New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-08
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
TFRoM TIE TRIBUNE BUKEAU.l

TERox THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington. May :.
EMPLOYING RETIRED OFFICERS.-Reiired
officers OF the army who. under the new army law.
become eligible 10 employment on active DUTY al
fun pay and allowances OF the grade he4a Ds mem
on the retired list anxious TO know 10 "ha'
extent they may be engaged Some OF theh are
oesirous OF being assigned 10 stan duty, 10 "i4ch
Il was believed they would be eligible 30 long as
the duty did involve serving with troops MS
particularly attractive % ofcerS VINO Sd"
chance OF coming Washington or serving Al
division or department headquarters IN large clues
There are nearly five hundred officers on detacAed
duty. most OF them being absent from line outies
and few OF them being away from their stan ouues'
j Is found that the star work suffers little II any
thing as a result OF officers being detached from
such duty The Judge advocate general OF the army
has now advised Secretary Taft that while the law
says nothing which would proven; retired ohicers
from being employed on star duty, II is proper TO
40 back Of the law and ascertain what was the in
tentlon Of the President and the War Department
Hf s - = 90 ctI'se rsIstng 10 his subject and
finds that II then planned that stan duty ior
retired officers TO be excluded from the lSt
With restoration OF their full pay and allowances
This furnishes the opportunity Tor IN, me S9nsIrle-
duty with the star departments The retired OIL
Of duty viii be greatly disappointed over the re-
suit and some Of them are nsey 70 eI en- ne
The War Department is in receipt Of numerous ap-
a1s of S oS General Sharfee however Is
anxious that only the younger officers OF the re-
tired List shall Re restored 10 duty, and that the
senior officers shall not be employed merely Tor
the sake OF giving mem F T The e2npjoVment OF
retired hrigadier general on recruiting ouly. 20
which first lieutenants and captains are usually
considered eligible
DEsERrERs REWARDS CHECKED.-An old
practice OF the Navy Department has been dis
turbed by the Controller Of the Treasury. who has
now decided that the government has no right 10
offer the reward OF 500 in the OF enlisted men
OF the navy who generally regarded as dessrters
Re holds that the sum be paid only for the ap-
prehenslon OF a man who has been formally de-
clared q deserter and that others. who may be eN-
pected 20 return. can be retarded only as straE-
$40. The distinction that Will be readily
sst p6on she eseS m smG FOR raf e that
these ahsentees are forced 10 pay out OF their own
tom in some places when a man overstsys his leave
10 arrest him as deserter and require hm as ga
which was paid out for his capture as deserter.
view sas"A anu 40" ''''
MEDICAL PLACES GO BEGGING-The army
medical officers somewhat discouraged over the
prospect OF filing this year the twenty-siK vacan-
cies existing the grade OF assistant surgeon IN
the army. The examination OF twenty candidates.
comprising the first class OF this years applicants
for appointment 10 The corps. has just been COM
rleted and Il resulted in the qualification OF only
three They Drs. Leartus JeraUld owen OF Evans
Robert Martin Cutler OF Reading, Penn. The sec
ond class Of candidates. twelve in number. Is now
being examined in Washington. and upon comple-
ton Of that examination all OF the approved can
didates will be formally commissioned and assigned
TO stations. pending the opening OF the Army Aedl-
cal School IN this city IN September A thlrd eN-
animation viii be held here later in the summer
and there will be examination in san Fran
cisco for the benefit Of candidates on the Pacihc
Coast The medical department holds out fewer
chances OF promotion than the naval medical corps
end this fact enables the latter branch 10 obtain
officers when the places Of assistant surgeon IN
the army so begging.
TOBACCO PRICE RAISED.-Jack Tar VIII be
obliged hereafter 10 pay two cents a pound more
than the present contract price for the navy plug
contract three hundred thousand pounds Of this
tobacco has been awarded a Richmond firm on
findings the board OF inspection at the Frook-
lyn Navy Yard. For FIVE years rival concern has
held the contract, and the former price paid by
the government IS Hereafter the price
Is 30 CENTS a pound. the sample submitted being
deemed by tho inspectors the hest Of the various
kinds presented by bidders The selection Of the
made without knowledge OF the price or SIS source
COLONEL MILLS SUSTAINED.-The Secretary
OF War has decided 10 have nothing do with the
rumpus which Captain J. P. Walker the retired off,
OF the army. raised 81 his ejec-
ton from the reservation At West Point The
papers IN the have been carefully read by
Secretary Taft. who has the conclusion
that nothing is be gained by further considera-
ZION or, much less official action upon. the case.
has been spending much Of his time in the cOrTi-
dOrs OF the War Department Induce the