The Washington herald., 1918-08-15


nance Department the order Of the
Adjutant General "that the quota Of
arms for each state would be first
issued to National Guard units and
any remaining surplus to Home
Guard organizations" has been mod
ifed.
In its changed form the order will
permit the issue of rifles for use of
Home Guard organizations when
such rifles are not required for Ma
tional Guard units already organ
lied. This would be done pending
the organization OF such National
Guard units and upon agreement of
the governor OF the State in each
case to transfer the rides to the
National Guard units when needed
for that purpose. Under the old or
der Home Guard units already or
ganized could not have the use Of
any rifles issued by the government
until all needs of the National Guard
of the State had hrst been met, even
though the National Guard units
were not organized.
It must be understood, however,
that it Is impossible at this time
to say when any rifles will be avail
able for the use of Home Guards un-
der this change. This IL due to the
fact that the department must first
determine how much OF the available
rifles will be needed for future draft
quotas and how much can be spared
from the supply held in reserve to
allow for any fuctuation in the pro-
duction OF new rifles Steps to de-
termine these questions will be
taken.
Recently there appeared the on
cial announcement from the Navy
Department that the navy personnel
had reached the large total Of 5Os.7ss
on July q. 1t IL interesting to note
In the tabulation given out that the
personnel Of the regular navy and OF
the Naval Reserve Force is almost
identical-both slightly above 21s,OOo.
The reserve has been growing much
more rapidly recently than the resu-
lar force, due to the legal limitations
placed upon the complement Of the
latter. which were only removed by
the passage Of the annual appropria-
ton act. which was approved July L
Prior to that date and for several
months the enrolment in the Naval
Reserve Force has greatly exceeded
the regular enlistments. There Is vir-
tually little difference in the status
Of the men in the two classes, par
ticular now that all enrollments are
made in the rating of apprentice sea-
men unless the recruit is qualified for
special rating. The absorption OF
the naval volunteers into the Naval
Reserve Force added to Class ., of the
combatant, seagoing class OF the re-
serve. a force comprising as officers
and 14.o2s men. The transfer does not.
of course, add to the total Of fighting
men, since they were all in the serv-
ice before the passage Of the act.
When Il Is recalled that a few months
before We entered the war the enlist
ed strength OF the navy was under
$500. with a reserve strength Of prac-
tically zero, the growth of the navy's
fighting men has been truly phenome-
nal for a strictly volunteer force.
The War Department authorizes
publication Of the following order
from general headquarters American
Expeditionary Forces.
In order that the families Of de-
ceased officers and soldiers Of the
American Expeditionary Forces may
receive promptly all Information pos
sible concerning those who are killed
In action or die Of wounds, injury or
disease. chaplains and Red Cross
searchers and other Of the A. E. F.
will when writing letters Of sympa-
thy In case Of death OF a member Of
the A. z. F. conform to the follow
ing rule
Such letters, unsealed and mark
ed in the upper right hand corner with
a small cross. will be forwarded un-
der other cover. addressed Central
Records Once. Adjutant Generals De-
partment, A. E. F. The letters Will
there be examined by q representa-
tive Of the base censor and forward
ed TO destination after verihcation OF
the death by the casualty section, Cen
tral Records Once"
Hereafter, reports OF all burials viii
be made in duplicate by the chaplsins
and ofiices in charge and imme-
diately forwarded.
In order to obtain an idea Of the
life Of the various clothing and equip
age articles used by the army, the
opinion of camp quartermasters and
organizations supply officers was
asked for by the acting quartermaster
General. Tho opinions are based on
the experience of these oficers in Is
suing the various articles to the men
In the camps and cantonments in all
sections Of the country.
On the basis OF replies from about
SO oficers a table was prepared which
Is composite and indicates the min
imum life as shown by the average Of
the opinions received. The table
shows the life Of cotton breeches 10