Evening star., 1918-08-11
- ROM the American point Of
4 view. the best factor In the
suppression Of the U-boat 10

- view. tho best factor In the
i suppression Of the U-boat IL
the destroyer, and this prom
tse was taken up early by Congress,
which, on the accommodation OF the
House naval committee, made liberal
appropriations for the construction Of
biggest feet Of destroyers In history.
In their development in great num-
bers recourse was had to the ap-
proved method Of getting production
in quantity, steel fabricatiOnN or the
production Of many vessels on sx-
actly the same lines and OF parts
made exactly alike. This method en-
ables the manufacturer to turn out
the total number of parts In far
less time than when 1t was the prac-
tice to make a separate part for every
ship and to let every yard make
variations in each ship or each yard
to make its vessels different from
those Of every other yard. But one
of the greatest gains In time saved is
found in q somewhat unexpected
source; and that is that all the de-
fects of design and construction
l. however trivial, causing some de-
lay--are found out in the first one or
tao vessels to be constructed and do
rot need to be remedied. but are
later ships. The result is that the
Gestroyers are now going overheard
at a rate that is puzzling the depart
ment in its efforts to find a supply
OF names for the growing fleet.
One may not mention. the rate at
which these scourers Of the sea are
Siding into the water. but 1t is salts.
FACTORY. BY great effort builders OF
engines and boilers have been brought
to q point where they are able to-
pietion as fast as they are called for.
The bureau OF navigation is doing
lis part in the training and detailing
Of officers and men for these ships,
and 1t Is no great thing for q de-
stroyer to be delivered one day to
the department and to sail the next
day under commission. Heavily armed.
equipped with depth charges and the
heaviest Of torpedoes. these vessels
go whittier they will In search of the
submarine. Vessels they cannot fight
they can easily distance.
i
THE War Department. after hearing
an exhaustive report from the
committee on, classification of per-
sonnel in the Army. has approved
PLANS for the establishment of trade
test stations in, each Of the depot
brigades. Proper officers will pre-
scribe tests to determine the fitness
of the enlisted personnel in those
trades which are needed in the larger
industries conducted by the War De-
partment. The committee has taken
measures to make them uniform
throughout all the depots where they
may be made.
There is steady demand for all
sorts of mecha mics and artisans from
pattern makers to chauffeurs, from
electricians to. telephone linemen. It
is an economic effort to see that skill
ed men are sent to the duty for which
they are best fitted. The committee
has also worked out plans for the
classification. of the newly inducted
men. so that. they may - rated as
they enter the service. The tests in
the case of draftees will show their
aptitude for one of the special lines
can put their speciality to the best
use. Those who show aptitude for
special work will be sent to some
place where it,ican be developed.
Under the new personnel system the
mastering, allotment, enlistments and
.''Oc. VI thS paper WoTh Will Do uOuc
by the personnel detachment, reliev-
ing the division commander and other
unit commanders Of an amount of
paper work which has seriously ham
pered them and their officers.
X +
"A RECENT order Of the War De-
partment transferring fifteen
regiments of National Army cavalry
to National Army field artillery ere
ates the following plan for the reor-
ganization: From each of the twelve
troops in the cavalry regiment six
troops will be assigned to form the
basis of one regiment Of field artil-
1ery. each cavalry unit forming two
OF field artillery. Each troop will be
the nucleus of battery, and the six
batteries. together with proper pro-
rortion of headquarters troops, will,
with suitable additions, constitute
FIELD artillery regiment. This plan
fofces, add thirty regiments of :leid
artillery to the National Army.
The order adds that the machine
gun companies of the cavalry shall
be organized into trench mortar bat
teries to complete the organization.
The field artillery units will train at
Camp kearney. CAL; Leon Springs
Tex; Camp Taylor, KY, and Camp
Jackson, s. C.
.colonels Of cavalry regiments to be
serving in the corresponding grade
IN the regular cavalry or going with
their units to the field artillery. Other
vacancies in the artillery regiments