Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15

| due largely to offers OF civil employ
ment similar to that which led Col.
Charles Keller. Engineer Commits
sioner for the District of Columbia
ice, have resulted in a serious short
age of officers In the Army Engineer
Corps.
Shortages resulting from the reduc-
ton of 1000 officers, as decreed by
the last Congress. also are being felt
at this time in other branches. These
include particularly the air service.
infantry and artillery (field and
coast).
Secretary Weeks. however. sees no
way to correct the situation In any
of the Army departments. Under the
circumstances, he says, there Is moth
ing to do but accept the situation and
do the best that Is humanity possible
with existing conditions.
1t is in this manner that the war
Secretary is answering complaints
from Maj Gen. Beach, chief of Army
Engineers. and other chiefs of
branches concerning their troubles
chargeable to lack of officers.
Maj. Gen. Patrick, chief of the Army
air service. and staff officers Of the
War Department are making care
full survey OF the aeronautical indus
try in the United States. Statistics
| already at hand show beyond doubt
that the industry IS confronted with
difficult problem and threatened
| with extinction in year or two I'M
less something is done to give it new
life.
The serious aspect OF this situation.
is that the industry will sink to a
point where 1t will not be able to pro-
duce aircraft in quantities to supply
the nations demand in time Of war.
In that event. it is pointed out. many
months would be necessary after war
has been declared to build new fac
tories. convert old ones or obtain
skilled workmen, tools and machin-
cry, all resulting in heavy and ex-
pensive delay. due to unpreparedness
of the air service to begin combat.
An official report, citing the opinion
| Of procurement officers and based on
the survey they are making. says:
THE aeronautical industry In the
United States today Is at a very low
ebb. with little prospect Of improve
ment In the Immediate future. The
| factories which took up the manu-
! facture Of aircraft during tho world
| war have nearly all ceased to exist
| as aircraft factories or are barely
done to remedy this situation 1t will
become worse in the next year or
| two"
! Inc committee Oh INC general sian
engaged in revising regulations TOT
the Officers' Reserve Corps Is giving
attention at this time TO the shaping
Of policies respecting appointments In
the Reserve Corps. The committee,
composed OF regular and reserve offi-
which will go far toward establish
| ing the corps upon an efficient basis,
dissipating the somewhat prevalent
idea that membership in the reserve
i -
ring Of rank, and supplanting it by
| the clear understanding that appoint
ments are made strictly from a
standpoint of service to be rendered
the nation in time Of emergency and
| in peace.
! It is expected that the committee
will recommend the adoption OF q
policy giving reserve Officers who
have during times to peace obligated
themselves for service preference
for active service over those who fail
to secure appointment in the corps In
| peace, but wait until the emergency
| is at hand before they apply for ad-
mission.
The committees regulations are in
tended for immediate application upon
the expiration Of the time limit. No
vember IL. during which any. officer
Of the late war. whose record justf-
the reserve After that date. such
trance examinations similar to those
given civilian applicants.
| Gen. Pershing has directed the is
! suance Of star-gauged rides to Ma
tional Guard units OF each state and
the District OF Columbia from which
\ teams will be sent to the national
matches. Fifteen rifles will be dis
tributed to teams from each state
| the 40 caliber, 1903 model, and are
| intended for training work prior to
the competition between the various
| teams.
( ANY National Guard team having
| star-gauged rifles especially selected
| for the national matches" the order
| says, may exchange those rifles at
the national matches for rifles manu-
| featured for the current matches.
| This exchange will be effected by the
| nance officer OF the national matches"
| The uniform Observation-Disclosures the
Army shall adopt the roll collar or
continue wearing the choker-per-
between proponents and opponents of
| the present pattern Of Army blouse.
Out of their discussions has como the
charge that the high, stiff collar. SINH
lar to that now being worn by the
Army. first was originated by tho
Prussian mihtarists. and was designed
| chiefly to ''hide dirty necks" of Prus-
sian troops. who at that time wore no
| shirts beneath their blouSes.
| A group Of officers. chatting in their
clubrooms recently. decided to take
a vote between them on the merits
of the roll and stiff collar The count
revealed tie. This instance, of It.
| self. would scarcely Justify spacs
| were 1t not for the fact that the al.
vision between friends and foes Of
| the high collar remains according to
the best estimates available, at the
| same ratio when extended to offlcers
| throughout the service.
| Plans for the Regular Army to turn
| over 2,445 horses to the National
| by the War Department.
The transfer will be made under
new tables Of allowances for the
Regular Army, and, according to q
statement by Maj. Gen. Davis, adju-