Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-28


Maj. Mcintosh OF the division Of
Paymaster Hancock of
p1enfv of the Navy bureau of sup
uc,, plies and accounts will
SnoAes' see to 1t that the en-
listed men of their services have plenty
of tobacco and cigarettes. and the
companies will meet them on fair
basis as to price. All reports to the
the government has not COM
any tobacco factories. There
is no expectation that it will resort
to SO dramatic a measure. The price
at which the government buys the
tobacco in bulk is the price the en-
listed men must pay Tor 1t IN their
individual purchases. 1t Is. therefore.
a matter Of personal interest to every
soldier and bluejacket to have the price
reasonable.
Representatives Of all tobacco fac
tories are in touch with the purchasing
divisions OF both Army and Navy. now
closely cooperating. for delivering to
the government about 100000 pounds
month Of their product. including
cigarettes. It is expected that the ext
few days will see the price fixed.
It IL due the nation and particularly
those who have to fight for its preser-
walton that the
Cumming OFF, rank and file should
be intrusted only
N. ". VucerS. to the best officers
that can be obtained from any source.
With all the shortages in the Army.
none has been so great and none is SC
hard to make up as the lack of officers.
Training camps will not create them:
experience in the National Guard has
failed to make them all excellent.
The investigation and determination
of an officers fitness to retain his COM
mand are made by boards of officers of
equal rank. With the opportunity they
have to examine the officers work and
record in camp. their conclusions are
usually sound and the bureau Is in
clined to uphold them until strong
proof that an error has been committed
is adduced.
The militia bureau does not want t.
lose one officer or one enlisted man. II
not directed by higher authority to do
so, however. it will not restore single
officer condemned by board as lncom-
petent or unfit to command until 1t is
made plain in what respect the board
has erred.
Many officers have been separated
from the guard for reasons that are
entirely proper and make no reflection
upon their character or their couage.
Many were chosen for other reasons
than their fitness to command. In
times of peace those reasons might go;
but now for war. none of them shall
lead their troops into the maelstrom
If there be any way of picking them
out and leaving them at home.
II 4
Some confusion has arisen as to the
disposition of the men who after three
months training in
Th;,d Tro;r;nr the third Officers
training camps in
Camp. the several divisions
graduated last week.
The adjutant general is gathering all
those who specialized for the field
artillery, something more than $500
of them; and sending them to the new
field artillery training camp, Camp
Jackson, Columbia, S. c. APPROX
mately 1000 of those who qualified for
infantry will go to the infantry re-
placement camp. Camp Gordon. At
ianta, Ga. for further training, prob
ably for three months. to better n.
them for active duty, and to be sent
abroad, as they may be requlreds
Others will be called up and commits
stoned as vacancies occur In the line.
It is believed that a small number
have already gone abroad.
When it became necessary that the
wounded and sick should be brought
back from
Transporting Army france IN Army
WOUNDED. stead of medical
transports the task Of caring for the
sick in passage naturally fell upon the
surgeons of the Navy. because the Navy
was in charge Of the transport serv-
ice. In fact, it was almost impossible
for the Army, without creating a spe-
cial service that would live on the
vessels, to care properly for the well
fare of their own.
Jpon embarkation the medical sup
plies of the troops are slowed away. to
remain intact until arrival. Naval
medical officers in charge OF the sick
bays provide all supplies for use dur
ing the voyage. Just as naturally 1t
ia expected that the medical officers
Of the troops will take personal super
force hygiene, make examinations and
order all sick to report at the sick
bay. $1,000
Thus far. due in great degree to the
careful isolation and inspection Of the
men before and after they reach the
place of embarkation. little sickness
has broken out on the transports on
he outward voyage. On the return
no Army medical officers are aboard
Ind the. entire charge Of sick and
wounded devolves upon naval medical
1rficers. 1t may be said confidently
mat up to the present time there have
been no deaths on the transports, and
IN these large ships the accommoda-
lions for the sick are excellent.
Lieut.. (junior grade) Joseph S. Davis,
United States Naval Reserve Force, re-
,ently was convicted by court-martial
II being absent from his command
without leave. and sentenced to be dis
missed. Acting Secretary Roosevelt
nitigated the sentence to a loss of $40
| month for three months.
Lieut.. Gunior grade) Rowland L.
Foster, United States Naval Reserve
force, was found guilty by court
martial of improperly hazarding the
,essel Under his command and SEN
enced to lose $50 a month of his pay i
or six months. Acting Secretary |
Roosevelt mitigated the sentence in
his case to the loss of $25 month for !
hree months.
First Lieut. Newbold Noyes, Corps of |
National Army, has been re- |
ieved from duty at the Army War Col |
eye, in this city, and ordered to Camp |
DIT 10. Irrtr