The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-20
A GENERAL ARMY ORDER.
Secretary Root Issues Regulations
Governing the Military Service.

Secretary Root yesterday issued the
following general order to the army:
''rhe designation company as used in
these regulations applies to troops of cav
airy, batteries of field artillery, and COM
panies of infantry and coast artillery and
bands of all arms. The designation bat
talon applies in like manner to squad
rons of cavalry.
In the cavalry and infantry arms the
regiment is the administrative unit;
cavalry regiment consists of three con-
stituted squadrons of four troops each: an
infantry regiment of three constituted
battalions of four companies each. The
command of a regiment devofves upon
the senior officer on duty with it wherever
he may be stationed. Wherever incom-
plete battalions of the same or different
regiments are serving together the com
manding officer may designate provisional
battalions. The battalion is a unit for
maneuvers and instruction: 1t is not an
administrative unit; it has no headquar-
tiers and when serving in regiment no rec
ords.
Field officers of the line of the army
are assigned by the department or other
commander to stations commands
where their services are most required,
provided troops of their own regiments
OF corps are serving there. Lisntenant
colonies and majors on duty at posts are
assigned to provisional battalions by post
commanders.
THE regimental staff officers are ap-
pointed from the captains, and consist of
the adtutant, the auartermaster, and the
cOmmissary, and they will be so desig-
mated, respectiN ely; they are appointed by
the regimental commander, who will at
Il.
General, the appointment of the quarter
master and the commissary to be made
subject to the approval of the Secretary
of War
1.-THE battalion staff officers are APP
pointed from the lieutenants. and consist
of the adjutant and the quartermaster
and commissary, and they will be desig-
mated as battalion Cor squa5ron) ad1utant
and as battalion Tor sduadron) quarter
master ard commissary, respectively;
| they are appointed by the regimental
commander upon the recommendation of
the battalion comma nder.
when a battalion is detached aDd serv-
ing at such distance from regimental
headquarters that more than fifteen DAYS
are required for exchange of correspon-
dence by mail, the battalion stan ofncers
are appointed by the battalion command
er, who viii Immediately notify the regi-
mental commander and the Adjutant Cen
eral. Appointments of staff officers will
not be antedated, and will take effect the
day On which actually made. The officer
will be entitled to the pay pertaining to
his appointment from the date he enters
upon duty under 1t.
''Rcgimental staff officers may hold Of
flee for four years and battalion staff Of
fcers for two years and no longer. They
will not be eligible for second tour nor
for appointment or reappointment. ex-
cept to serve an unexpired term, but the
time an adjutant or quartermaster may
have previously served on the regimentai
staff with the rank of lieutenant. and
any period lieutenant may have served
as battalion staff officer, will not be in
Guided in computing the four years for
which he may hold office on the regi-
mental staff a captain.
Each non-commissioned officer will be
furnished with a certificate or warrant
of his rank. signed by the officer making
the appointment, and countersigned by
the adjutant, but separate warrant as
first sergeant will not he given war
rant issued TO a non-commissioned officer
is his personal property. Warrants need
not be renewed in cases of re-enlistment
in the same company, II re-enlistmeut is
made the day following the day of dis
charge. but upon request may remain in
force until vacated by promotion or re-
duction: each re-enlistment and continu-
ance may be noted. on the warrant by the
company commander