The times., 1897-12-25
THE AMERICAN ARMY, 1897. ,

brings out number of interesting facts
in regard to the changes during the past
Year. In all, no less than fifty-three
officers have been transferred to the re-
tired list since last January, or whom no
less than twelve were generals-an unprece-
dentedly large number for so short space
of time," says the New York Evening Post.
During the same period seven officers,
one captain and six lieutenants, have re-
signed, two leutenants have been dishon-
orably dismissed and sixteen officers on
the active list have died The retired list
has been decreased by the death OF forty
one officers of every rank, from ma or
general to second lieutenant, among whom
was the sole remaining survivor of the
war of 1872, Lieut.. Michael Moore. The
usual increase Of the retired list is, there
fore, quite small this year, being only
twelve, which makes it about 661 strong,
whereas, in fujmer years, owing to addl
tionaI retirement Ia WIS, the increase has
been very marked.
1T is probable that in the future the
retired list viii stay at about its present
size until 9u3, when it should considerably
increase with the passing to it of many
war veterans the youngest of whom VIII
retirements this year have been voluntary
or for disability, and if this were not the
case, promotion would have proceeded
very slowly, as comparatively few officers
reached the age limit on the whole,
however, II has been an excellent year.
for promotion, except in the hopeIessIy
blocked artillery, as thirty-e eight second
lleutenar Is OF infantry and twentythree Of
III, IL
There are still a number OF this years
graduates Of West Point unprovided with
second lieutenanCies, all of whom are
now attached to regiments as additional
second Iicutcnants. The number OF Tcsig-
nations, although only seven, is much
larger than usual, and shows how greatly
men In the United States service cling
to their commissions, particularly as sew
eral of these were forced to resign 70 avoid
court-martial end probable dismissal.
''In other services designations are Of
daily occurrence. Eighteen hundred and
ninety-se has also been one of the few
years since the war in which no Officers
and men have lost their lives while rn
duty. with the exception OF private.
on mail service i'll the Yellowstone Park
this week. It has been Il very quiet year
on the whole, although the troops have
dohe more practice marching than for
some SearS, and a number of companies
in various parts OF the country have been
called out because OF Indian disturb
ances in four or five States.
In putting Capt. David l.. Brainard
OF the subsistence department, in charge
OF. the supply and food part of the Klou
dixie relief expedition, Secretary Alser
chose the man who had been farther
north than any one else until N1nsen
made his ice journey. Brainard, then cav
airy sergeant, was member Of the Greeiy
expedition. and accompanied Lieut.. Lock
wood on his dash for the pole, for which
service he received his second lieutenanCy
from Congress direct in 1896.
His Arctic experience under Greelv
Should bc OF ipvsluab ble aid in ALASKA.
particularly i'll knowing what not 10 Dc.
Maj Louis II. Rucker, Fourth Cavalry,
whom Gen, Merriam has appointed to the
command Cf the expedition itself reg ched
his present rank this year, and has had
considerable experience in hard winter
Indian campaigns He is a man Of vigur-
ousphysique and Injured to- hardships. Tie
War Department has received a number
Of anplica tiOns for this detail from Officers
eager to break the monotony OF ga rrisOn
life by n trip to the Klondike.
The army has been so long victim
OF experiments and needless changes that
most new propositions. unless Trey are of
really dangerous nature. are received in
silence. Adjt. Gen. Breck's newly pF5-
lines similar TO those of the Navy ap.
mr.. tpa vii Ea
any great eI thusiasm Hy the majority Of
the Officers. 1t is generally held in
Europe that to make man soldier two
years of the hardest kind OF work is nec..s-
sary, but Gen. Breck not only desires 10
make picked soldiers out OF these ap-
pFentices, but also expects 10 Eave then
taught trade as we'll. Another OF his
ideas 10 locaiize these bIttaliOns 50 that
certain states or communities VIII supply
the material for them ana take great
pride in them " i'll bring mp an old problem.
Some years ago Capt. Jacob G.. GalhraIth
established recruiting stations in Iowa VITA
the object to filling up his regiment. the
First teTalry, with natives II that State
with yiaW to making it in q way an
Iowa regiment. For one reason OF another
the scheme fell through. although Capt.
GaIbraiuE's personal efforts brought ia {
good many Iowa recruits.
Tine new battery ot fiea. yartiilery whi,i
guards the Della ware a Finn's Point. Sel
Jersey. fas heeu named Fort Mott. in ECne
OF Gen. GcFshom Mott, OF New Jersey, VII,
at one time commanded the Third Division
OF tire Second Army Corps. Although mere
than one-baIf of tie regular artillery is sta
toned at forts where there are no n.oder;
guns, the War Department this wee, gaze
Out a list of twenty-five posts at which gar
risOns would soon bG imperatiteiy re
CURED With Geft use of words. tie TO
port adds that there are no troops wiiic
can bt assigned TO these without ia king then.
from other sta ations,' and, of couse, fail if.
add that nearly half Of these ''other 1td
tons are wholly without modern guns. anG
therefore do not need their present garrisuGs
of one half cur artillery at all.
The past v eek has seen the granting =
the usual large number of Christmas Ieaye>
of absence, and tie adoption OF rev grIy
color for all Army tentage. leggins an.
canvas clothing generally. The trab ma
terial Will it is expected, attract tie rays
of the sun ant! hostile bullets less anil also
be NOR, rearly waterproof tEan that u>e1
MIR WRIGHT \ school TRU STTEE.
WsIt-y uoxyu Coloreu Man Succ- eds