New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-03-12

conditions, and In addition submitting
a formal report of examination made
by a reputable physician substantial
ing the statement of health To the
satisfaction of the director of the
bureau.
Benefieiaries Group Enlarged.
In announcing the new ruling,
Director ChOlmeley-JOnes emphasizes
the fact that war risk (term) insur-
ance or United States government
(%converted) life insurance may now
be made payable to any of the follow.
ing new and enlarged group of
beneficiaries: -
Parent, grandparent, step-parent,
wife Tor husband) child, step-child,
adopted child. grandchild. brother,
sister. half-brother, half-slster, brother
through adoption, uncle, aunt, nephew,
niece, brother-in-law, sister-In-law T;
persons who have stood In the relation
of a parent TO the insured for a period
Of n year or more prior to his enlist
ment or induction, or the child or
children of such persons; parent,
grandparent. step-parent. or parent
through adoption of the insured's wife
Tor husband).
War risk (term) insurance may be
converted into United States govern
ment life insurance, now or at any
time within five years after the formal
termination of the wal by proclamation
of the president.
Coast Guard to Be Strengthened.
The coast guard of the United
States is to be strengthened.
In the future 1t will be treated
as a part of the country's first line of
defense. Ii has not received the
credit 1t deserves for the part 1t took
in the war. On April 6, 1917, the date
of the declaration of war against
Germany by the United States. the
entire guard passed from the control
of the secretary Of the treasury to that
of the secretary of he navy. and has
continued to this date to operate as
n part of the navy. Plans for he CO.
ordination Of the guard and navy In
the event Of war had been worked out
and were published to the service dur
ing the month preceding the war In Il
the guard was assigned n definite line
of action in the general mobilization,
whereby all would Immediately begin
to operate under n naval command
specifically named in the order for
each unit.
Dispatches putting the order into
effect were cleared on the day war
was declared. Units affected includ-
ed 22 cruising cutters, IL harbor cut.
tiers and launches. and $50 coast sta
lions, with a personnel of approximate
~ 229 commissioned officers, 4o4 war
rant officers and $500 enlisted men,
Increased during the war To a maxi
mum of 43S warrant officers and 6,1O0
enlisted men. with no increase In the
number Of commissioned officers. All
units affected by the mobilization order
were assigned by II to naval districts.
but six cruising cutters we're within a
few days taken from the districts, and
assigned TO the Atlantic patrol squad
ron. Four of these, with two other
cruising cutters, were sent abroad for
duty in the war one
One Cutter Sunk by the Enemy.
These six vessels left the United
States Individually between the dates
of August II and September 20, 1917.
One Of them was sunk In the war zone
by enemy action the others returned
to the United States between the dates
january 3 and July !, 1919. The cut
tiers attached 70 naval districts acted
as patrol vessels on the coast, con-
voyed and towed along the coast or TO
ofshore points various craft used In
connection with the supply fleet. were
detailed 10 hunt for enemy submarines
on the coast, and sent,
when the necessity arose, to assist
vessels in distress.
The coast stations, with their surf
patrols. formed an armed force
of observation and communication on
the coast and Great Lakes. They
were especially valuable In this respect
the Atlantic seaboard at the
of submarine attacks on our
coast. They continued TO perform
work of rescue and assistance as &C
casion required. TIE peace-time hat
teries Of the cruising cutters com
prised from two TO four 6pounder
guns; these were generally replaced
or augmented by larger guns Of the
3-inch or 4-inch rapid-fire type 10 n
on n few of the vessels ~
four finch. this being considered the
heaviest battery any Of the cutters
could carry to advantage. Their
further included the usual
outfit Of small arms. machine guns.
and depth charges of the 5oppund or
sizes. varying with the na-
ture of the duties to which they were
assigned. To the outfit of small arms
the harbor cutters was added in
most cases a 1-pounder gun. Small
were distributed 10 the coast
and carried on patrol by the
surfman.