New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-06
ARMY NOTES or INTEREST


The office OF the Superintendent OF Recruiting
Service transferred from New-York City on
/ Tuesday last 10 the War Department al Washington
accordance with the regulations that were issued
/ by the Secretary OF War abou, two months ago
| Colonel Henry c. Wood, who had been the super
| intendent for some time has been relieved Of duty
/ and he will probably receive any other detail
he Will be retired for age May 20. next The
business OF recruiting will be entre.y conducted
! from Washington hereafter. Colonel Wood entered
the Army from civi, life in June 1856. when he
! ceived a commission rs lieutenant of the LIST IN
fantry He transferred TO the adjuta n-generars
/ department in 1854 but had seen much active serv-
ice the field and had received the brevet rank OF
Northumberland and colonel for gallant and meri
! torious service,
one phase OF the retirement law is matter OF
much interest and discussion among officers OF the
| Army just now, and decision is expected soon
/ from the legal authorities of the War Department
/ which Will determine whether officer who
applies for retirement under the thirty years clause
may reasonably expect favorable action. In order
| to provide for more rapid promotion the last Con-
/ gress passed law giving officers who have had
thirty years Of service the active list the right
to be retired at the discretion Of the President.
The question issue is whether the four years
service cadet at the Military Academy is 20 be
considered a part OF the thirty years condition?
In other where length Of service carries with it
certain privileges the law officers have decided that
the question has been raised against this in the
matter OF voluntary retirement. and upon the de-
officers who have asked TO be retired.
Northumberland John S Billings deputy
geOn-genera, Tuesday last retired under
the thirty years service clause. His was not
OF the in which cadet service was raised
for the reason that ne did belong to that class
which is sometimes referred to in that offensive
way, educated at the public expense" Then.
too his service has been more than thirty years
for he entered the service assistant surgeon
early in 1862. time when OF MS profession
were greatly in need the battlefield and in the
skrmsh DR.. Billings has been prominent before
the public for many years because OF his services
in serious epidem!cs and his able profess ona
papers which have been published. His case IL the
first for many months Of retirement under the new
Law. and the President exercised his discretion
ina negative way for some time but finally yielded
because Of the offer that had been made TO Or.
Billings Of professorship in the University OF
Pennsylvania
The United States Military Wheelmen are to be or
eanzed as an army corps. with headquarters in
New-York and Departments OF the East. West and
South organized az divisions. Membership Is open
to members and ex-members OF the regular and
volunteer armies the States militia and OF the Con-
federate Army who over eighteen years OF age
The objects TO assist a volunteer Of the
national defences IN the practical development and
application OF the bicycle for military purposes.
unite wheelmen who have been soldiers into bodies
OF such 10 test the practicability Of moving
and manoeuvring large bodies Of troops with the
bicycle.
1t will interest the non-commissioned officers OF
the army learn that several OF the members OF
the Congress have expressed themselves in
favor Of the proposed effort to secure to them an
increase OF monthly pay The prJposit on Is 10 make
the pay OF first sergeants SO. SergedntS ~ and
corporals S25. which, ii is contsndcd. will be more
commensurate with the amount OF work they have
to perform.
Captain o. F. Long in his article on the changes OF
uniform OF the Army since its orsaniza tion. pub
lshed in The Army and Navy Register" refers To
the general order issued in 1851. which said Mus
taches are not be worn except b. cavalry regi-
ments, by officers men under any pretence what
ever" An instance is cited In the OF the late
General Hunt. who then Lieutenant attached
to a light battery and who appeared before the
Acknowledgement wearing a handsome mustache.
He was reprimanded by the adjutant- general who
added that a cavalry officer had not the right.
but was merely allowed wear a nustache by
sufferance. Lieutenant Hunt. by inspiration.
quickly responded "Coonel, ! am attached 10
light battery and If you VIII refer to the re-
ating 10 light batteries YOU viii see thai evss TO
all officers attached them the pay and allowances
OF a cavalry officer. This response probably saved
Of both Army and Navy who would approve OF a
regulation governing the wearing of the beard the
service rather than see some with side-wh.sl.ers.
some with full boards. with mustaches. and
others with the goatee.
The sixteenth and final volume Of the first series
OF the index catalogue OF the library Of the Surgeon
Generals office made under the personal supervision
OF DR.. Billings has been issued 1t is practically
complete index OF medica, literature The library
contains 1854 books and 1871 5sS pamphlets.
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