The sun., 1895-02-24
THE ABMr AND IRIS ArFAIRs.
The Awards or stsrs-GsueraI Condition OF
the serNIee-Whnt InspectIons suERest.

Ihe Awards OF Stnra-a4NnerAl Condition
| the Service what Inspections Suggest.
wAsHiYuToN. Feb. 2i.-with adjournment
near. little more legislation Is expected for the
army. There Is but small chance. for example.
that the reorganization bill will be- considered.
since the House Committee on Rules has refused
TO assign time for Its consideration. MIR.
Outhwaite the Chairman OF the Military Com
mittes, who has shown great activity and sue.
cess In pushing through army matters. Ia also a
member of the Rules Committee. SO that IL lac
could not get the assignment OF day the case
must indeed be desperate.
Only by unanimous consent was Gen. Scho-
feld's promotion pushed through. Here IL
may he added that others share the Licu,cn.
ant-Generals fortune, for his son, capt. G.. B.
Schoheld, Second Cavalry, and Capt r. II. Bliss
Of the Commissary Department have been re-
appointed by linn as aides, with promotion
while 81 acting to the rank and my Of Lieutcn-
ant-ColOncl. az the law allows. lie has also his
perluisito rs Lieutenant. eneral Of a military
secretary, with the rank of Lieutenant = Colonul,
and has appointed Lieut.-Col. Whcrry. Second
Infantry, to that poet. with Mayor Strongs
appointment Of Gen. Schofeld's son-n.lnw to DO
Police Commissioner the month has certainly
been prolific in valentines IN that quarter.
While Con. Ruger has duly received the nom
ination to be Maior-General, to fill the vacancy
caused by Gen. Schohelds promotion. the nom-
nation OF n Colonel TO he BriRader-General in
Gen. Ruger's place still hangs fire. The list of
the ranking candidates has already been given
In these columns and in addition the name of
Col. ID. s. Gordon, sixth cavalry. who Is now
stationed near by, at Fort Mycr, is mentioned
although one drawback would be the very large
number of, competent and able COlonels over
whose heads he would have TO be jumped. Two
OF the candidates who have been connected
very long with the army arc Col. u. X. Bliss
Twenty fourth Infantry, and Col II. w. Clos
son, Fourth Artillery. who both entered
West Point in 1850. 1t has been suggested that
delay may he made in the appointment OF a
new Brigadier- General, inasmuch as under the
present arrangement all the department COM
Inands are now filed either by Major GENERALS
or Brigadier-iencrals,s so that ~ new general
officer would be left without snch a command.
But 1t would seem more in accordance with what
appointment should follow closely upon Gen.
Ruger's continuation. or course, in September,
command or the army. there will be no general
officer without specific com Sand.
While these avenues of promotion for the lire
have been opened. some others have been shut.
The new Army act provides. as may be noted,
dor ied1ctions II, in the numbers of the lowest
reductions are to be effected simply by making
no appointments to vacancies that exist or may
hereafter cxi ist in those grades. In one of the
corps several vacancies did exist and applica.
tions from line officers were on tie for appoint
vacancies in the Quartermaster's Department
which are open to appointments from the line.
was urged by Secretary Lamont. who showed
that u was entirely practicable: The Secretary
expenses, although in this particular case one
offset is the increased pay and expenses due to
making Gen. Schofeld a Lieutenant. General.
One OF the next reductions to which the Secre-
tary is expected to devote himself is that in the
cost OF travel for the inspection Of posts. The
manner manner in which this is expected to be accom-
pliShed is the grouping of posts for inspection,
otherwise than by departments. so that In
inspect those posts which are nearest to him,
whether they belong to his department or not.
ment, it may be mentioned that one OF the an
nual reports OF Gen. Breckinridge. which ms
at length been made public; contains some in
teresting statements as to the condition OF the
army In general II remarks that perhaps never
were the drill and discipline better. the ad-
minstration more efficient and satisfactory or
the comforts afforded greater. SO that a crafty
ing degree Of contentment prevails throughout
by decrease In desertions. hut by notable dis
position to reGnlist which of course implies that
One recommendation made for further i'm
provement. namely. the abolition of retained
act allow ed tho retention of 81 a month from the
soldiers pay during the first year of his enlist
month. actually received ST. r This cased dis, dis
satisfaction. and the law has been repealed by
the recent Army Appropriation bill: II a soldier
wishes to save his money during his first year.
he can do so by deposting it with the Pay
master. and Will receive interest on the amount
Gen. Breckinrdge suggests that it would be
well TO encourage this system of savings by re-
dncing the present minimum of deposit allowed
TO one dollar.
As to the post schools. Gen Rrcckinridge
thinks that mo civilized army. probably has n |
less effective school system for enlisted men |
than ours. but hopes for Improvement in il, |
now that is no longer legal to enlist men. for
fret enlistment, who cannot speak read, and |
write English; With rudimentary instruction !
thus furnished beforehand. the post schools can |
rely on a greater average Advancement. Gen. |
Breck kinridge recommends giving fl rst and sec |
ond class certificates TO those who receive a |
common-school education in post schools. and |
that. as stimulus to exertion. the first-class |
certificates should carry with them n small in |
crease OF paw.
The Signal Corps and Hospital Corps, it would |
appear, are efficient. but 1t is suggested that the
latter ought not to he drilled with weapons at |
ALL because there is an impropriety in furnish |
ing them with arms. still. IL is evident that in |
conflicts with wild Indian tribes that have very |
little respect either for the duties the immu- |
mites OF the Red Cross the Hospital Corps men
might be IN u situation where familiarity with |
arms wonld he of considerable use 10 them.
hut IT is suggested that any exceptional emer-
gences would be provided for BY always select
ing the Hospital Corps from old soldiers.
FOR RETTER pR0TFCTTnN n n aHTpQ