France Has New Plane Control

A new type of automatically controlled airplane performed before Marshal Petain and other high army officers at the Villa Coublay aerodrome July 4.

The control devise consists of a roll of perforated paper much like that of a player piano. The movement is directed by wireless from the ground. American press dispatches called the operation of the plane marvelous.

Due to the absence of any great amount of electrical operating appliances there is a great deal less danger of sparks setting fire to the plane than with previous wireless control apparatus.

France Trying to Regain Laurels

The French Government, through the Under Secretary of Aeronautics, offered two prizes of 50,000 francs each to the airplane firm or firms bringing back to France, before the end of the present year, the speed and duration records.

The French regard these as the most important of the records recently captured by American Army avia

tors.

British Vets Want Anglo-American Combine

At a conference of the British Empire Service League held in London during the latter part of July a resolution was carried instructing a committee to negotiate for the formation of an English-speaking veterans' association, to include members of the British Empire Service League, the American Legion and all men's English-speaking ex-service organizations.

Lord Haig has given his approval to the movement, saying that he hoped the Americans and the British people living in America, and all who thought with them would agree to form a society. He suggested that the organization start with an American president.

SGT. ALBERT ASHCRAFT, D.E.M.L., R.S. Who is one of the leading canvassers of the 8th Corps Area. In November, 1922, Sergeant Ashcraft was credited with 24 recruits and since that time has never fallen below his quota of ten each month. From November 1, 1922, until June 30, he brought in a total of 121 recruits, an average of over 15 monthly. Sergeant Ashcraft enlisted June 12, 1899, served in the 2nd Infantry during the Spanish-American War; in the 30th Infantry from 1904 to 1910; in the 18th Infantry from 1910 to 1919. During his service in the latter regiment he took part in all of the engagements of his organization as part of the 1st Division in France. He has been on recruiting service in El Paso and Fort Bliss, Texas, since April 1, 1919.

General March in Europe

Major General Peyton C. March, U. S. A., retired, chief of staff of the American Army during the war, with headquarters in Washington, is seeking recreation in the art and music centers of Europe. Since his retirement General March has been living a secluded life, only a few of his intimate friends occasionally receiving a letter from him bearing an obscure European post-mark.

General March already has visited half of the most notable galleries in western Europe and has attended nearly every big concert that has been given in France in recent months. During the summer he will spend some time in Italian and Austrian museums and then probably will go to Germany and Belgium for a systematic study of what these countries have to offer in art and music.

Infantry Rifle Team at Fort Niagara

The 109 candidates for the Infantry rifle team have reported at Fort Niagara, New York, to begin the training period for the National Rifle Matches to be held in September at Camp Perry, Ohio. Major Per Ramee is captain of the team.

American Relief in Russia Finished

The last of the supplies shipped to the American Relief Commission has been distributed and the person nel of the mission has been withdrawn from Russia.

Colonel Haskell, who headed the mission, and about ten of his assist ants, the last to leave, were banqueted by the Soviet authorities in Moscow on Friday, July 20. They left Russia shortly afterward.

National Guard Teams to Rifle

Matches

"It is desired that each state having federally recognized units of the National Guard be represented by a team at the National Matches," says a circular letter issued from the office of the Chief of the Militia Bureau. Funds this year will permit the attendance of teams from Hawaii and Porto Rico. The instructions specify that each state team shall consist of 14 members to be appointed by the Governors of the respective states and announced in formal orders. Team members will be entitled to transportation to and from Camp Perry and the pay of their grades while at tending the national shoot.

General Gouraud Visits United States

General Henri Gouraud, distinguished veteran of the French Army, arrived at New York July 1 for a visit of six weeks in the United States. Upon his arrival General Gouraud was greeted by Major General Robert L. Bullard and a citizens' committee. He was entertained in New York, Philadelphia and Washington and was the guest of honor at the 42nd Division reunion at Indianapolis, July 13 to 15.

How Uncle Sam Rates the 71st

A duplicate of the report of the inspection of the 71st Infantry, New York National Guard, has been reproduced in the form of a circular and is being used to procure recruits for that organization. The report of the inspection gave the 71st an excellent rating with the following remarks: "This regiment is in most satisfactory condition. Housed under one roof, a clean, well kept armory, with every possible faculty for instruction and comfort of the personnel. Morale and esprit high and carefully fostered. Excellent company rooms, locker rooms, and store rooms in all but a few exceptions. A high type of both officer and enlisted personnel."

Jonathan Williams, Engineer Corps, 1807 to 1811. South Battery was built in 1813 to defend New York from attack by way of Buttermilk Channel.

During the War of 1812, the Mexican War and our Civil War, Governors Island played an active and important part as well also during the War with Spain and the World War, but in these latter struggles, the character of its part was totally different from what it was in earlier times. By the time of the Spanish War, the usefulness of Governors Island as part of the defenses of New York City had greatly diminished, but it had become an important military headquar

ters.

Until July 1, 1878, it constituted merely one of the artillery posts in the chain of harbor defenses, and was garrisoned by Sea Coast Artillery. On the date above cited, however, Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, in compliance with War Department orders, established on Governors Island his headquarters, the Military Division of the Atlantic and headquarters of the Department of the East. It has continued thus to be and will probably continue for a long time to be the headquarters of important territorial and possibly of tactical commands. At any rate, by becoming such an important military headquarters, the military character and importance of the island were greatly enhanced, and the comparatively small garrison was almost lost to view. We may, therefore, for want of a better point adopt the July 1, 1878, or the beginning of the period designated "Present" and it may be safely said that from the establishment of these important headquarters on Governors Island, its military value has greatly increased. On the island at present is the "Headquarters of the Second Corps Area."

The splendid history of Governors Island, its picturesque scenes, its conservative atmosphere are alike interesting and inspiring, and the names of Generals Hancock, Schofield, Howard, Miles, Merritt, Chaffee, Corbin, Grant. Wood, Bliss, Barry and Bell, among others who have been in command, bring us down to the present, with Major General Robert Lee Bullard commanding the Second Corps Area, of which Governors Island is the headquarters.

But the island is not only corps headquarters. It is the headquarters of the 16th U. S. Infantry, with Colonel Charles Gerhardt in command. The limited quarters for soldiers do not at present allow the whole regiment to be assembled.

Two important events have recently occurred which show the value of Gov

ernors Island and its troops, one from a national point of view and the other municipal in its interest. On Good Friday, April 6th 1917, Congress declared a state of war to exist between the United States and the Imperial German Government. The declaration was passed at 3:12 a. m. The troops of the 22nd Infantry had been under arms all night awaiting the telegraphic from Washington. Upon its receipt at 3:30 less than half an hour after the declaration, the battalion embarked on boats of the revenue service, and before noon all the German ships in the harbor and their crews had been se zed and the latter interned on Ellis Island.

ments

news

This was the beginning of a period of intense activity. Troops arrived from all parts of the country and went into camp on the island. Camps and cantonwere hastily erected. Buildings were constructed for the use of the various departments and large numbers of officers were added to those already on duty. The warehousing department erected on the extension a complete war plant comprising two miles of water front, five miles of automobile roads, eight miles of railway, twin car ferry bridges, and over 70 buildings, including 59 iron warehouses with covered floor space of over 1,3000,000 square feet, with a stock on hand of about $100 000,000, and a daily movement amounting sometimes to $1.000,000. Thus the first overt act of

American participation in the World War was accomplished by the New York City infantry garrison and during the entire war time Governors Island contributed enormously to the activities which culminated in the success of the Allied arms. The other event in which the Governors Island troops participated was one of vital interest to New York City, and, in fact, to the entire country. Reference is to the Wall Street explosion of recent occurrence, which was of vastly more than local importance. The explosion occurred at noon. Ten minutes later Governors Island received a telephone message at headquarters asking for troops. In twenty minutes' time the troops were under way, and arrived at the Sub-Treasury in just a little over 30 minutes from the moment the call was sent. The effect of the presence of regular troops upon the enormous throngs was most happy, and, as many prominent bankers testify, scenes of violence and panic were averted thereby.

Governors Island was ceded to the United States by the Legislature of New York State on February 15, 1800. The Island consisted of 69.8 acres. This was found inadequate for the military needs of the Department Headquarters and the military garrison and so in 1880, just 80 years later, a further cession was made by the Legislature of 103 acres. The Island at present, with an area of 173 acres is, strangely enough, of the exact acreage it was in the time of Governor Van Twiller in 1637. The cession, in other words, restored the land which the waters of the Hudson had washed away in 243 years.

The latest type of airplane to make its appearance at the Engineering Division, Air Service, at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, is of all metal construc. tion, the first of its kind designed by the Air Service. It has already made its maiden flight, and full performance tests are under way.

This airplane may be left in the open indefinitely, making the use of hangers almost unnecessary. It has a further advantage in that the usual fabric wing and fuselage covering has to be removed once a year, whereas in the case of the all-metal plane the duralumin covering is a permanent part of its structure and does not require replacement.

Both the wings and fuselage are covered with corrugated duralumin, and the structure proper is heattreated steel and duralumin. The weight of the plane empty is 3,000 pounds, fully loaded 4,750 pounds. Unlike most metal-covered airplanes,

the CO-1 (its official designation) is not over-weight and can safely carry loads greatly in excess of the specified design load of 1,750 pounds. It is powered by the standard Liberty 12 engine and has a gasoline capacity of 125 gallons.

There are several unusual features embodied in the design. The primary function of this airplane being ground observation, the wing is placed at the top of the fuselage and its thickness reduced adjacent to the cockpit to give the pilot an unobstructed view of the ground. The wing tapers to its full thickness at a point four feet from the fuselage and is braced thereto by external steel struts. Glass windshields are provided at the sides of the pilot's cockpit, making the use of goggles unnecessary.

The landing gear is of the so-called axle-less type and has an exceedingly wide tread, the landing gear struts being anchored to the wing structure.

S

INCE Major C. H. Chapin, C. A. C., organized the Non-Commissioned Officers' School of the Hawaiian Coast Artillery Department at Fort De Russy in 1920, it has been recognized as one of the most efficient and successful organizations in the Islands. The school was established with the object of gaining and maintaining among the non-commissioned officers of the C.A.C. a uniformly, high standard of efficiency. The aim of the instructors is to turn out a group of qualified leaders thoroughly instructed in the duties of a soldier and imbued with a spirit of zeal, with loyalty, initiative, dignity and confidence.

The course at the school is for a period of 10 weeks, which with the week allowed for organization, allowing the students to make their choice of the elective studies absents the man attending from his organization for 11 weeks.

In order to make attendance at the school attractive and to enable the students to devote their whole time to school work the men are placed on detached service and none of the usual military duties are required of them. No guard, no fatigue, no kitchen police are items which have aided in making the competition for entrance keen. Another agreeable feature is that no evening study hours or night work of any kind is on the schedule of instruction.

fully Completed Studies.

covering some of these questions are given daily. Upon the completion of such a lecture a period is devoted to writing the answers to the questions which have been covered. When all of the lectures on any subject have been completed a final examination is held and the papers graded to determine the student's final standing in that subject. These examination papers are returned to the students after correction, the classes are assembled, errors pointed out and misunderstandings cleared up by an instructor. These papers, both the daily exercises and

GRADUATION

graduates.

All of the theoretical instruction is completed during the first eight weeks. The ninth week is devoted entirely to practical mapping and sketching and the tenth to firing with pistol, rifle, automatic rifle and machine gun. Each afternoon during the first eight weeks of the course a half hour is devoted to Infantry drill. Setting-up exercises are also part of the daily program, the object of which is to produce well qualified instructors in this important subject.

During each course lectures are given the student body by the Department Commander, the District Commander, commanding officers of coast defense

units, regiments, posts and separate battalions. These talks are on pertinent military subjects and arouse great interest in the men.

Since the opening of the school in 1920 seven regular courses and one special course have been given to a total of 465 students. Of this number 400 have completed the courses and hold certificates of proficiency. The special course cosisted of four months' instruction in anti-aircraft Artillery. In presenting diplomas to the graduating class recently, General Summerall said in part: "The saying that 'knowledge is power' expresses but a half truth." Without intelligent and right application of knowledge its possession avails but little. Indeed, many men possessed of great knowledge are pitiful failures in the struggles of life, for lack of power to apply it in some useful endeavor. The present commandant is Major Maurice B. Willet, C. A.C., who is the third officer to command the school, Major Chapin having been succeeded by Major Phelan, C.A.C.

The course of study and training supplements the previous training of noncommissioned officers and prospective non-commissioned officers by a careful review of the subjects which these men should be familiar with before entering. Throughout the course, instruction is given in teaching these same subjects to other men, it being constantly borne in mind by the school staff that not only an expert knowledge of the subjects covered must be acquired by the students but that they must be capable of imparting this knowledge to others.

The entire class is required to pursue the same course of instruction in both theoretical and practical work. The same complete list of text books is issued to each man reporting and these he retains until he leaves the school.

A list of questions covering the various subjects in detail is prepared before the course opens and class room lectures

final examination, are then filed in a note book which becomes the property of the student, furnishing a valuable reference manual.

The final standing of the students is based on the grades attained in each of the following subjects: Administration, automatic rifles, machine guns, mechanical maneuvers, Infantry drill, first aid, mathematics, care of equipment, Army Regulations, interior guard duty, mapping, mechanical drawing, messing, military courtesy, penmanship, penmanship, personal hygiene, pistol marksmanship, rifle marksmanship, signalling, supply, deportment, personality and military bearing. In scholastic subjects the passing grade is 65 per cent. Students falling below that mark in any subject have the name of that subject stricken from the certificate

When the school was started the commanding officers of many organizations from which it was planned to draw men as students looked upon the whole idea rather skeptically. The best proof of the school's success and usefulness is to be found in the wholehearted support which these same officers now give it. There is not a coast defense unit in the Hawaiian Department which does not have noncommissioned officers who are graduates. The intensive training makes them stand out well above the average.