Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-24
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON.
Current Events Noted by tho Army
and Navy Register.

up ny TIE general SldlL VI lhc di my
that of providing for the examination
of militiamen who may be considered
as eligible to appointment on list or
reserves from which may be drawn the
commissioned personnel Of troops
placed in the field in an emergency
One of the great disadvantages and
dangers of war in which the country
may become involved is that the volun-
teer army hastily thrown together may
be Differed without regard to in
dividual fitness Of the men who hold
the military titles. We had something
of this when this nation went to war
with Spain. The few weeks at the
disposal of the authorities for the
preparation for conflict. including the
raising Of any army, gave scant oppor.
tunity to select officers Of line or star
with any regard for the qualifications
of the people appointed. Everything
fell back upon political influence and
the politicians knew little and cared
less for the qualities back Of their re-
spective candidates. The result was a
mixture of officers, none of them of any
great training and some Of them Woe
fully lacking in that respect. The war,
1t so happened, went on with no very
serious mishap on account OF this
deficiency. The disaster need not be so
recklessly invited again and under
section % of the militia law 1t will be
possible to have a reserve list of known
"eligibles," conforming to some stand
ard of personal qualification. Admis-
sion to this list will be as result Of
examinations held in different states.
% ;,,of ton,
other incidents connected with it will
be determined by the general staff.
The orders detaching Brigadier Gen.
eral Frederick Funston from command
Of the Department of the Columbia and
ordering him to assume command of
the Department of the East have been
modified. General Funston is ordered,
upon relief from command Of the De-
partment Of the Columbia by Brigadier
General Constant Williams. to proceed
:" Chicago. Ill, and assume command
Of the Department Of the Lakes. re-
lieving Brigadier General Frederick D.
Grant. General Grant is ordered to
proceed to Governors Island, n. Y.
and assume command of the Depart
ment Of the East These movements of
Off, ars will commence about October 1.
The army QuartermaSters are max
ing arrangements for the employment
of something like 700 horses, under
contract, during the combined maneu-
vers in Virginia. The engineers train
will consist of fourteen six-line and
fourteen four-line teams, that branch
of the service going to the camps fully
equipped for bridging the streams. The
medical department will have forty
four mounts for the officers, thirty
eight ambulances complete, six escort
wagons and pack train of twelve
mules. the latter being in the nature of
an experiment in the transportation of
medical and surgical supplies to the
front. 1t is planned to send the en-
gineers' train to Manassas on Monday
and the medical department outfit the
next day. Early in the following week
the quartermaster teams will be on the
ground. Some 200 wagons will be en-
ployed on the work of transporting
supplies in the field. This train will
be equipped and operated the same as
the system which prevailed in the Phil
ippines and in China. 1t will be d.
vided into twenty-five teams with a
wagon master and assistant wagon
master over eGch. Each train will
have it's mess tent and equipment tent.
The branch will have its own camp and
the master of transportation will be in
charge of all.
The general staff of the army has |
under consideration applications and |
accompanying papers of militia Off
GERS who desire to attend courses Of !
instruction at the several service |
schools. A number of such applica-
tions have been received, but in view |
of the fact that before entrance as |
student officer at a service school each |
militiaman will be subjected to a pre-
liminary examination. q number have