The Washington herald., 1918-10-27
Army and Navy News

The Veterinary Corps of the army
announces that it is prepared to re-
ceive applications OF competent COL
ored men to join the corps. Requests
for Information for joining this
branch Of the service should be ad-
dressed TO Major Ray J. .Stanclift.
assistant director Of the Veterinary
Corps. Washington. d. c.
Capt Charles NJ. Robertson. NJ c,
L. S. A, is the author Of an inter
esting article on Examination Of
Men Entering the Aviation Service. Z"
in the Journal Of the American Med
tcal Association of September Z. Capt
Robertson says that in making eN-
aminations Of men for the Air Serv-
ice consideration must be given to
the fact that for ordinary maneU-
vering close to the earth the man
does not require to be so finely ad-
tusted, for he is in a medium Of air
almost the same density and con-
dition as that at the earth's sur
face. but this does not hold true
for the aviator who ascends to more
than l.0o0 feet. since when he has
attained a greater altitude he eX-
periences varying conditions OF den
sity and temperature which change
in a direct and fixed ratio at the
different levels. Were il the prac-
uce of the aviator 10 ascend and de-
scend 10 any given altitude at a
moderate rate OF speed SAYS Capt.
Robertson. he might not have to be
chosen with so much care. but . Is
known that he must change his al
titude suddenly and in many in
stances to a great amount so that
he Is subjected 10 violent variations
Of temperature and especially air
pressure
In selecting men for the Air Serv-
ice il is necessary 10 get them as
near perfect as possible for the life
Of the aviator Is all-important. as
tie information he supplies deter
mines the maneUvers on the land
or on the ssa. His photogrsp phs ara
absolutely essential. When the war
began a machine capable Of sixty
miles per hour was considered all
that could be looked for and the
ascension to 1000 feet altitude IN
half an hour was regarded as won
derful
Captain Robertson SAYS that since
beginning his experiments he has
discovered that in so per cent Of the
falls no fault was discovered with
the engine, the plane had no marks
that II had been hit nor had the avi-
ator been wounded. so that it there
fore appeared that half Of the fatal
tiles in aviation are due 10 a cause
other than those that are termed
effects Of combat" In the tests
made Captain Robertson placed the
candidate for the service in a spe-
cially made steel cabinet from which
the air was exhausted at the rate Of
1000 feet altitude per minute until
he had reached height OF 5000
feet. He was kept there for a GER
tain length OF time. Then q fall
was simulated by allowing air to
enter the cabinet and the time il
took to bring the pressure TO that
Of the earth's surface represented a
rapid or slow descent In this man
ne an actual flight is simulated.
Some men stood the tests excel
lently. while other became seasick
and some tainted. The blood pres
sure Of the men before entering and
after leaving the cabinet was an
other test of their availability as
aviators, together with tests for
pulse. muscular tone and rotation.
The tests. in brief. showed that
many men deteriorste rapidly II al
lowed to fly. or il they continue fly
ing will fall 10 their deaths
Some complaint has been ex-
pressed in the American Expedi-
tionary Forces because Of the re-
striction in the sending Of parcel
post or express packages from the
United States TO the soldiers in
France. Army officers point out.
however. that II each soldier in an
army OF 1000. O.OOO-snd the Ameri-
can army in France is far in excess
of that-should receive one five
pound package each month II would
involve the handling Of $500 tons
per month. and require approx
mately 5000 ship tons per month
for transport overseas This would
mean the exclusive use Of two good