New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-10
ARMY NOTES or INTEREST

The programme for the competitive tests OF
rapid-hre guns, which Is to begin at the Sandy
Hook proving grounds in a few days. has been
completed, and shows that the contest VIII be on
much larger scale than hat which took place at
the Indian Head proving grounds. near Annapolis,
recently 1t will relate more particularly to SIM
plcity and strength of mechanism ard rapidly
and accuracy of fire. or III american inventions
for the trial there will be the Hotchkiss seaourX
Dribgs-SchroeieI ana sponsor Bins, Inv dneie "i'
also be several foreign guns In the contest
Lieutenant John A. Dapray, VINO was nominated
for one OF the vacant paynaste-ships last winter
and failed Of confirmation by the Senate. Is one OF
tho officers who had been duty pertaining TO the
War Department exhibit AZ tie Worlds Fair. He
has been ordered to join his regiment in Texas. A
number of other officers who had been on de-
tached service have been ordered back to their
regiments, and there will be less cause OF
complaint by commanding officers that the inter-
details OF officers on duty away from their regk
Menss sun many Of the regiments are yer wI, t
have TO DO double duty in consequence.
BrigaGier-General L. s. Otis. who recently
promoted to the vacancy caused bysthe retirement
OF General W. p. Carlin. has also been ordered 10
succeed to the old command OF General Carlin-the
Department Of the Columbla-with headquarters at
times been charged that promotions by selection
have been made through political intrigue, and.
apparently, there has been crcumstantiai evidence
in support of such statement; but that cannot be
said to have been the in the promotion OF
Colonel OTIS General Schofeld urged him upon.
President Harrison and secured his nomination
then. but he failed Of arnation General Scho-
field had equal influence IN his behalf with Presi-
dent Cleveland hence the selection from among
several strong applicants Although General OTIS
p mTh IN no less han hreen big Battles with one
of the Newyor regiments. and being wounded IN
a brevet brigadershlp for his sallantry he was
one Of the Youngest coIonels in the army and the
not reach the retiring age till 1902.
In this column was mentioned few Tonths ago
that experiments being made with aluminium
for certain equipments and ornaments The board
Of officers detailed Army equipments will take
up within few days the question OF the advisa-'
bilty Of adopting aluminium for canteens, car
fridge boxes. helmet spikes, belt equipment buttons.
cap and belt ornaments, etc Though 1t Is admitted
that the metal possesses the advantage Of light
ness absence OF danger from corrOsion or tarnish-
ing the question of comparative strei 9Th VIII be
that the board intends 20 give thorough con-
sideratiOn.
The Arm officers who have been or duty with
the Columbian Guards at the Worlds Fair have
organized the Society OF the Columbian Guard"
Colonel j. s ssanderson is the president. Another
organization formed by officers who were on duty
with the Columbian Guard is the "Crossbow Skat-
ing Club" A committee has been appointed TO ar
range for tournaments TO be held on the lagoons IN
Jackson Park at frequent intervals during the WIN
ter The formation of these societies VIII anord
an opportunity to one who recently gave vent to
his opinion that the Military order Of the Loyal
Legion. Sons OF the Revolution and Sons OF the
American Revolution had no excuse for existence
except as Soc!eties for the Growth ana Perpetua .
ton of Sectional and International Dscord ;; put
that the raison d'etre Of the Grand Army OF me
Republic is easily understood-by its vote. II Is
true that the latter stand guard over their OWL
camp and carry out the principles OF loyaity ana
patriotism to their friends as well as to their nag
also as does the Loyal Legion, continue their So
ciety as br?herho9d WI re not opy ,nf IN the
field and on the blockade may he ,perpetuated but
fellowship charity and hospitality TO those needy
and worthy in quiet and modest way
The SIGNAL Service Corps is having an u.sasuai
amount of extra work just now. in the way OF
running telegraph wires. and the Government no
doubt is better off in having men IN the Army
capable Of doing such work. Independent or con-
tractors. There has been considerable trouble In
getting telegraph lire along the Texas border.
The work has just been completed. Under charge
OF Lieutenant Glassford The contractor had trouble
with his workmen. and when the line was only
half laid he abandoned the work, leaving the labor
ers unpaid and then Lieutenant Glasstord took up
tho work and completed it, Sergeant j. "A. young.
iieve Sergeant II. w. Chadwick. who is an expert
builder and is directed to take charge
OF rebuilding the telegraph line between Fort Grant
and San Carlos. Arizona Territory.
Reference 10 the Signal Corps was indirectly
made few days ago by Lieutenant Brainerd, OF
the I'd Cavalry one of the six survivors OF the
Greedy Arctic expedition. who said: Sergeant
Henry Blederblck who the hospital steward.
is now an Inspector of customs in New-York City;
Francis Long is in the Weather Bureau, in New
York City: julius Frederick is In the Weather
Bureau in indianapolis. and Morris Connell Is in
the same bureau. while General Greedy VINO was
the only officer OF the expedition who was saved,
is as Is we'll known, the Chief Signal officer OF the
United States Army. AS Cor myself. am now
stationed at Fort Wingate, New Mexico.
The revision of the Army Regulations, now being
made under Lieutenant French will soon be COM
pleted The work can scarcely be called revision.
since changes In the existing regulations are not
authorized the officer being directed merely to.
codfy and put in proper place the new regulations
that have been promulgated from time to time
since the last issue Of the book Of Army laws, ana
TO expurge such matters as have been revoked "
new laws.
If one doubts that discipline IS not preserved IN
the Army he would better give his attention to the
sentences of courts-martial upon Offenders FOR
instance Sergeant Joseph Bagley OF the sth In
fantry while taking squad of armed men TO the
nost exchange at Fort Washable. Wyoming. as
sauted a private In the 9th Cavalry, ana mas peeu
reduced 10 a private. fined $50, and relegated 70
confinement at hard labor for SIX months.