New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15
ARMY NOTES OF INTEREST.

Fifteen OF the candidates for cadetships nave oe1
appointed to the Military Academy In the iast re"
DAYS and of these four alternates-that Is Tour
OF the original candidates did not pass the required
examinations and the aernates simply stepped into
the breach They are. naturally, glad that the orig.
inals could not toe the mark. In a Few weeks some
OF these youngsters will be drilling In the riding nan
at West Point. and they will be giving series oS
exhibitions more interesting than those so soon 70
be given in Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth
Sometimes these scenes funny. as when city,
bred nervous novice mounts charger or dououu
reputation There Is this TO be said about the AMI
mails usually detailed in the West Point Riding
School THE horse knoweth his rider" particularly
self In his rough equine way There ne goes,
the CADETS mother or sister should chance to stand
near by for few minutes, scream "ou'a "o uouo'
be heard, There goes Jonn.
Tho Editor OF THE Army and Navy Journal says
that he has made a canvass. in person. among MEM
bers of Congress and others in Washington, and no
Is compelled to report that the outlook for legisa'
ton favorable to the Army is unpromisins. he
then sums up the situation and dwells upon tho
wild theories afoat arbitration ond scientihc de'
fence In case arbitration should fail and then rem
ders this verdict: THE truth Is that We are fast
tending in this country the Chinese ideas or war;
Like the Chinese. VIC are placing our dependence
upon the beating Of and the issue OF para
ST 4eaDce to- the world are SUPPOSED to the
only type OF military men this country mas use ior.
:
one will call bluff and We shall turn up empty
hands"
Although It is impossible to say with any degree
OF certainty what action Congress Will take WIN
regard TO the legislation for the Army 1t Is 40.
mtted that there is a strong determination towaro
the closest economy among the members OF ths
House. and this in addition 10 the Populisss nos
tility 10 military establishment. makes the situa-
ton uncertain In view of these reports IN ths
last few days the officers of the 9TH Infantry Res'
ment have a petition 10 The military comm'-
tees OF both houses urging the enactment OF tho
plan OF reorganizatio ton as outlined In the Lamont
bill. The officers Of the 9th Infantry have unl'eo
with the officers OF the 18th IN commenting the
bill. and for the sake OF unanlmity" have sent 10
the officers OF other regiments urgent request 10
take similar action and 10 send their petitions 10
Congress without delay 1t is reported that Com
gress will strike from the bill the provision Tor
an increase OF 5000 enlisted men. but several ohi-
have urged that the bill should not be passeS
prominent officer writes that Congress is amply
able decide what is best for the service that me
officers agreed in essentials. and no power
this side of the Cmnipoient can get all 10 agree on
details.
There are a great many officers who are tired OF
the inactivity OF Army life In these piping times
of peace or rather. with the routine of drills etc.
at the posts, barracks and camps and they want
to some sort of fighting. even II they are ohiy
permitted to stand by and see the killing ana
manning Applications quite numerous have been
visit Cuba. with a view Of reporting upon tho
methods OF warfare pursued there. lnasmuch as
Spain would not likely favor the visit OF unitet
Is not disposed TO act favorably upon the appica.
tons.
How many men in the command can ride b.
cyclcs?" question recently asked by General
Miles OF a commandment who replied Fifteen"
This was not the Sd Artillery Regiment. for nearly
every man ride bicycle. There are daily
squads who go wheeling to and from upon the
ha I'd beaten beaches between st. Augustine and
nd ea miles, neS on
seventy OF the enlisted men have given exhibition
drills and parades on the principal streets and osy
front at st. Augustine.
The pay clerks of the Army have sent a petition
to the Paymaster General to urge upon Congress
the desirabiity and the equity of readjusting the
salary list In order that they may have increase
of pay The petition makes II clear that the duties
OF the clerks are greatly Increased by the recent
order for payments to the Army. and entails the
writing of many hundreds Of checks and the count
ing and placing OF currency In envelopes addresses
to the individual soldier. The clerks get no allow.
ance for mileage. they do not have any chance OF
ca service nor have they the right to petition
except through superior officers.
A letter recently received by the War Department
from the commanding general OF the Natona!
Guard of Missouri requested that the practice o.
allowing officers Of the Army to act as judges Oh
prize drills In interstate encampments fairs ana as
sociatons conducted by private persons be az
continued for the reason that they are asked ony
for the purpose Of attracting crowds for finane =
gains and that they tend to destroy the discipline o.
the militia and OF no benefit In the matter OF
military movements. Several OF the regmentaI
commanders have also expressed disapproval OF tne
practice The War Department has never encou.s
aged the practice OF officers to act as judges o.
these competitive drills by actual detail but omccs
nave been permitted to do 1t has now been ~ ~
dered that officers must not In the future act -
judges On such occasions. -