New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-28
ARMY NOTES OF INTEREST.

rba statement made in this column week ago
mat Colonel Robert f. A Crofton was one or the
number reported as physically disqualified TOT ac'Ve
service has been confirmed; but he concluded 10
nske a stand I'D fight against being forced 10 pass
"a the "innocuous desuetude list He says that the
r,or. on his case was due personal hostility. and
that he is not a physical wreck However, the re-
mort has been made oy medical Doard' anu thdt
will probably take precedence In ADDITION 70 "ha'
The medical report says. General Merritt remarks
that before he took command year ago Colonel
crofton was very sick man. and that his life was
,iespaired Of The illness spoken of was an liberated
npon which several operations were performed with
results IT, scbem. 10 e him for
physical disability It IS reported that secre,ary la
mont VIII urge nine ne mon his reaching his sixty
year on December IA next
II IA known that the reports show that there are
about a dozen other officers declared as incapaci-
,a,eA 70 engage in active service 1t will be recalled
that this column week mentioned the fact that
only two members of the graduating class mad quail
fed for commissions in the Engineer Corps and this
was disappointment to Brigadier-General Craig
hill he chief OF the corps he expected that at least
five would qualify In view of the increased amount
OF work placed before this corps by the passage OF
eested 10 the Secretary the nadequacy Of the AGA
,demic Boards recommendations, and the atvisabty
allowed. There is precedent for such course. and
IL is animated that Mr.. Lamont will SO act
The enactment Of the law providing for the i'm
movement and extension of fortifcations has made
n necessary that smokeess powder be secured Tor
service guns hence arrangements are soon 10 be per-
fsced by the Chief Of Ordnance for exhaustive COM
pettive tests Of powder at the Sandy HOOK PROVING
Grounds where the tests Of the Maxim powder were we're
ms de with good results The competitive rests NIL
81 nade with samples of the Maxim Peyton ana Uu-
pont powders and they will be msns e G,n Gums ,ne
Dashiell Gardner and Fletcher rapd-nre neio guns
fhus having a test of guns at the same tinie'
Lieutenant Edward Davis. Of the 80 Aruiiefy mas
ice, salscted by General Miles as his second aoe-
de-earnn Lieutenant Davis has had an interesting
career He first entered the service as secoho neu-
.enant 81 the 9Th Cavalry September 1852 he then
,a,rg only eighteen years old. and for his gaiiah'
and rneritorious services at the battle OF |hcha-
manga in September 1863. he got a brevet OF hrst
lieutenant I'm the regular service In June lSeI
month after this battle he was appointed cade'
al West Point, and was graduated four years ia'ei
and received his commission as second lieutenant IN
the regular service on June L. Lo Il" IN ise he wa
anDonte ed a.de-de-camp on the stan OF SeheraI JIG
Hooker and four yes sce a! Nav ISL he has
sditant OF the Artillery School at Fortress MOL
roe and within the next Few mohths VIII 'e'eNe
his commission as captain.
Another popuar officer is Lieutenant A. .. rfost'
If the 25t Infantry He is one OF the fortunate en-
ns,sd men who won his shoulder straps by sheer
merit He Is not a West Pointer. but he enlisted in
1851 and passed through the grades Of private cor
poral and sergeant. An Illnoisan by birth' ne may
be said to be a South Dakotan by adoption TOT ne
began his military service Fort Sully near Pierre
ID and ne has spent almost all of his fifteen years
OF military service in that part OF the Mest. U,y
few days ago the encampment OF the Isl Battaioi
him and 'sThe Aberdeen News said OF him. In con-
nection with the camp. that ne was not oi"S al W.