Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-13
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

q. Can a young man enlist In
the Army with the idea of being
placed in the Army Bands. D. B.
A. Under the present classification
system there is no sure way of
entering the United States Army
Band. All enlisted men are classi-
fed upon entering the Army and are
assigned to the position in which
they will be of the greatest service to
the Army. If the hnductee has
ability he should make it known
to the classification officer at the
reception training center.
@. My son who is overseas In
Guam with the Seabees has re-
ceived no mail since before Christ
mas, although his letters get through
to us. Can you explain this?-I
r. w. G.
A. The Post Office Department
says that in the case of delayed
Navy mail report to the assistant
director of naval communications
for postal affairs, Navy Department,
Washington rs, D. c.
@. Do earthquakes ever occur be-
meath the ocean?-L. j. M.
A. Earthquakes may occur on the
ocean floor just as they occur on
land. Submarine earthquakes have
been known to break transoceanic
cables. Scientists consider 1t possi-
BILE that some of the mysterious dis
appearances of ships at sea can be
attributed to submarine earthquakes
and VOLCANOES.
@. What was the earliest slogan
used in the United States?-O. B. w.
A. 1t is believed to be Peace
Prosperity, Power, Equality for, All"
a slogan in the Iroquois language
which Theoretically is reproduced
over the model of an Iroquois VII
lage in the Smithsonian Institution.
Dating from at least two centuries
before Columbus, it was the slogan
Of the League of the Iroquois, per-
haps the earliest expression of de-
mocracy in the Western World.
@. When the bodies Of American
soldiers are returned to the United
States will they be buried in ma
tional cemeteries or in family burial
plots?-C. T. M.
A. Deceased members of the mill
tary service are entitled to burial i'm
any Of the national cemeteries or
the remains may be sent to the
home of the deceased for interment
in the family cemetery. Plans will
conform as nearly as possible to rel
atives' wishes.
@. Did the Coast Guard take part
in the European invasions?-L M. P.
A. The Coast Guard took part in
five amphibious European invasions
Sicily, Italy, Normandy,
and Southern France. In addition |
to its own fleet, the Coast Guard
manned about 500 Army and Navy
vessels, including LISTS, LCIs, troop
transports, destroyer escorts. fri
gates. tankers, tugs, freight ships,
cargo transports and submarine
chasers. tse
@. Under what conditions, II any, |
Is servicernan entitled to wear a
bronze star on the World War II
Victory Ribbon?-L. D. A.
A. Bronze stars may not be worn
on the Ribbon Bar of this medal
to indicate sea or foreign duty.
@. What is the origin of the term
Magic Carpet in reference to the
feet of ships which is returning the
men from the Pacific area2-l
K. w. D.
A. Magic Carpet is q code name
chosen to represent the shuttle
service operated by the Naval
Transportation Service, the War
Shipping Administration and the
Army. The allusion is, of course
to the rug or carpet of the Arabian
Nights and other legends which
could transport one who stood on
1t to any place desired.
@. How many ships did the United
States Navy have when it was at
peak strength during World War II?
*. M. L.
A. BY the time the Japanese sur
rendered the Navy had amassed
100000 ships of all types ranging
from 36-foot nine-ton LCVP land
ing craft to the 45,000-ton battle
ships and carriers of the Iowa and
Midway classes.
@. Am I right in thinking that all
the men who worked in the Man
haitian Engineering Project are en-
titled to wear special distinctive in
signia?-W. r.
A. Yes. All Army and Navy per-
sonnet who worked on this atomic
bomb project are entitled to wear
a special shoulder insignia, which
can be obtained at post exchanges
and from local quartermasters.