WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL OF THE ARMY, CHIEF CLERK, QUARTERMASTER GENERAL OFFICE: It is requested that the following cablegram be sent: ZALINSKI, Manila: Do you recommend effort be made through State Department induce British Munitions Ministry permit Spencer Company, Melkham, England, supply elevating gears collier Number One, or do you favor supply required gear from United States? Do you recommend effort be made through State Department induce British munitions ministry permit Spencer Company, Melkham, England, supply elevating gears Collier No. One, or do you favor supply required gear from United States? [Cablegram received at the War Department.] SHARPE. . OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL, Washington, July 1, 1916. Cable Company No. 1 N. Y. From Liggett, Manila. To Quartermaster General. Reference to your cablegram of June 29th, recommend effort to get elevating gear (s) from England be made; gears from United States would necessitate great amount structural changes. To Col. Baker for instructions. Mr. F. E. Kirby & Mr. Donnelly of N. Y. have the subject up with the Dept. Comdr. at Manila regarding the supply of Americanmade equipment for this collier.-G. A. A. Can we do anything? C. B. B. Ask Manila if State Dept. shall try this request or do they wish domestic hoists from U. S. The honorable the SECRETARY OF STATE. JULY 3, 1916. SIR: Referring to your letter of June 23, 1916, inclosing, for an expression of my wishes, a copy of letter addressed to your department by H. J. Stockton and Co., Ltd., of London, in behalf of the Shanghai Dock & Engineering Co., Ltd., of Shanghai, China, requesting your department to instruct the ambassador at London to obtain permission from the British Government for Messrs. Spencer & Co., Ltd., of Melksham, England, to supply the injured parts of certain elevating gears which they built for a harbor collier belonging to the Philippine Government, contracted for by the Shanghai Dock & Engineering Co., Ltd., you are advised that this department would greatly appreciate it if you would instruct the ambassador at London to use his good offices with the British ministry of munitions, with a view to obtaining, if possible, permission for Messrs. Spencer & Co., Ltd., to supply the gears in question. It is further requested that this department be advised of the action of the British munitions ministry upon this request. Very respectfully, NEWTON D. BAKER, The honorable the SECRETARY OF WAR. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: The department has, in compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 3d instant, instructed the American ambassador at London to use his good offices with the British Government in order to obtain permission from the British ministry of munitions for Messrs. Spencer & Co., Ltd., to supply certain parts of special gears, for elevating coal to and discharging coal from steamers, which were built for the use of a harbor collier built by the Shanghai Dock & Engineering Co., Ltd., of Shanghai, for this Government's Quartermaster Department at Manila, Philippine Islands. On receiving a reply from Mr. Page the department will again address you on the subject. For the Secretary of State: O ALVEY A. ADEE, Second Assistant Secretary. 64TH CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J DOCUMENT 1st Session. NATIONAL GUARD DATA. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING RESPONSE TO CERTAIN INQUIRIES CONTAINED IN HOUSE RESOLUTION 323. AUGUST 8, 1916.-Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 3, 1916. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: In response to House resolution 323, directing that the House of Representatives be furnished with certain information in regard to the National Guard now in the service of the United States, I have the honor to communicate to you the information desired, the questions in the resolution being stated herein and answered in their order. First. How many troops of the National Guard are now in the service of the United States in compliance with the President's order of June 18, 1916? Answer. The troops of the National Guard and Organized Militia in the service of the United States in compliance with the President's call of June 18 numbered, on July 25, 140,586. The figures available are compiled from various sources and can only be taken as a close approximation. Reports of strength on July 31 have not as yet been received. Second. What is the prescribed war strength for the organizations called into the service of the United States by the above order? Answer. The prescribed war strength for the organizations called into the service of the United States by the same order is 241,851. Third. Have any organizations been accepted into the service of the United States whose strength fell short of the minimum prescribed peace strength? If so, was the minimum requirement waived by the President? Answer. So far as known to this department no organizations have been accepted into the service of the United States whose strength fell short of the minimum prescribed peace strength, and this requirement has not been waived by the President. It is to be remarked in connection with the foregoing that section 7 of the amended militia law of 1903 prescribes that every officer and enlisted man of the militia who shall be called forth in the manner hereinbefore prescribed shall be mustered for service without further enlistment, and without further medical examination previous to such muster, except for those States and Territories which have not adopted the standard of medical examination prescribed for the Regular Army. In consequence of this provision of the law many organizations were mustered into the service of the United States whose personnel were not physically up to the required standard, because many of the States, though adopting the standard for the Regular Army, had not enforced it. As an administrative measure, in order not only to protect the Government but to obtain men physically fit to undergo service, a physical examination was ordered to be held immediately after the muster in required. As a result of this examination the strength of many organizations fell below the minimum strength which had previously been prescribed by the President pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of the amended militia law of 1903. In organizations thus reduced in strength immediate steps were instituted to replace the losses by further recruiting. Sincerely, yours, NEWTON D. BAKER, O 1st Session. No. 1331. BREAKWATER IN FRONT OF MARINE HOSPITAL, CHICAGO, ILL. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, SUBMITTING TENTATIVE DRAFT OF LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR A BREAKWATER IN FRONT OF MARINE HOSPITAL, CHICAGO, ILL. AUGUST 18, 1916.-Referred to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and ordered to be printed, with illustrations. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: The site of the United States marine hospital at Chicago, Ill., fronts on Lake Michigan, north of the present end of the extension of Lincoln Park in said city along the lake shore. The action of the seas on the marine hospital shore has damaged the bulkhead, or wall, and Congress has been requested to make an appropriation of $40,000 for a new breakwater. The commissioners of Lincoln Park desire to extend said park across the water front of the marine-hospital site. If the United States will surrender its riparian rights said commissioners will do all required filling in front of the United States land to extend Lincoln Park, as shown generally on the accompanying map or plan; beautify such park extension, build roadways, lagoons, etc.; and prevent further erosion of the present marine hospital site, etc.; all as more particularly set forth in the attached copy of the resolution passed by said commissioners May 10, 1916. The proposed slight enlargement of the hospital site, the relief of the United States from protecting the water front against the seas, and the contemplated beautifying of the lake side would all be advantageous to the Government. This department, therefore, recommends that the necessary legislation be enacted to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Lincoln Park commissioners so much of the Government's rights to the water front of the marine hospital as may be deemed necessary to give effect to the proposed extension of the park, the land so transferred to revert to the United States when no longer used for park purposes. A tentative draft of such legislation is inclosed. Respectfully, W. G. McADOO, Secretary. |