The Washington herald., 1918-10-18
Army and Navy News

The balloon corps Of the army is
to, be increased $500 men and l 30
officers It now numbers apprOxi-
nately HOO all ranks. Authority
has been obtained by the air service
-frOm the general staff to indUct men
Of draft age and to transfer officers
from the other branches of the serv-
tee. This increase will create many
Vacancies in the grades Of colonel,
lieutenant colonel. major, captain
ana lieutenant Enlisted men and
Uynians who apply for officers ex-
afpinatiOns will be required to take
the cadet course Of from three to
hUe months, and training camps for
this purpose will be conducted this
winter in the South and on the Pa
cific Coast. The schools already es-
tabhshed for this purpose are located
AZ Old Point Comfort. san Antonio.
and Arcadia. Cal In addition to the
opportunities for immediate promo
ton. officers who join the balloon
service will receive the benefit oS
hying pay when they actually do the
work Of observers and make flights
in connection with army operations.
Flying pay is . per cent Of the base
pay Of an officer
The Shipping Board announces. ad-
equate shipping facilities for future
needs. At u luncheon attended by
Members Of the Cabinet and by
chiefs Of the war activities of the
nation, given in the Cabinet room of
the Willard. in this city. on Monday,
IN honor Of the six visiting Swiss
journalists who are on tour of the
United States. Edward y Hurley.
mead Of the Shipping Board. remark
ed that the Swiss writers had al
ready seen one of the great new
shipyards. that at Hog Island, and
that production was now so much
advanced that America would have
adequate shipping for the maipte-
nance of the 4,5OOOCO soldiers expect
ed in Europe by next June. and
enough ships to continue the aid
gwen to the allies and neutral coun-
tries Of the world. When it is real
fzed that England is now taking
care Of 6O per cent of our shipping
needs. both for men and munitions Of
war, II Will be seen that the govern
ment shtpbuilding will be on a tre-
mendous scale during the next nine
months to meet the task outlined II
IS taken for granted that the Gues-
ton Of the machinery for the new
vessels, which has caused considers-
{ple difficulty, has been solved. There
'has been engine trouble experienced
IN some yards on account of turbine
construction by firms which have
had little or no experience in build
ing such engines for marine use.
Work has started on the conyer-
sion OF Ft- Sheridan, Illinois. into a
base hospital which, when finished
VIII have 400 beds. 1t will be one
OF the largest in the country. The
estimated cost Of the new buildings
and the alterations to the present
buildings to Mt them for their new
purpose is S5,4s.O0o. The work win be
done under the supervisor of the
construction Division. A series of
hospital buildings to provide 25OO
BEDS VIII be erected The present
cavalry barracks are to be renodeIed
into wards. The post exchanges and
gymnasium will be converted into
mess halls. Nurses are to be housed
ln the buildings now used for quar-
ters for noncommissioned officers.
The additions planned will provide
the other 1,50o beds. The work Is
xpected to be finished IN six months.
MAI Gen George Barnett, COM
maidant-and Brig Gen Charles L.