Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-14
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON
Current Events Cleaned from the
Army and Navy Register.


Army and Navy Register.
A valuable suggestion has been made
that swimming pools be established at
army posts. especially at the large
garrisons where such facilities would
be of great value to any athletic work
OF the enlisted force. II is important
that soldiers should know how to
swim. especially if we had campaign
in Il country full of streams; in addi-
ton to which fact. swimming consu-
tutes ore Of the best physical exercises
IN which young men can indulge. 1t
would not be difficult or expensive
matter to establish swimming pools
where the natural facilities for SWIM
ming do not exist.
The pay officers of the army are
greatly Interested in AN effort made
by General Macarthur in San Fran
cisco TO prevent the use of soldiers
deposit books as security in obtain
ing money. Quite "a traffic is carried on
i'll san Francisco i'm this way, with
the result that soldiers are becoming
heavily involved, the situation being
apparently confined to that city and to
one form there. II has been ques-
ton whether the deposit book could
be taken away from the enulisted man
and kept in the custody of the COM
p;iny commander or the paymaster.
The general opinion is that the deposit
book is personal property and cannot
be appropriated even for the purpose
OF safe keeping or the protection Of
its owner against imposition. 1t has
been considered that the officers duty
was performed when due and timely
warming was given enlisted men, and
certainly the principle of fraternalism
can be carried altogether too far.
General MacArthur. however. has
taken step which is of decided ad-
vantage to the soldier in an order
which he has issued calling attention
to the regulation which prohibits the
transfer. pledging or sale of deposit
books. 1t has been decided that these
books shall be kept subject to the call
OF the company commander and
when it appears that they are not in
the possession of the owners the lat
ter shall be punished if they are
found to have used their books as
security for money borrowed
The request made some time ago
by the surgeon general of the army
Tor permission to send representatives
OF the medical department to Manch-
uria to accompany the Japanese and
Russian armies in the field has been
received with favor at Toxic and
st. Petersburg, with the result that
Colonel Valery Hazard will be as
signed to duty with the Russians
and Captain Charles Lynch. who has
been with the general staff, will go
with the Japanese. There is very
much to learn. our medical officers
say. OF the belliSerent armies in the
ileid especially regarding the care
OF wounded and military sanitation
generally. The reported-incident of
the transportation of 1900 Japanese
on transport during long voyage
without single death naturally en-
cites professional interest. and it will
be of Importance to learn and see at
first hand just what the Russians and
japanese are doing for the preserv:-
ton Of the health of the soldier in
action. This government has now
obtained from the Russian and jana
| nese authorities permission to send
y" whom such permission was asked.
Only one other government has as
| many military attaches with the
| Russians and only England, which is
represented by eleven army officers,
has more military observers with the
Japanese.
The Union Signal. the official organ
| of the WOmen's i>brjctio,,
mon. is sending out to commanding
officers at army posts everywhere cir
| cular letters asking for opinions of the
general effect upon the army of the
abolition of the canteen. especially in
respect to discipline. morals. desertion
and the habits of new recruits. Officers
| are replying almost without exception
| that the abolition of the canteen has
been detrimental to the military per-
sonnet and to army administration.
| A typical comment is that furnished
| by Colonel w. NJ. Wallace. Fifteenth
| cavalry, who has reported that the eff
| feet of the abolition of the canteen
| has been disastrous to discipline. de-
moraliZing to morals. has increase
desertion and has demoraliZed the
habits of new recruits. In submitting
IIiS OpHliOu NOlDnei W aIlace adQed.
If beer is sold at post exchanges the
| numerous saloons that are now fixed
| like barnacles close to this garrison
will be closed for want Of patronage
/ can control the sale Of beer there
fore there will be no drunkenness"
The army medical school in Wash
ington has settled down to the hard
work of new session. The student
| body consists of ten lieutenants of the
regular department. three contract
surgeons and eight medical officers of
militia, among the latter being twol
surgeons of naval militia. Special at
tention is being given this year at the
school to the subject of tropical dis
eases. of which department Major
Walter d. McCaw is the head. Numer-
Gus requests are being received at the
surgeon generals office from medical
colleges in various parts of the coun-
try for lectures on this subject. and