New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-02
N THE VOLUNTEER ARMY

coxsrnreED IN DETERMINING PLACES
N THE VOLUNTEER ARMY.
day Of unusual quiet enjoyed YESTERDAY
bv the soldiers at Camp Black NO news OF any
blvd uos received about the arrival or departure
NJ new troops and the indications were as hune'
Gus rs ever that Hampstead Plains Will cohunue
for some time be the home OF New orA 'o'-
rnt,er soldiers who have not already gone 10 ths
front.
TIE oncsrs IN camp talked about nothing yester-
aav except the order from Washington announcing
that the Secretary OF War has decided that tho
relative ranks between officers OF the same sTaoe
commissioned by Governors OF state IS 70 NC oe-
tormined according the date OF their muster mo
the United States service. II the determination
n, this question had been handed over 70 the ON
cers thew would have decided that years OF service
in N. National Guard and not the date OF accept
ance into the volunteer army should have setteo
the question OF seniority
Tho effect OF the order is nullity the value OF
q National Guard commission. II provides that
preference shall be given 10 those Who nave nao
previous service in the regular volunteer army
but this is something that q majority OF mo
younger officers have never seen.
The order Will require q partial reorganization
OF each OF the regiments now in camp. Where the
entire regiments were sworn in al the same time
and previous service IN the volunteer or regular
service could not be made standard. the arrange
ment OF rank IN some cases determined by ioI
Tho captain OF the lst Regiment. for instance drew
lots 10 arrange themselves in The order Of senior
ity Captain Roach OF Company c. who drew NO.
l. and was therefore declared the ranking oMcef.
mas been in the service only short time. COM
paratfveIy and was elected 70 his present office
on April % Among the other captains were sew
eral who had held their offices five years or more
Lieutenant Vheelock. % Company D. was chosen
IS ranking Lieutenant
General Ponning ton does not allow himself TO 30
troubled about such things q a rivalry among the
officers over places He says that the rivalry Is not
harmful and that II shows healthy feellng IN the
commands. The worst mix-up on account OF the
order was In the lst Provisional Regiment, whose
officers represented by a committee. consisting OF
Captains Oracle, Goodcr and Hitchcock requested
o, Colonel Barber the privilege OF addressing tho
War Department and asking for an arrangement
by which the National Guard commissions would
count more In determining the rating. Co.onel
Barber his consent and the letter will be
sent.
Captain Fish o, the 47th Regiment. asked for
permission Yesterday 70 take hts men 70 brook
about a milo and a half away in order that they
might have a bath there. OF the requirements
OF li,e FOR which facilities sadly lacking at
Camp Black Permission was denied because the
Colonel feared that the men might be accused o.
trcspassinS II they took the trip Two old water
ing carts have been drawn UP on the feld Cor use
as lighthouses. They not the most convenen.
things conceivable FOR that purpose. but the men
have voted that they are great deal better than
nothing