The Washington herald., 1918-05-27

occupation Of the academic accomue-
dations 10 the fun capacity. No
recommendation 70 now IN conteupia-
ton IN regard 20 q further Increase IN
the number Of midshipmen-
Secretary Daniels has decided that
there shall be no change In the style
Of the naval blouse. for which q was
proposed 70 substitute q double
breasted coat 10 get nd Of the present
high and ught-fitting collar. He has
adopted the policy OF Secretary Baker
In the matter Of army uniforms that
no changes VIII be made during the
present war. He 10 controlled IN this
decision by such factors a. the per-
sonaI expense imposed on individual
officers. The Inconvenience 70 tailorl
who are already overwhelmed with
work, the difficulty In obtaining the
material for the new type Of garment.
and the fact that the present blouse 10
distinctively American. Identified with
our naval service and associated with
it's traditions- The referendum In
which naval officers were invited 70
participate showed conclusively that
service sentiment was in favor Of the
change. which appears to have eff
ANSNAdA1 AAElOcCQ VI Inc DAO8 llALL
there were any traditions or associa-
tons connected with the official Earb
from which an overwhelming ma
jority Of the officers were not willing
to be separated. The practical OF
commercial reasons for refusing 10
authorize the change, Of course, were
not factors In the consideration OF the
problem oy naval officers, most Of
whom were willing 10 incur whatever
individual expense might be necessary
In conforming 10 the order for the
change; but those practical aspects OF
the case necessarfly became q deter
mining influence with the Secretary
OF the Navy, and II the advocates
and supporters Of the proposed
changes are not irreconciliable on any
terms they are apt TO admit that that
particular phase OF the sitution con-
stitutes a valid excuse for the secrs-
tary's decision. however Disappointing
II may be 10 30 many officers. There
has been at no time any indication
that Secretary Daniels was favorably
inclined toward the proposition. and.
under the circumstances and In view
OF war has transpired. Il Ia SOME
thing OF a mystery that the question
was submitted to a service personnel
vote as IL that were really TO have
some effect upon the solution OF the
problem Since the secretary was not
guided in his decision by the result OF
the vote-l.oSo for and SS against-but
rather by his own views. backed up
by the recommendations Of some
prominent officers, II would seem that
the referendum in the navy lie not an
effective means OF settling questions.
At any rate. there will be no change
in the uniform until after the con-
clusion OF peace"
Mai. Gen. William L. Sibert, who
commanded the first division Of Am
erican troops sent 10 France with
Gen. Pershing, has been relieved of
command OF the Southeastern De-
partment Of the army, and detailed
as director OF the Gas Service OF the
United States army. His headqusr-
tiers will be in Washington.
Gen. sibert IL an engineer oricer.
and built the Gatun locks OF the
Panama Canal in recognition of
which service Congress promoted him
to the rank Of brigadier general.
While in France with Gen. Pershing
he had every opportunity to study
the uses TO which gases have been
put by the allied armies and the
Germans. and he 10 regarded as Pc
culiarly fitted for the new post.
On his return from France recently.
Gen. Sibert was assigned TO COM
mand the Southeastern Department
where most OF the training camps are
situated.
II IL announced by the Paynaster
General OF the navy that the iSsue
Of low hoes 20 the naval services has