Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-17
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Proposed Abolition Of the
Soldiers Home Tax.

1here is now on nanu III tiie pupiic lfeaS-
ury to the credit of the National Soldiers
Home in this city balance Of more than
s4.oOo.OOo. yielding interest at the rate of
about S125, 900 a year. Because of the high
ly prosperous condition of the institution
Inspector Gen. Burton has suggested the
abolition of the tax of 12Is cents per month
now imposed on each soldier of the army
for the support of the home. Gen. Burton
states that the money acquired annually in
this way for the maintenance of the home
is no longer needed. and that the income
from other sources Is more than ample TO
meet all requirements.
Must Be Ordered by the Secretary.
Secretary Bonaparte recently issued DE
partmental Order No. 53.'' which is q sub
ject of general comment in naval circles, as
its purpose Il not clearly understood. The
order says:
NO officer of the navy or Marine Corps
will proceed to a foreign country on special
duty connected with the service except I'M
der orders prepared by the bureau of nav-
cation or the command of the Marine
Corps, as the case may be, and signed by
the Secretary OF the Navy.
THE bureau of navigation will in each
case prepare a letter for the Secretary's
signature, informing the Department of
State of the intended visit and the general
nature only OF the duty on which the officer
is to be sent-this for the informatio of
the diplomatic representatives of the United
States in the countries to be visited"
Premiums for Workmanship.
Paymaster Gen. Dodge of the army has
asked the Secretary of War to recommend
legislation providing-that hereafter enlisted
men qualifying as expert r.flemen shall
ceive, in addition to their pay, 50 per month;
those qualifying as sharpshooters, 50 per
month, and those qualifying marksmen,
81 per month, under such regulations as the
Secretary of War may prescribe,
Prince Louis Praises the Sailors.
Rear Admiral Evans, commanding the
North Atlantic fleet. has issued a special
order promulgating letter from Rear Adj
miral Prince Louis of Battenberg, COM
handing the British cruiser squadron which
recently visited the United States, express
ing his appreciation of the compliment paid
him by the enlisted men of the North At
lantic fleet in inviting him to the entertain
ment given by them to the British sailors
at Couey Island, November 10, which enter
tainment he said was delightful in every
way and showed better than anything else
how deep the friendship is between the men
of the two navles." Rear Admiral Evans
congratulated the men OF his fleet the
success of the entertainment and said he
took great pleasure in conveying TO them
the praise and appreciation expressed by
Prince Louis.
Transfer of Officers Personal Effects.
A limit of one year from date of retire
ment or decease has been fixed by the War
Department during which the change of
station, allowance of the personal effects,
professional books and papers may be trans
ported at public expense to the homes of
retired officers or TO such points within the
limits of the United States as the relatives
or friends of deceased officers may desig-
nate. All property shipped after the time
limit herein fixed viii not be at public
pense.
Naval Base at Olongapo.
Arrangements are being made by the
Navy Department for the establishment of
naval dockyard and war base at Olonga-
po, P l.. and the transfer there of the re-
pair plant at the Cavite naval station. 1t
is the policy of the general board to have
at Olongapo the only repair station for the
AsiatiC feet. and every effort will be made
TO install machinery and other facilities for
doing work by the time the Dewey reaches
there. That will be within five months.
Contracts for Wireless Telegraphy.
The Navy Department has awarded con-
tracts amounting 10 $4,000 for ten sets of
wireless teIegraphy Of the Massie system.
One Of these sets will be installed at the
Washington navy yard, and most of the
others will be set up at the new stations
along the Pacific coast.
Cooking Coffee With Charcoal
Officers of the army responsible for the
subsistence supplies OF the troops are ex-
perimentng with a new coffee cooker It
involves the use of charcoal as fuel instead
of coal or oil, which latter are considered
more or less dangerous on railroad trains.
II Il Is found that charcoal can be used with
safety and with good effect it will be pos
sible 10 furnish coffee to troops travelling by
rail at about One-twentieth the expenditure
of money now involved in that supply. Cof-
fee is considered d necessary beverage to
soldiers on travel, and especially on long
distances, and anything which adds to the
facilities of obtaining it In suitable quaint
ties is likely to be favorably regarded by
those in authority. The charcoal cooker is
so constructed that II may be packed In
trunk for convenient transportation.
Examinations for Commissions.
Under the army regulations any enlisted
man who on September 1. 1906 will have
completed two years service as an enlisted
man and who IS otherwise eligible to take
the examination for promotion to the grade
of second lieutenant will be authorized by
his department commander to take the pre-
limnary examination on February l, 1906. 1t
is announced at the War Department that
only such men, however. have completed
two years service on May /. 1896 will be
ordered for the competitive examination on
May l. special competitive examination
will be held on September /, 1906. for those
the preliminary examination on February /,
will not complete their two years service
TIL after May l, 1906
Military Service Uniforms.
War Department general orders of Decem-
Der 81, 1904. have been amended to read as
follows:
The service uniforms are made OF wool
or cotton. The wooden uniform is prescribed
for winter wear in the United States proper
including Alaska. The cotton uniform is
prescribed for tropical wear and for summer
wear in the United States. II is also author
tied for use ct emplacements.'
An Officer in Trouble
First Lieutenant Arthur II. Freshwater,
29th Infantry. stationed at Fort Bliss
Texas. has been reported as having been
absent from his post without leave since
November 81 last, and 1t is alleged that he
has embezzled funds and gone to Mexico
Charges have been preferred against him.
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