The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-29
In THE ARMY.
Dispensing With Spanish at the
Academy.
Graduates of West Point-Compton Court
Martial Detail-Desertions on the De-
crease-Signal-Corps Uniform


abandonment of Spanish as one of the re-
quired studies at the academy has moved
the Army and Navy Register to protest
against such contemplated action as i'll con-
sidered. 1t urges that the suggestion should
not prevail, but that the study will rather
be pressed because 1.-THE first service a
graduate sees after his assignment to a
regiment is likely to be in country in
which large proportion of the people
speak only the Spanish language. Califor-
MIA, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and
Arizona were once Spanish possessions,
and the old language still has strong hold
on them. Even the Indians Of the South
west use Spanish in their intercourse with
the whites. The great Mexican republic to
the south ofus is yearly growing in impOr-
lance to us as neighbour, and whether as
friends or enemies, an Acquaintance with the
Spanish tongue viii be an aid to every Off
Ger who serves near them, or whose public
duty or private pleasure calls him into con-
tat with that people"
Second Lieutenant Charles Crawford,
Tenth Infantry, has been appointed special
recruiting officer at Fort Apache. AriZ., for
the enlistment for Company / of such Indi-
ans among the White Mountain Apaches as
may he willing TO serve therein.
AT THE TOP OF THE CLASS.
Spencer Cosby, who carried off the honors
at West Point, is a Washington boy "A
years Old and a son of Pay Director Frank
Z. Cosby, United States Navy. Before en-
tering West Point he spent one year in Ken
lucky to acquire residence there. He was
first appoint ted by Kentucky member, but
a protest based on the ground that he be-
lOnged in Washington was made by the
friends of Mr. Sewell who graduated sec
ond, and the appointment was withdrawn.
He returned TO Washington and was ap-
pointed by the President. The two have In
consequence been rivals, and The fact that
they stood at the head of their class is attrlb-
uted largely 10 the rivalry existing between
them since they entered the academy. Paw
Dire tor Cosby is a Kentuckan, and was
appointed paymaster in ACgu ST, 1861, and
Pay Director IN 1869.
Captain Thomas NJ. Woodruff, Fifth In
fantTy, will be relieved from special duty as
aid-de-camp TO General Ruger on Wednes-
day. and will join his company after the eX-
pirai0n Of his leave of absence for two
months.
First Lieutenant Thomas Ridgway, trans
ferTPd from tile Fourth, has been ordered
to join his battery. A OF the Fifth, at Al
catraZ Island.
COMPTON COURT-MARTIAL,
A general court-martial has been ap-
pointet to meet at Fort Walla Wala,
Wash. on July 10Th, for The trial of Col
Onel c. L. Compton, Fourth Cavalry, for
having failed to take necessary precautions
TO prevent his command lynching a Nala
Walla citizen, who had killed a trooper.
The detail is as follows: Brigadier- General
Thomas II. Ruger, Colonies c. ). Andrews,
Tweuty-ifth; w. Il. Shafter. First; NJ NJ.
Blunt, Sixteenth; 2. T. Swaine. Twenty
second; Il. r. Bliss, Twenty-fourth; c. G.
Bartlett, Ninth; j. 5. Conrad, Twenty
first, and J. J. Van Horn, Eighth Infantry;
Lieutenant Colonies w. NJ. Graham, Fifth
Artillery, and H. c. COrbin, Assistant Ad-
4 4 ~
TuIy McCTea, Fifth Artillery, with Cap
tain Charles Mcclure, acting Judge-Advo-
cate Judge Advocate of the court
Another troop mas been ordered to Fort
Myer, Va.-namely, II of the Eighth Cavalry
from Fort KeOgh, Mont. 1t is not a remote
assigned to duty at this post, giving it
full battalion for a garrison.
On and after the 4th prox. the fOtty-f0ur
stars will appear in the field or union of the
natiOna flag in use IN the army.
DECREASE IN DEsERTIoNS.
The condition Of the army numerically is
very satisfactory, for the net loss in strength
during the months OF April and May was
light as compared with that Of the same
months for previous years, as shown By the
following figures; 1889, $40; 1890 439; 1891,
257. The percentages of deSeTtiOn Tor the
three years are: 1889, II per cent; 1890,
Q 40 per cent; 1891, per cent. The aver
age per cent Of assertions since the war is
IA $40. During the month Of May for three
successive years the deSeriOnS have been as
follows: 1889, 39o; $780, 327; 1891, 16l. More
desertionS occurred in May than In any
other month in the year.
Hospital Steward Il. King, Stationed at
Black Point, has been ordered to report for
duty to the Medical Director at headQuar-
tiers Of the Division of the Atlantic in New
York City for assignment 10 duty at Fort
Adams, Il. l. Steward King has been on
I.nN~ A. .-.VAr Il,
Division of the Pacific for twenty-five years.
serving at every station in and about the
harbOr.
Captain Joshua A. Fessenden and First
Lieutenant Thomas Il. Adams, Fifth Artil-
lery, have been relieved from duty in the
Division Of the Atlantic to join their bat
teries at the Preside and AlcatTaz Island
respectively.
Captain David II. Kinzie is under detail
to inspect the horses for Light Battery ID
and Captain John r. Brinkle for F at the
Preside.
PROFITS OF CANTEENs.
Talking Of canteens, and the net profits Of
the one at Fort Omaha are said for the year
to have been S70C0, which money was dis
tributed among tie eight companies of the
Second Infantry and its baud to purchase
luXureS for the mess. The showing for the
month Of May OF the canteen at Fort Robin
son Is; Total sales, s33J5 SO; cash on hand,
S3717 II; value Of stock and fixtures,
S4422 81.
Lieutenant II. L. Harris. First Artillery,
has been relieved acting Adjutant by
Lieutenant Charles III. Hunter, and assigned
TO Battery A. In making this announce
ment Colonel Langd n pays a tribute to
Lieutenan Harris 'sOldieTly requirements,
interchangeable zeal and untirIng industry"
which have contributed largely to place tie
First in the front rank Of scientific artil-
leTists.
Another long-enjoyed privilege OF the
army officer has been cut off: According to
the Second Controller officers cannot have
their day expenses in Pullman cars paid by
the Government.
Second Lieutenant r. G. Proctor, Fifth
Artillery, has been retired on account Of
disability incident to the service.
He MAY ASSIGN THEM.
The Acknowledgement has decided in an
swer to an inquiry from the Secretary of
War that he may assign recent academy
graduates, non-cOmmiSsIODed officers and
civilians TO the cavalry and infantry, not
outstanding that additional Second Lieu
tenants may be in the Engineer Corps and
IN the artillery, and that no vacancies exist
In the last two named branches and many
exist in the others.
1t will be no little satisfaction to the SEVEN
teen nOn-eOmmlssioned officers designated
for examination for promotion, and others
who have mbition in the same direction, to
know Of the assurance from the Secretary
of War that preference will be given the
non CONS over civilian candidates for COM
missions In the army. Such preference will
be given this and next year.
A board OF officers has been appointed to