Evening star., 1923-09-02

WHlCn now are IN course Vi pTtpaI a :
tion must be reduced under what
was authorized last year Navy Off
cials say they are merely trying to
= maintain the treaty Navy. while the
. War Department is endeavoring to
, administer the amended national de-
. Tense act. which. if followed, would
provide for trained citizen force
capable of rapid expansion in time of
national emergency. The great sue
cess of the summer camps was graft
flying to the War Department author
tiles, and they believe it the only way
IN which the United States can be
prepared for defense. Certain "econo-
mists" in Congress probaly will at
tempt to slash the estimates for mill
tary appropriations, but there are
strong indications that the national
defense advocates sitting at both
ends of the Capitol will he able to
muster strong enough representa-
ton to thwart any such program
which the little" army men may
attempt to put through.
For the first time since the close OF
the great war, mustard gas was used
by the Spanish troops on August 25
in an artillery and air attack on the
Moorish stronghold of Alhucemas.
The Spanish royal air force. II is
sta ted, dropped gas bombS on the
Moors. who possessed no protection
against mustard gas attacks.
The concentration of the 1st Cav
airy Division in the vicinity of the
Big Bend cattle district under the
command of Maj. Gen. r. l.. Howe.
from September % to October 5, will
- Il
troops since the civil war and the
heaviest mobilization which has ever
been maSsed on the Mexican border
The I'd Cavalry Brigade will be un-
der the command of Brig. Cen Joseph
l. Cdstner. while the 1st Brigade
will e commanded by Col. Walter Z.
Short
On October 3 d special military
problem will be demonstrated twelve
miles south of Maria, while on the
9TH "a general review will be held OF
all troops one mile east of Maria
Polo matches, base ball games, box
ing matches and other athletic con-
tests will take up considerable or
the time. which will include a COW
boy roundup and rodeo. In ADDITION
to a number of Washington officials
and Army officers, all of the foreign
military attaches have been invited
to attend the maneuverS. which VIII
be the most pretentiouS which the
cavalry division has held in years.
Announcement was made this week
. of the organizat ton of the Society of
the Silver Greyhounds. whose MEM
bership only Army officers who serves
in the United States courier service
in 1918 and 1919 viii include. The
activities of these officers took them
to practically every country in Eu-
rope and Asia Minor.
Milton Conover. Il former lieutenant
in this service. but now of the New
York University faculty, has been Sc
lected to write the history of this
organization. 1t will be appreciated
that if any one having knowledge or
the whereabouts of former courier
will communicate this information to
Lieut. Conover. 100 Washington
square. New York city. The address
of approximately 100 of these former
officers is unknown and in order to
compile a history 1t is desired to Sc
cure data from all of them.
Although it has not been officially
announced at the War Department,
Approximately one hundred OF the
young men who took the examination
in June for a second lieutenantS COM
mission in the Army have qualified.
Officers who have reviewed the exam
ination papers have declared that an
exceptionally high type of young
men presented themselves for the eX-
animation. many of whom came from
r. q. T e. units.
\ number of errors made in the
holding of the examinations have oc-
casioned a little delay in the marking
of the papers. but it is expected that
. the War Department will announce
in three or four weeks the names of
the successful candidates.
Authorities on the service pay act
have estimated that although all Of
ficers who are receiving base pay
of $4,000 should be in the fourth pay
period and are entitled to receive al
lowances prescribed for this period,
that there are over 500 Army officers
who are not receiving these allow
anceS due to the construction of the
accounting officer. 1t is also stated
that the Secretary of War takes a
similar view of the situation. Ac
counting officers in conjunction with
the controller act on the assumption
that although the saving clause pre-
serves the base pay of the officers
concerned. this does not include their
allowances.
1t Is stated upon the most reliable
authority that the controller general
instead of preparing to defend his ad-
ministration of the affairs of the con-
troller'S office. that he will make eX-
tenSve efforts to secure legislation
which will so extend his power at the
approaching sessions that he his
representatives will be permitted to
appear in court.
Unless the budget estimates now in
preparation include appropriations for
animal requirements for the mounted
arms of the service. it will be neces-
sary for the War Department to un-
horse a number of organizatio
Although the infantry is authorized
approximately 1879 animals, this
arm is short 1896 riding horses. 1873
riding mules and 5,772 draft mules. or
a total of 1925 animals. or over 80
per cent. At the present time the
cavalry possesses 9,56S horses. which
makes this branch about 1000 horses
short. The field artillery fares in
about the same manner, as under the
reduced allowances this arm is au
thorized 1l.501 animals. while they
actually have on hand approximately
1927 horses. 1900 pack mules and
1000 draft mules, or d total of lO,32I
animals.
This acute animal shortage has
made it necessary for the number OF
caissons to be reduced to a battery
and instead of six. which is prescribed.
only four can be carried. Rolling
kitchens, ration carts and water carts
have been placed in storage. The
mounted arms of the service are fur
ther handicapped in that the average
age of the calvery horsees is thirteen
years plus. while that of the field ar
tillery is about year less. 1t Is con-
templated to ask for an appropriation
of s1,700,000 for the next five years,
which would provide. it is stated. for
a replacement of about 10 per cent.
This would put the mounted arms of
the service in fair condition.
One of the outstanding recommen-
dations contained in the annual re-
port of Gen. Leonard Wood, governor
general of the Philippines, is that
Regular Army officers of the field
grade should be assigned to duty as
inspectors of the Philippine con-
sta ahnlary The general also dwells