Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-01
DETAIL SYSTEM A FAILURE.
Gen. Greeley Advocates Arranging
Army Officers on Lineal List Basis.

Washington. Oct 31.-Gen. A. w.
in his annual report does not speak
encouragingly of the detail system
which he says he has Loyalty endeav-
ored to carry out for the past three
years. LAS volunteers have failed
CONSUMPTION was necessary in the case
of the 16 officers already detailed ,in
the signal corps), of whom fully one
fourth have endeavored to evade ser
vice through personal or political in
fluence." says Gen. Greeley, and adds:
1T is suggested that the entire con-
missioned force of the army excluding
the permanent technical corps. be ar
ranged in one lineal list below the
grade of brigadier general. Through
system of annual retirement i SUIT
able flow of promotion and elimina-
| ton by retirement as is done IN the
navy, of officers incompetent. either
| morally or professionally. would than
be practicable and thus materially im-
| prove the service. Distinguished SER
vices could then be rewarded without
| marked discrimination against equal
competent officers who have not had
opportunities, through advancement by
files, the recipient being an extra
number confirmed by the Senate"
| General Greeley says that upon an
hours motto the signal corps can fur
nish all equipment necessary for 1000
miles of communication. Studies Of
war in South Africa and Manchur.a
have shown deficiencies in the .Aineri-
can army only in connection with the
fire control of field artillery. Direct
telegraphic communication is now es-
Itablished with five military posts in
| Alaska. The commercial business has
Melted 100000 during the past year
and it is estimated will be increased
to 100000 annually. The submarine
cables Of Southeastern Alaska are 200
miles long.
| Gen. Greeley says the gradients of
ocean depths were found most abrupt
instead of gradual as WIS indicated by
existent soundings.
Speaking of the wireless work in
Alask between Nome and st. Michael
Gen. Greeley says:
This is the only long wireless tele-
graph system in the world it is be-
lieved, that it is regularly operated as
a part of a telegraph system handling,
commercial business. On Aug. S. 1901,
| it completed a year of uninterrupted
service over it's course of 107 miles.
| 1t has handled daily and uninterrupted
ly the entire Geographic business of
Nome and the Seward peninsula,
which. together with the officia! bust
ness. averages several thousand words
| daily. More than million words were
sent during the year. many thousand
being commercial code words in which
no error has ever been traced to this
section. In a single hour there have
been transmitted over this section 1000
words without error or repetition.
Capt. Wildman was retained At Nome
throughout an Arctic winter to insure
continuity of operation and the Sue
lcessful training of the enlisted force"
During the year there We're $3.50
messages besides considerable free Of
fetal business. Gen. Gereley says:
1T was deemed proper to relieve the
isolation of Alaska life by furnishing
daily the approved news bulletin to
each military post and station and by
granting strictly limited use of the
line in inter communication on social
subjects between the different military
stations"