Evening star., 1921-04-03
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS

Il b rurnored that in the near future
Congress wM favosably consider pro-
motion to the rank of ieutenant general
Tor Maj. Gen. Hunter Liggett. VINO re-
Gently retired from active service, hav-
Ing served in the war as commander Of
the 1st Army In France. 1t 10 under
stood that Secretary Weeks Is favor
ably inclined toward rewarding Gen.
Ll4gett for. his distinguished war serv-
ice. and il action is deemed necessary
may at the proper time forward his
RECOMMENDATION to Congress.
Replace Civilian Instructors.
The failure of the Army appropriation
bill to become a law at the last session
makes it impossible for the War De-
partment to announce at this time def
mite plans for the conduct of educa-
tional and vocational training during
the next fiscal year. Indications point
to the belief that Congress viii authorize
the continuation Of such training along
existing lines, but that civilian instruc-
tors and civilian personnel generally
must. to a considerable extent be re-
placed by Army personnel. The bin
provided 81. 500. 900 for educational and
vocational training and contained the
proviso that whenever possible officers.
GERS or other enlisted men shall be de-
tailed as instructors: that no part OF
the appropriation shall be available for
salaries Of civilian instructors other
than in technical branches. and that
not more than x100, zoo shall be eX-
pended for salaries and no person shall
be employed at rate of compensation
exceeding $2.000 per annum. In order
that educational and vocational train
ing may, be continued in the Army.
without impairment of the efficiency of
the instruction given, corps area and
department commanders will be in
structed to take steps to cause officers
and enlisted men Of proper qualiica-
tions to be assigned as understudies or
assistants of instructors in order to re-
place civilians as far as il becomes
necessary to eliminate the latter. This
service personnel, it is said, will not re-
place the civilian personnel at present
engaged in this duty. but will. as far as
practicable. attend classes and will
themselves be given instruction in
teaching methods.
Dixpositien. of War Supplies.
The subject of surplus war supplies
has been discussed by President Hard
ing with a view to appointing a war
liquidation board made up of repre-
sentative business men of the coun-
try. which will be charged with the
task Of obtaining the best results in
disposition and sale. 1t is claimed
that prompt action sf ould be taken
in order to avoid further deteriora-
tion. The monetary loss consequent
to the war must be faced. and the
slate should be cleared now and the
departments relieved Of further sc-
counta bility, so as to give them the
opportunity of confining their efforts
to normal departmental operations.
Concentrating all war supply stock
ins the hands Of one liquidation board
authorized by Congress will limit the
responsibility to a single board or
body. AS one editorial recently put
it, "A war liquidation board composed
Of the right sort of members can do
a good stroke of business for the
United States"
Would Complete Power Plant.
At the signing of the armistice
Edgewood arsenal was turning out
twenty-five tons of liquid chlorine a
ufacture 100 tons a day would have
been in operation within sixty days
time. An electrical plant designed to
develop $4,000 kilowatts of electricity
is now standing incomplete at Edge
wood. the work being stopped at the
plant the Chemical Warfare Service
had in operation prior to the armi-
stice electrical plants at Edgewood
arsenal with a total output OF 1000
kilowatts; 5000 kilowatts Of this are
maintained in constant condition for
instant use. about 1000 kilowats being
used regularly for generating power
for the. everyday use of the arsenal
During the war mile steel trans
line was built. connecting
with the Susquehanna Power Com
pany, over which power could be
at 1900 volts. The sys-
tenn is duplicate one. with six wires
and capable Of carrying sufficient
power to run large part of the plant.
In view of the rapidly growing needs
for electrical power. 1t would seem
officers say. to complete the
ment and now IS per cent finished.
and sell the surplus power. which
could be utilized economically by cit
ioe or Transportation companies as
far distant as SO to 200 miles. This
would provide ample electricity pro
take care of chemical warfare re-
auirements II for war purposes. and
at the same time furnish adequate
current for experimental purposes in
.he meantime.
Tractors Tor feace or WEI
In order to insure the establishment
and maintenance of adequate manu-
featuring facilities in time Of peace
to provide for quantity production in
case OF war. it is the purpose and aim
of the Army to develop tanks with
tractors along lines
adaptable to the work Of commerce.
According to officers interested in the
subject, it is the endeavor to evolve
vehicle with deniountable self-lay-
ing track, SO that in case of bad
roads or across country the caterpil-
lar traction may be used. and where
good roads are available the track
may be taken off and the vehicle may
travel on rubber-tired wheels. This
purpose has been attained in the
CT ristie mount, it is claimed. and
further studies and experiments are
being made to bring it to higher
degree OF perfection. Preliminary
trials indicate that the combination
wheel and caterpillar mount pos
ses.ses gx6t possibilities:
- Pronotion and Back Pay.