Evening star., 1926-08-22
Army andNavy News

IeSSIOHdLly QuaIueO-IOr service IN
the quartermaster corps, assuming
there Is a difference In demand that
creates a physical distinction. So far
as legislation of this sort has been sug.
gested, there appears to be no diff.
Guilty in making a transfer OF an
Army engineer to the medical de-
partment, although it is presumed
that the change OF assignment would
be mainly between the combat forces
and certain of the staff corps.
In view of the comprehensive
study of the Army promotion list
which is engaging the attention of the
War Department general staff, the
recommendations Of which are to be
presented to the approaching Congress
which meets next December, the hope
has been expressed that there be pro.
duced some definite statement concern
ing retirement. This to the end that
there may be adequate provision for
retirement that may be followed by
the administration without hesitation
or any apprehension that it will en-.
counter congressional remonstrance or
opposition that will afford officers the
desira Bile and deserved chance of re-
lief from active service.
Making the Army Medical Center
at Walter Reed General Hospital in
this city the mecca for the world s
medical profession-the dream Of
Army medical officers for years-is
about to be realized with the appro.
priations totalling approximately So
100000, already authorized. which
will be expended in the construction
of new buildings at the Walter Reed
institution. This fund of $4,000 900
which will hn {,,
projects only. comes from three diff
ferent sources, 1. e.. s160,000 from
the American National Red Cross, ap-
proximately 100000 from the U. S.
Veterans Bureau, and about $2,000,-
600 from tie War Department.
The 100000 appropriation from the
Red Cross will be expended in con-
structing a badly needed recreation
building. the work on which has just
been started. The work on this build
ing will be finished in about a year
The Veterans Bureau fund Of $780,
600 will be used in the construction
of main mess and kitchen building
ward buildings, connecting corridors
kitchen equipment. elevators, etc.
This work has already been contract
ed for, and will be completed. 1t is
pointed out in the War Department,
in about year. The buildings to be
constructed out of the War Depart
ment appropriation Of $2.000,000 have
not, up to the present time, been con-
tracted for. but these contracts will
be let in the near future. Out of this
money approximately 100000 will be
expended in general grading and the
changing Of utility piping, which Is
about 80 per cent complete. Upon the
completion of this work, and as soon
as the contracts for the proposed ad.
ditional buildings are let, work will
begin Immediately. The following
buildings will be erected out Of the
remaining $1.9oo,ooo: One ward wing
to west of main building, one ward
wing to east of main building. one
isolation building, one tuberculosis
ward, one laboratory building and one
ward for special cases. The compile
ton Of this project will make Walter
Reed one Of the most modern and up
to-date medical institutions in the
United States and will be the most
forward step taken by the War De-
partment authorities in making this
medical institution what all Army
medical officers have dreamed of-the
medical center of the world.
In the not far distant future there
will have to be faced the necessity
of providing in some manner for two
the Thomas and the U. S. Grant on
the Pacific run to Manila. The
former vessel has rounded out 80 years
of service, while the Grant; because
of her small capacity compared TO her
cost Of operation, is very unsatisfac.
tory.
Negotiations were conducted with
the Shipping Board several months
ago with a view to securing the trans
fer to the water transportation service
of the Regular Army Of two suitable
boats. but no tangible results were
obtained, due to the fact that the
chairman of the Shipping Board was
firmly convinced that the loss of two
ships would seriously hamper the
boards activities in their attempts to
establish trade routes under the policy
laid down by law. No action in the
matter was proposed in the Army ap-
preparation BILL but the handwriting
is on the wall that something will
have to be done in the comparatively
near future. The Shipping Board
offered the Army two transports, the
Agamemnon and Mount Vernon, both
23-knot vessels, but they were refused
on account Of their size. cost of refit-
ting and expense of operation.
Inspections recently made of the
hulls and boilers of the Army's trans
ports indicate that they are in fairly
good condition. but the War Depart
ment authorities are hopeful that
steps will be taken by the approaching
Congress to provide for the replace
ment of these rapidly ageing vessels.
NAVY.
OF particular interest to line officers
Of the Navy Is that provision in the