection at that
place OF temporary buildings as stables.
shops, storehouses and shelter for the
material of the battalion
The appropriation act also carries the
following items for buildings and i'm
provements pertaining to the Marine
Corps: For the depot OF supplies at
Philadelphia, 100000 for an extension in
addition to $4,000 previously made avail
able for that purpose: for two bungalows
for officers at Port Royal. S. c.. ss. 900:
and not to exceed 5000 for the purchase
of additional land-and $500 for the
erection OF twelve noncommissioned off,
GERS quarters at the same place, with
S2o.5O0 for station improvements; for
marine barracks. $4,000. and for laundry.
81, 900. in the United States Legation COM
pound at Peking, China: for additional
barracks. $500 900. and for advance-base
storehouse. $4,000 at the navy yard. Phila-
|delphia; for range improvements at
Winthrop. Nd, $4,000: for station i'm
provements at Norfolk. sl27o6: for re-
modelling old marine barracks. Sc. 600. and
for extension OF roads and walks. $50 900.
al Mare Island, Cal: and toward the es-
Establishment of a Marine Corps base at
San Diego. Cal. 5000
Naval officers now are working on de-
tailed plans for the establishment of the
Marine Corps base at San Diego, Cal.
An appropriation of $e500oo was made
some time ago for the purchase at San
Diego of land in addition to that donated
by the city so that the reservation will
have an area of about 732 acres. 1t is
planned to provide accommodation for
about 800 men. and the ultimate cost.
exclusive of land purchased. will be about
81. 800. OOO
No appropriation has been made for the
purchase OF a site and establishment of
brigade post for marines on the east
coast. as has been recommended. Pre-
HO"CfSII
is being given to the selection of a suit
able site for the establishment so that
an estimate may be sent to Congress that
will take into consideration the approx
mate cost of the particular track recon-
mended as meeting the requirements. II
is probable that a place on Chesapeake
Bay or the Potomac River that is ad-
jacent to water Of sufficient depth for
transports will be recommended.
In accordance with the ruling OF the
War Department that under the authori-
ty of a section Of the national defense
act Army officers may be detailed as
students at the ordnance esta blishments
without regard to the detached service
law of 1872 FIVE officers have just been
so detailed. They are First Lieut.. Roger
S. B. Hartz, cavalry: First Laeuts-
Charles G. Helmick and James A. Lester,
and First Lieut.. Fritz P. LAndh, infantry.
They have been assigned to station at the
Sandy Hook proving ground. They were
recommended for this detail last summer
but various restrictions applicable to
them did not permit the assignment at
that time along with the eight onicers
that were then detailed.
The law contemplates the assignment
Of thirty ofncers for a two-years' course
Of instruction. and It was intended to
assign fifteen each year, SO that after
the first year there would be the maxi
mum OF thirty under instruction. A
board Of officers met at the Massachu-
sets Institute Of Technology at Cam
bridge recently to formulate and recon-
mend courses of instruction for coast ar
tillery, engineer, signal, and ordnance
units Of the reserve officers training
corps. It is planned to make certain
parts of this instruction applicable to the
technical duties required Of certain Of
the special branches Of the military es-
tablishment. The board consists Of Col.
Tracy c. Dickson, retired; Maj. Edwin
T. Cole, retired: Capt. Harry C. Barnes,
coast artillery corps, and Capt. Freder-
lex B. Downing. corps Of engineers.