New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-02
ARMY NOTES OF INTEREST.

The cheating of retreat" laid down in the Thirty.
fifth Article OF War. has evidently been dsregarded
and to the discomfort Of a veteran for he COM
plains bitterly OF its constant violation at the post
where he Is stationed. 1t does not mean that any
OF the soldiers called upon to retreat before an
enemy are expected do their level best to beat
or get ahead OF the retreating column. but II Is
regulation that lays down the law that any
soldier who fails to retire TO his quarters or tent
when the drum or the bugle sounds the retreat
shall be punished according to the nature OF the
offence The retreat is sounded usually at p. m.
but may be extended an hour longer by the com:
mandant OF the post; but when the limit Is reache1
lights must be out This regulation was enforced
rigidy in the days OF the civil war. there be,
ing a violation and then. when the long roll
would sound. when some OF the soldiers wouid
light candle and SO shade It that the lisht WOULD S
the boys played for-not chips but matches. ~
is probable that Veteran, has been so acc us
toned to retiring at stated hour mat ne mas mas
been forced protest against the continued VIOLA
ton OF the regulation
Room for Just one more is the situation OF the
college details that is, of the authorized compile
ment OF officers to be detailed for this duty ninety
and nine have been so assigned, and the remaining
one will probably be sent to a college In Wiscon-
sin There will be more vacancies until Feb
ruary when will occur by reason or the ex-
piration OF the time of such detail or two OF the
officers.
The reports OF the Army officers detailed as
Indian agents commended by other officers as
showing wisdom in such details, and they prove
that the officers at the agencies are not at all
backward in performing their duties, no matter
what complaints are made The sale OF whiskey
on the reservations has provoked vast amount or
trouble in the past and Captain l.. w. COOK IN
charge OF the Blackfoot Agency, recently took Wig
orous measures to suppress the traffic But he
broke up a whole village before he succeeded. and
since October 1893 no whiskey has been sold there.
The and liquor-shops were closed, and the
proprieors of the latter were sent 10 the peni-
tentiary He declares that the benefit to the Ind
ians well as to the squaw men Is immeasurapie'
trial pursuits All the officers speak in high terms
OF the improvement among the Indians; especially
Of them speaks highly OF the morality Of the Ind,
ians In fact this seems 10 be one OF the MOST
Fort Sherman in Idaho. is likely to be aban-
doned as a military post. The telegraph and rail-
road station of this post Is at Occur dAiene idaho'
a branch OF the Northern Pacific Railroad, ABOUT
three quarters OF mile distant from the fort II
this one is abandoned the new military post VIII
government having offered section Of land as
ienty yo situated on the banks OF the Spokane River
about four miles from the ey Sno Tn nsn re
ported to be a healthful site. the water supply IS
Exceptionally good and has numerSus otner as
ported to be in bad condition. and there Is danger
that the health OF the soldiers VIII ne pas
rb War Denartment is said to be in favor OF the
change but Congress would first have to make an
appropriation for the construction OF new posi-
including the building of a fort
The new law requiring all enlisted men or the
Army to be citizens OF the United States has be-
gun to work results In this direction Many OF the
soldiers have begun to realize what the new ia"
means and In anticipation of their re-enhstment
have taken steps to make themselves eiiklpic1
Ahout a baf-hundred OF those stationed at FORT
ress Monroe recently obtained leave OF absence
and went up to Norfolk, where the United states
District Court was in session, ana look out tneir
naturalization papers
DOCS your clothing fit you?" is likely to become
a common question among the soldiers. IL mas
been a custom largely followed for soldiers to
draw clothing from the quartermaster's stores
larger I'm size than needed that they could have
II made over and fitted better to the person; but
the Ouartermast General thinks this an unneces-
sary expense to the soldiers and a few days ago
wrote requsition directing attention 70 tnat part
issues OF clothing Of larger sizes than are actually
needed for the enlisted men. for the purpose OF
altering them into smaller sizes can be made. ana
which also makes II the duty OF commanding on-
GERS to see that the unmade clothing, when made
conforms strictly to the standard patterns.
The War Department has practically revoked the
construction Of the retirement law made by Gem
oral Lewis A. Grant when Assistant Secretary Of
War a few years ago. which counted cadet service
as a part OF the active service OF an o...cer
colonel Henry NJ Lazelle recently applied to be re-
tired under the Forty-Years Service law, having
served tina; period including instruction at West
Point IN ordered rae Before the retiring board becaus:
tired.