Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-08
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Promotions Due to General
.Randall's Retirement.

Major Gen. George NJ. Randall. command
Ing the northern military division, with
Headquarters at St Louis. closed his ac-
, tive connection with the army yesterday
afternoon by operation of the law on &C
count or age. His retirement Will result IN
number of important changes In the
army. Brig. Gen. John F. Weston, COM
nlissary general of subsistence. will relin-
quish his staff position and become major
general In the line. He will probably be
assigned to the command OF the northern
division at st. Louis
Col. Henry G. Sharpe, the senior officer
of his grade in the subsistence department,
will undoubtedly be appointed commissary
general with the rank of brigadier gem
eral. He is now on duty at the War De-
partment as chief assistant to Gen. Weston.
Major Gen. Samuel S. Sumner. command
ing the Pacific division at San Francisco,
will retire for age February next, and
Brig. Gen. A. w. Greedy, chief signal Off
Ger, will then probably be promoted major
general IN the line, in which event Col.
James Allen may become chief signal OFF,
Ger with the rank of brigadler general.
Lieut.. Gen. A. r. Chaffee, chief of staff,
Will be retired for age next April and will
be succeeded as head of the army by Major
Cen John c. Bates. who will be succeeded
stan by Major Henry c.. Corbin, now in
command Of the Philippines division. That
change will occur next June
When Gen. Corbin retires for age In Sep
TENDER next he will undoubtedly be sue
aceeded as lieutenant general and chief of
star by Major Gen. Arthur Macarthur.
now In the orient. who will serve until
1908. OF the officers who have held the
office of chief of staff and of those men
,'tioned as likely to succeed TO 1t. Gen.
Bates is the only one who graduated from
the Military Academy. Generals Chaffee
and Young began their military careers in
the ranks and Generals Corbn and Mac
Arthur volunteer officers during the war
of the rebellion.
Question Of Authority Involved.
A court of inquiry, with Capt. Gottfried
.Blocklfnger, U. S. N; Col. Chas. H. LAUGH
heimer and Maj. Dion Williams of the Marine
Corps as members, and Lieut.. w. P. Gro
nan as Judge advocate, has been organ
lied tatheeNew York navy yard, N. Y, to
investigate the acts of Lieut.. R. P. Will
Hams ". s. NJ c., and Lieut.. Farmer Nor
rison, U. S. n. 1t is alleged that Lieut..
Williams came up to the Sands street gate
of the New York yard at night a short
time ago, and. suspecting that the sergeant
had been drinking, ordered the corporal
of the guard to relieve him and take COM
mand of the post. The sergeant refused
to be superseded or relieved except on the
order of the officer of the guard.
The court is called on to decide whether
the officer exceeded his authority in trying
to relieve the sergeant OF the guard no
matter what his condition might be. Some
officers contend that the proper course for
the lieutenant to have taken would have
been TO promptly report his suspicious to
the officer of the guard, and that the ser
geant would have been within his rights ii
he had ordered the arrest of the lieutenant
for interfering with his duties.
1t. is understood that Lieut.. Morrison's
case involves practically the same question
OF authority of officers.
Athletics in the Navy.
Much, Information relating to first aid
to the wounded and the resuscitation of the
drowning is given IN the new drill books
adopted for the navy. A naval surgeon
who is an expert on such matters. furnish
ed this information. and graphic drawings
have been added to the text so there may
b. the fullest understanding of the require
ments, These books contain much concern
ing athletics upon which subject there will
probably be a special text book later as a
result OF the deliberations of a special
board of naval officers. That board which
has been Investigating the system in vogue
in other navies reports that in nearly every
service but our own there Is a complete
method of training men attached to war
ships, 1t has not yet been decided whether
the exercises shall be simple or elaborate,
and there is naturally difference of opin-
Ion among the experts in regard to methods
officers think that the greatest benefit will
be- derived from a system. simple as
may be, especially the facilities for doing
physical stunts on board a ship are some
what limited. At the same time 1t is pro-
posed to encourage as far as possible, ath-
lettc contests, and have men trained in a
way which will improve their health and
add to individual efficiency.
Wooden Scabbard for the Army.
The officials of the War Department after
careful consideration of the merits of sew
eral different types and styles of scab-
bards, have finally adopted for the army a
scabbard made of pine wood with a raw
hide and russell leather cover. 1t was their
desire to obtain a scabbard light in weight
durable and as inconspicuous possible.
Two different styles in aluminium were
tried. but 1t was found that they ratified
and reflected the sunlight to such an extent
that they could only serve as a target for
the enemy. So they were abandoned.
Another type it was thought might meet all
the necessary requirements made al
together OF leather, but it was feared that
IL they became bent from use or other
cause the bayonet would cut through them.
Ii is believed that the wood scabbard with
the leather cover will meet all service re-
quirements. 1t VIII be used for bayonet,
saber and sword in all branches of the
service
Not Entitled to Free Postage.
The question of the legality of the use
by army officers detailed for duty with the
organized militia OF a state or territory of
the penalty envelope in distributing general
orders and circulars OF the War Depart
ment and In conducting official correspond
ence with militia officers and others with
regard to militia business, having been
submitted to the Post Office Department
that department has ruled that such use
OF the penalty envelope does not relate
Exclusively to the business of the govern
nient of the United States" and that con-
sequently under the law such business can
not be transmitted in the mails free of
postage under cover of penalty envelope
Naval Promotions.
The following promotions In the navy will
result from the recent death of Capt. James
R,,Selfridse at the Boston navy yard: Com
ulanders George L. Dyer and C. P. Rees
tan additional number). to be captains;
Lieut.. Commander William r. Rush, to be
commander. and Lieut.. A. l.. Willard, TO be
lieutenant commander Cant w ~ E,yar-