The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-24
QUESTION OF
RELATIVE RANK.
A Very Knotty Problem is Settled at
Last.
THE WAR DEPARTM ENT'S ORDERS
Some Interesting Documents Received
Yesterday by the Adjutant-Gcn-
eraI Privates Transferred
and Discharged.

The Adjutant- General yesterday re-
ceiyed from the War Department num-
Der OF orders, some Of them of great In
terest TO the military OF the State the
question OF relative rank was one when
was the cause OF great worry ana con-
fusion during the mobilization OF troops
here, and IL was the case that oihcers
who had only been in service ranked
others OF long experience, simply because
they reached the point OF moDiliZatioh
first.
THE ORDERS.
The order bearing on this subject is
Circular No. q" and bears date OF June
/ 10Th. II is signed by Acknowledgement
Corbln. by command OF MaJOr-General
Miles, and reads as follows:
The following decisions have been
made and are published to the Army FOR
the information of all concerned:
determination Of status OF temporary
duty In cases of officers ordered 20 the
feld.-In the cases Of officers VINO were
on a status of temporary duty prior
to the declaration Of war, that stauts
ceased. and changed TO one of duty mot
temporary In the cases OF all officers on
duty with troops IN the field, on April r.
1895. the date from which war was de-
clared to exist by the act pf Congress ap-
proved April p, 1S9S.-(Decision Sec. War;
Letter a. O.. o., May ., 81
Rank of commissioned officers L. D
Volunteer Army.-The Secretary OF war
decides that relative rank as between OF
acers OF the same grade commissioned
by the governor of State or Territory,
is TO be determined according 10 date Of
muster into United States service, and
| that when such officers have commits
sions bearing the same date. and We're
mustered in the same date. their relative
| rank will be determined, first, by preVi-
Gus length of service in the United
States Army, Regular or Volunteer, or
Marine Corps. under commission and,
secondly, in the absence of any such
service. by lot.-(Decision Sec. War, May
| o. '9S)
The order below published also issued
| by Acknowledgement Corbin, by command
| of Major General Miles are of general In
| terest
EXTRA PAY.
1.-THE following decision has been
| made and Is published TO the army for the
| information OF all concerned:
Extra Pay for Exercising Command
| Above that Pertaining to an Officer 5
| Grade-Under section OF the act Of Con-
gress approved April 26, 1898. an officer
Is not entitled 20 pay and allowances OF
| the grade appropriate 70 a command eN-
| ercised by him above that pertaining 70
| his grade except when serving with
| troops operating against an enemy ana
| exercising the command Of the higher
grade under assignment In orders issued
| by competent authority IL is held that
troops serving within the limits of the
| United States at a time when there IS no
| foreign army within said limits are not
operating against an enemy. notwith-
| standing the existence Of war conditions.
For the purpose OF restricting assign
| ments 10 command under this section 60
competent authority" il IS decided that
| such authority can be exercised only by
| the Secretary OF War or the commanding
| general OF an army operating against an
| enemy. decision Secretary OF war June
| 10. 1s9S-SJQo3 A. G.. o.
EMPLOY CIVILIAN PHYSICIANS.
| Bv direction OF the Secretary OF War.
| the following instructions are published
| for the information and guidance Of re-
| cruiting officers of the army, both fegu-
| lars and volunteers:
| In the absence Of a commissioned medi-
| cal officer recruiting officers are author
| lied to employ civilian physician 10
| mako the examination Of recruits pre-
ceding enlistment required by army regu-
| latiOns at n compensation OF forty cents
for each man thus examined.
such of the provisions Of paragraphs
| Sig and 1858 of the Army Regulations and
| OF circular letters. Adiutant General s
| Onlce. May 25 1896. and June 3. 1898, as
| ara irconslstent with the foregoing are
| suspended during the war
! Orders were also received transferring
Private A. c. Turner Of Company d.
| Third Virginia Volunteers, now In camp
al Camp Alger 20 the Fourth United
| States Volunteers at Fredericksburg to
| await assignment
! George w. Clark, OF Company A, Sec
| ond Virginia Volunteers, now at Jackson
| vile. is discharged from the service.
| EQUIPMENT OF SOLDIERS
| The following general order prescrib-
| ing the equipment of infantry and cavalry
| soldiers will be Of interest:
| Equipments OF an infantry soldler-One
blanket bag. one blanket bag shoulder
straps (pair), one blanket bag coat straps
| (pair), one bayonet scabbard, one car
| fridge belt woven, or one cartridge box,
with waist belt and plate, one canteen,
| one canteen strap. one gun sling, one
| haversack. one haversack strap, one meat
| can. ono tin cup one knife, one fork, one
| spoon.
| Equipments OF a cavalry soldier-One
| carbine sling and swivel, one pistol hol-
| ster, one cartridge belt. one cartridge
| belt (Which Is fitted for use Of saber at
tachments for carrying the saber. when
| called for), one saber knot. one pair
spurs. one pair spur straps, one canteen
| and strap. one haversack and strap Nor
| df-r,cttp.aI eartrical ono meat can one