Evening star., 1920-11-21
Pigeon Loft. Removed.

The two mobile pigeon lofts which
have been such familiar sights to the
Speedway in East Potomac Park have
been removed. The Signal Corps of the
Army has discontinued it's pigeon activi-
ties in East Potomac Park and mas
transferred the hundred or more hoTing
pigeons. whose daily flights nave given
pleasure, to the Signal Corps Pigeon
Service School at Camp Alfred Vail.
N. j. Among the birds transferred were
President Wilson, The Mocker, Spike
and other hero birds which have
rendered meritorious service from
the front lines of our Army, together
with several captured German birds.
To make sure Of their proper transfer
they were conveyed to Camp Alfred van
by Sergt. George f. Smith, 18th Service
Company. Signal Corps, who has been
in charge of the East Potomac Park
lofts since they were established. Ine
Navy Department will retain It's pigeons
in Washington and has built permanent
lofts at Boiling Field. Anacostia, D. {.
The board which is now passing on
the qualification of warrant officers rs
concluding it's sessions and appointments
will be made the first week in Decem-
ber Although it has not yet been de-
cided, it is thought that the names OF
the appointees will be issued, not from
of appointments to the commissioned
personnel, but in a completed list. In
sistence is placed by the adjutant gener-
ais office upon applicants for appoint
ment to warrant grade keeping that
office advised of all changes Of address,
both applicants who are in or out OF
the service Compliance with this re-
quest will facilitate the working OF the
machinery of appointment.
The 1920 warrant officers authorized
under the act of June 4, 1920. will not be
permanently appointed in the brancnes
of the service, but will be appointed as
warrant officers at large.
Field Army Plans.
The War Department plans field
army of 337,221 officers and men. The
army corps in the new tactical or
ganization will have 1896 officers
and men. Accordingly. an infantry
division will have 1884 officers and
men. The strength of cavalry divi-
An artillery brigade will be composed
of 6.153 officers and men. In the pro-
posed army of 337.221 officers and men
it is explained that there may be only
three or four divisions of Regular
Army troops and organized reserves.
In the event of an emergency it is
necessary for the War Department to
have definite plan for the organlZa-
ton of divisions, corps and armies,
and this plan is based on divisions
having a strength of Is, ,384, corps hay-
ing a strength of 1896 and a field
army having a strength of 337,221.
General headquarters will command
all the armies in the field. and there
may be one or more armies. Three
army areas have been tentatively al
located to the nine corps areas. This
organization is intended to overcome
the instability due to changes in the
strength Of divisions as experienced
the world war. The above plan is
drafted so that in the event of mobili-
zation every commanding officer in
the Regular Army, the National
Guard and the organized reserves will
know what is required of him, and
thus the whole macfli merry of ofgani-
zation can be put into motion at once.
1t Is estimated that when all the
appointments resulting from, the Octo-
Der examination of officer-candidates
more than 1000 vacancies. AS the
enlisted strength Of the Army is still
approximately $4,000 under authorized
strength there. is no urgent call for
filing the vacancies in the commits
stoned strength. hence the War De-
partment has decided not to hasten
the appointment of second 1ieuten-
grade of second lieutenant are to be
made: First from graduates of the
United States Military Academy; Sec
ond, from warrant officers and en-
listed men of the Regular Army be-
tween the ages of twenty-one and
thirty years who have had at least
two years service: third. from re-
Nd fray 1&F