Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-09
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

SuSt WIlAt t1fC A1uly NAUTICAL IA SQll,
at Seventh street and Independence ave-
nue., the old B street southwest, offers
of general interest to visitors is ex-
planned by no less parsonage than the
surgeon general Of the Army, Maj Gen.
Charles Reynolds It was founded u
years ago and is today the largest medical
museum in the United States There
are two elements in the museum, one a
collection Of old relics that might be OF
interest to any one who might drop in
there while sightseeing. But the essen
tial value Of the museum lies in the
pathological specimens of professional in
terest. They are very complete. The
museum Is q companion and compile
ment Of the surgeon generals library.
For example, II . doctor comes to Wash
ington to study subject connected with
the eye, in that library he can get every
piece of literature ever written, at any
time, In any language, In any country, Of
any consequence. Then he can cross the
hallway to the museum and see the
pathological specimens that he has been
reading about in the registration of the
archaeological collection. In the same
way with other matters relating to medi-
cine. II one Is studying the subject of
pneumonia or of influenza, he can get
all the literature in the library and 90
over to the museum, in the same build
ing, and see the specimens pertaining
to that disease. So, Gen. Reynolds en-
phasizes, the value of the museum lies
IN its exhibition OF human pathology,
rather than In the ambulances and litters
and such things that may attract lay
visitors In Washington"
The Army has been making extensive
studies Of a new portable field cooking
range which Maj. Gen. Henry Gibbins,
the quartermaster general, reports to the
House Appropriations Committee, has
proved to be very desirable for our pur-
poses" The suggestion has been made
that the Government should buy the
patent rights to this particular stove for
$4,000 But the Government cannot
get 10 experimental ranges 1t desires
for further tests for $1,000 The in
ventor was at Fort Benning Oh another
matter, became interested in q portable
gasoline stove the Army had developed,
started experimenting, was given permis-
sion to continue his tests at Fort Ben
ming. The new range has been tested
and favorably reported upon by the
Cavalry, the Field Artillery, the Signal
Corps, the Infantry and the Air Corps.
The Infantry tests were extensive and
continued over several months. This
range Is equipped to use treated gaso-
line, wood, coal and may be equipped for
natural gas. Eventually the War De-
partment, Gen. Gibbins said, would pro-
vide 900 of these ranges for the Regular
Army, and 1000 for the National Guard
"A total of 5000. Gen. Gibbins told
Congress that the Army had been try
ing since the war to develop q satisfac-
tory field range. There Is no question
but the Army needs range Of this type,
and this Is the best range developed to
date"
M. L. Meletio, one of the veteran Re-
publican clerks in the House, who with
drew from famous fish packing concern
which his family have conducted for three
generations to live close to legislation, is
greatly envied these days by all the
House pages-not because OF his legis-
lative lore but because he has the niftiest
pocketknife they ever saw. This knife
was given to Meletio IS years ago, is
pearl-handled and looks as good as new,
because he carries 1t In = chamois case.
It packs away Is widely varied instru-
ments, such rs scissors, tooth pick, ear
spoon, comb, corkscrew, file, saw, etc.
When that knife was made bottle OPEN
ers and can openers were not Is i'm
portant part Of a mans equipment as
they are today, 50 those utensils are
missing from the Meletio knife-kit.
X II Il
The Army is in the horse breeding
business. It has 687 stations, with $50
Of them loaned out for breeding, 1873
of them in Texas alone. Forty new ones
are to be bought this year, at an average
cost Of $500. Brig. Gen. Augustus P.
Warfield Of the quartermaster generals
ONCE says: Motor conscious as the
world is there will never be a time when
the Army will not need horses Since
the breeding program was inaugurated
last June l, 206 stations have been pur-
chased, 255 donated and 80 produced at
Army depots, and $4,000 foals produced.
The Army is buying 1852 horses this
year and plans to buy 2,622 next year.
Gen. Mahlin Craig, chief of staff, ex-
plains that in the past 10 years the re-
quirement In animals has been reduced
from 1857 to A,85o, . reduction Of -
t9nf 0Ant