Evening star., 1923-04-08
ARMY

Seasonal activities predominate in
the various departments of the Army.
Preparations for summer training Of
the regular establishment, the Ma
.tional Guard, the organized reserves
sand the civilian military training
camps, are being given especial at
tention at this time. The War De-
nartment predicts successful out
come as a result of the training pro-
gram II has arranged.
The air service alone remains un
changed in the scope and nature of
It's activities. Seasons little influence
its operations except to extend the
hours of actual flying as atmospheric
conditions modify. The ratio OF win
ter, spring, summer and autumn fly
'lng, however. remains about the same,
proving that despite the unfavorable
weather conditions that prevail in a
year aviation continues In progress
slve way.
The Sd Corps Area. embracing the
states of Pennsylvania, Maryland
Virginia and the District of Columbia.
viii establish training camps at
Mount Gretna. Tobyhanna, Carlisle
barracks. Pa; Meade, Aberdeen. Hola-
bird, Saunders Range. Nd; Fort Mon
roe, Virginia Beach, Langley Field. Fort
EuSFs. Va. and at Camp Sims. District
Of Columbia.
Present plans for, the summer
training in the Sd Corps Area call
for the use of 5000 officers and en-
listed men of the Regular Army as
guardsmen of Pennsylvania, Mary
land. Virginia and the District of Co
lumb bia: the 1000 students of the Re
serve Officers Training Corps in the
h 4,
citizens military training camps be-
tween the ages Of seventeen and
twenty-four, and $50 officers of the
organized reserves. The total force
training at the selected posts Of the
3D. Corps is estimated al $3.50.
District of Columbia national
Ruardsmen will he trained at Camp
Sims, beginning July %. when the 1st
Battalion. l2lst Engineers. take the
field. 1t will be followed on August
10 by the I'd Battalion. 122d En-
gineers. and by Company OF the
142d Engineers on September 4. ..
The r. Q. T. c. units at Georgetown
University and Howard University,
according to present plans. will be-
gin training at Camp. Meade. Nd,
June "a and continue to july %
The Districts quota to attend the
civilian military training camp. also
10 be established at Camp Meade, will
depend upon the manner in which
applications are fled There are in
dteations already that the District
will moro than furnish its quota. but.
in the event there is a shortage of
applicants. candidates from Pennsyl-
vania,' Virginia and Maryland will
be accepted for the Meade course.
At the present time applications are
being received at corps area head
forecast a highly successful train
ing season. More than 1000 appli-
cations were filed within the first
three days after the date set for
applications to be made at the Balti-
more headquarters.
Army officers are particularly
pleased by the tremendous interest
IN the camps shown by the civilian
candidates. Out of the $4,000 men to
be trained this summer about So
per cent. or 10000. will be civilians
Indicating a great interest on their
part in the scheme of preparedness
for national defense. Not since 1917
and 1918 has the percentage of
parable figure to that promised this
year.
Similar activities throughout the
other eight corps areas, embracing
revealed in reports from their head
quarters being received at the War
Department
War games between the Army and
Navy again reveal that the Panama
canal is fnadequately defended and
lacks sufficient defenses, particularly
against land attack. Results of
Ihe maneuVers just concluded are
peing given the most careful study
by the general staff's war plans diyi-
sion. and undoubtedly will be made
tne oasis Tor another appeal to Con-
Eress to increase the canals defenses.
lenses
From a strictly military viewpoint,
as the Army views it, the big water
way is national asset Of vast mill
1ary and strategic Importance as we'll
as great commercial factor. It's
possession insures the prompt con-
centration Of the American Nayv IN
either ocean, makes il nossihis ia r
Malntaln the necessary trade with
(he west coast Of South America in
war. and is a fleet base of first i'm
porsance. Its loss would be a blow
perts furnish authority for the stste-
n1ent that. in war the United States
couiu better afford to lose any other
possession than the Canal Zone.
ne war Department has been full
~ alive TO the weakness Of the Ava
defenses at Panama and has advanned
IN reports to Congress the purpose ~
proVLolng for the installation Of a
numoer OF sixteen-inch, so caIiber
~ eltner entrance of the canal.
"
perts point out, the guns guardino
the Two entrances of the canal sre
oulranged by naval rifles. so that az
attacklng fleet could itself stand SAT-
~ on and drop its shells ON the for-
tlncations with annihilating effect
correction of deficiencies in defanses
at the ends of the waterway. howars,.
would not solve the problem ne 81
adequate defense. The harbor defapsas
constitute but one element OF the dc.
Iense problem They must be sInnie-
mented by adequate mobile forces Of aI,
arms, including aircraft Additionai
communication and transportation fsciiil
ties also are necessary.
Plans OF the Army Air Service fo-
christening trip for the giant new air-
ship recently constructed at Akrnn
Ohio. from its birthplace to Niaears
Fails and return have temporariir nn
set. Some difficulties have beeS ep
countered in putting on the finisbine
touches and the trial flights had te
be postponed "
Even on the successful comnlet;o,
OF these tests II is doubtful whetber
the projected trip can be made mr. NOT
In view of the expense entaiIed and
a fnaLSecision will be withheld until
she has finished her tests.