The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-04
that the personnel of it's commanding force
hsd not yet been made up.
CONCENTRATION POINTS.

that the personnel of its commanding force
had not yet been made up.
CONCENTRATION POINTS.
Chickamauga Park battlefield and Wash
ington, d.. c., are places upon which it is
said the War Department officials have alb
solutely determined as concentration points
for large portions of the volunteer army
now being mustered in throughout the
United States. Both of these places, because
Of their location and other facilities. offer
exceptional advantages for mobilization.
One other central point I'm the East will be
used by the department at which to con-
gregate a large number of soldiers. This
viii be either in Pennsylvania or New York
State, where they may be near the coast
prepared for immediate transportation TO
Cuba in case this becomes necessary. or for
any defensive operations made necessary
from the landing of a hostile force-a posi-
bllity acknowledged by the officials to be
very remote indeed but yet one to be pre-
pared for in the event it should arise.
Secretary Alger to-day directed that an
amendment be made to the army regula-
tons which will require that during time
Of war all officers of the army and navy
shall wear the uniform of their rank at
the places where they may be stationed.
This change was determined upon at the
Cabinet meeting to-day and it's enforcement
will give an official status to the military
and naval representatives of the govern
ment that is not now patent to the ordi-
nary observer. Especially is this change de-
sirable in the offices of the War and Navy
Departments in this city, where during GER
tain hours of the day a strict surveillance
is kept of those persons who enter the build
ing. 1t will also be of value to visitors, who
will be able to distinguish readily the off,
cial class with whom they may have busi-
ness to transact.
General William H. Nash, who was re-
Gently appoirted commissary general of sub
sistence OF tha army, was to-day retired on
his own application and Col. c. P. Pagan,
the officer next in line of promotion accord
ing to seniority, will be appointed to sue
coed him. General Nash's health is not very
good, which made it difficult for him to
perform satisfactorily to himself the i'm
portant duties which are required of the
head of the commissary department in
the present emergency. General Nash will
reach the age of sixty-four years in a few
weeks, when by law he would have been
retired, but he expressed a perfect willing
ness 10 surrender his office at this time and
permit the younger officer to become thor
oughly equipped and familiar with the i'm
portant duties which will devolve upon him.
One hundred and thirty-hve passes Civ
Ing permission for correspondents OF, news
papers to accompany the army have so far
been issued by Secretary Alger. One of
these was TO Mrs. K. Il. Watkins, repre-
senting a Toronto newspaper, and is the
only one issued up to this time to a repre-
sentative of the gentler sex. Many other
applications have been filed with the secre-
tary.
The secretary Of war has decided that the
second lfeutenants who are to be appointed
10 the army from private life shall be not
younger than twenty-one nor older than
thirty years and that they shall undergo a
quite rigid examination. The increase in the
army Will make necessary about two hum
cred such appointments and there are many
applications for the places.