The Washington herald., 1918-08-02
Army and Navy News

Act Of Congress approved May IS,
1917. establishes the minimum age
limit for voluntary enlistment in
the United States army at IS years
A circular letter recently issued
by the Adjutant General OF the
Army, says:
The large number of applica-
tions received from parents and
guardians for the discharge OF min
ors under Is years OF age. enclos-
ing satisfactory evidence thet the
soldier is under this age, indicates
the necessity of more care on the
part of recruiting officers in order
to avoid unnecessary expense to the
government and annoyance to troops
in the field in the subsequent dis
charge Of such men, and to avoid
placing a blot for life on the record
of q boy whose offense of misstate-
ment Of his age arises usually from
a patriotic desire to serve his coun-
try.
Hereafter no applicant under the
registration age will be accepted
or enlisted until he has proven to
the complete satisfaction of the re-
cruiting officer that he has reached the
dBC VI 10 yChiB. 1He pTOOI
be (a) birth certificate, baptismal
record, or school certificates, or, in
case (a) Is not available, (b) affi-
davit OF parent or Of guardian with
legal evidence of guardianship"
An unusual order was recently pre-
sented to the Controller signed "By
Command Of Brig. Gen. Huteheson;
Daniel Van voorhis. Lieut. Col,
CHER OF staff,' and ordering that
Ensign James H. Walsh, national
naval volunteers. naval aid on the
staff Of the port commander, proceed
to Norfolk, Va. in time to attend
the session OF the school in anti
submarine measures for merchant Of
ficers to be held on May 16, 1918.
1t was stated that 'the travel d.
Sected is necessary in the military
service" The depot quartermaster
in this city stated he knew Of no
authority for the payment Of mile
age OF the army to naval officers
and requested instructions. The mat
ter was taken up with the Control
Ter, who says: Provision for the
creation Of the national naval vol
unteers was made in the naval ap-
preparation act for the fiscal year
1871 as an adjunct to the regular
navy; and in the naval appropria-
tion act for the fiscal year 1918 pro-
vision Is made for defraying the
travelling and other necessary ex-
penses of the naval militia and the
national naval volunteers. In view
Of the foregoing it is clear that En-
sign Walsh, upon the facts now he
fore me, Is not entitled to payment
OF this mileage from any army an
preparation"
The Judge advocate general has
reversed his holding of April %,
1918, regarding soldiers absent with
out leave, in which he expressed the
opinion that no pay accrues in the
period OF absence without leave, ana
where no pay accrues there In no
pay to forfeit" 1t Is now held that
a soldier absent without leave
earns neither pay nor allowances
during the period of such absence.
and he cannot be given pay during
such period or the purpose on
meeting the several classes Of AL
lotments described in the rulings
OF the Controller Of April "a ISIS
1t follows that the opinion Of this
office of February 25. 1918, Is erro-
neous; and stoppage of pay
and, allowances should include All
the pay ana allowances which ac-
crue during the period of the ab-
sence without leave" These views
are in accordance with decisions of
the Controller Of the Treasury
Soldiers must make good the time
lost under such circumstances.