New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-21
ARMY NOTES or INTEREST

The long pending case OF Paymaster W. II. Wham
has been decided. but the President has shown
more leniency than the court which tried him The
was ordered on August 30 last. and
action upon its findings has been delayed until his
mental condition could be inquired into, the ques-
ton OF his sanity having been raised in the trial.
The charge against Paymaster Wham was con-
duct unbecom.ng officer and a gentleman" tho
specification being that he became indebted TO
Darius G. Holcomb in the amount OF $3.50 . In
June. 1890 and had since that time evaded and re-
fused the payment TO the injury Of the reputation
OF the Army. he being officer thereof His plea
was not gully but the court i2nnd nun ssntegced
him Ito be dismissed from the service" but recon-
mcndcd him to clemency In consequence OF this
Of his family and his services In the Army as the
tence was modified 70 suspension on haf-pay from
rank. duty and all privileges until January IS 1904
gradc @' As Ps s Wham viii reach the Tetir
ing on that date, he will have no more active
three-quarters Of the ful Ray. or the retired pay
o. MS grade de sendGnre Is pracray tne same
retired two months ago
Paymaster Wham is the officer. It will he
membered, who was held up by highwaymen in
the Businesses OF Texas several years ago. and
robbed OF about $1,000 Of Government funds which
he was taking to military post to pay tho
soldiers. About two years ago he made application
case 1t reported that KS disabilities we're only
temporary and that he was not Mt subject for re-
tirement He has had considerable trouble in ono
way or another but none Of a very serious nature.
Second Lieutenant Charles =. Jomieson has won
the vacant first Ieutenancv in the Ordnance Corps
He IS a Vermonter by b nth. and graduated
from the Academy at West Point in ISIS. He took
active part in the strike troubles in Chicago a
year ago He Is REGARDED as an officer Of excep-
tonal ability and zeal
The cap and blouse question has been settled by
Secretary Lamonts approval Of the patterns re-
Gently referred to in this column. with some modi-
icatons. The cap is unlike the military cap here
tofore worn by officers and men. and its pattern is
similar to the cap worn by officers Of the Navy.
although Of better shape The blouse is also SINH
lar to that by officers Of the Navy. with this
eXceptiOn-there is no mohair braid on the back
seams. which gives better line Of form. and the
insignia of the corps and the letters IL s. are en-
broidered in god the collar. on each side OF the
opening. The front is hy-fod. with mohair braid
running up and down. also around the collar and the
bottom OF the blouse and around the Sits The cap Is
OF dark blue cloth. about 3i4 inches high all around.
zonta: a cap cord OF gold bullion for officers, and
for general officers band Of black velvet while for
mohar braid ia inches wide. The cap will. it is
believed. all objections that have been
at the time a suitable undress cap comfortable
the wearer and military in appearance The
change will 10 into effect on July l.
Secretary Lamont has detailed Major George w.
Davis and the Assistant Secretary Of War care
fully TO examine the blue Book" or Army regi-
latlons and to report what paragraphs may be
eliminated or modified to correspond with the laws
in force Il has been frequent criticism on the
part OF officers that the present Blue Book IS
burdened with matter that Is complex. Inc obJect
is. therefore. TO make 1t more comprehensive and
simple as book OF revised statutes.
4 few days ago Captains Ell L. Higgins Of the
Second Cavalry. and VI. p. Maus. OF the First In
fantry. both Of whom have been on the STAN
Of General Mics, were ordered TO their
regiments for duty. 1t reported that General
Miles had protested against their being relieved.
but this Is General Miles Simply expressed
regret that he ,ose the services OF these two
officers. but the War Departments action was gov
erned by the regulation which prescrlbes that OF:
four years or more will be ordered back TO their
from West Point in June 1915 bu, Captain Hug
gins began his service as privatSe: IN Minnesota
c.ose Of the civil War received commission as
second Lieutenant IN the second Ariiery sregu.arso
April % OF that year promoted 10 be captain
lie is more fortunate than some OF the officers who
that he will reach the retiring age until August
1906 He enlisted when he was boy or eighteen
and an officer in the volunteer service at TWIN
ty-two.
The last of the alien commissioned officers in the
Army. Surgeon Charles Smart. has become Amer
lean citizen Major Smart was born in Scotland
and entered the service in 1862 assistant sur
geon in the New-York Volunteers. He took out his
naturazat ton papers few days ago. Not on.y
are all the commissioned officers OF the Army
American citizens by birth naturalization, but
there has also been a marked increase in the last
year OF Americans citizens in the ranks or the
300 men enlisted In the last six months, IS per
cent are American citizens A few years ago more
than half of the en,istments were OF foreigners.
Colonel Joseph r. Smith. Assistant Surgeon-I,..-
eral was put on the retired list Thursday, thus
promoting Lieutenant Colonel Dallas Bache to the
rank OF colonel and assistant surgeon general; Ma
jor H. l.. Huntington, to the rank OF lieutenant
colonel and Captain L. w. Champion to major and
surgeon. Colonel Smith appointed from New
York as assistant surgeon In 1854. and during the
Civil War brevetted n lieutenant colonel for
superior ability and excellent management OF the
affairs OF his department" In November 1866 he
was brevetted a colonel for "meritorious services
and devotion to the sick during the prevalence Of
cholera at Little Rock Ark
Colonel I. l.. Livingston, who recently put on
the retired list having had command OF the Third
Artillery with headquarters at st. Augustine Fla
has removed 10 Washington, where he will make
his home.
Brigadier-General Forsyth has begun an inno-
walton in Army life In the Department OF California
by directing that the interval between December %
and January 10 every year shall be treated as a