Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Secretary Taft May Reor-
ganize the General staff.

Secretary Taft contemplates reorganiza-
ton of the general stan OF the army.
think said he. recently that a sufficient
time has now elapsed since the law pro-
vfdIne for the establishment of a general
stan corps was passed to show conclusively
the necessity for such an organization in
our army / should greatly dislike to think
that l would have to do without the ad-
vice and work of the general staff, but l
am not by any means satisfied with the
present methods of doing business pre-
scribed for that body. AS the matter now
stands, the general staff is doing too much
administrative work. and the chief of staff
has actually become an administrative Off
GER That is not as it should be, and l pro-
pose to take this matter up for action
very soon. The general staff should de-
vote it's entire time and energies TO re-
search and to advising the Secretary OIL
War on military matters: shall nave
something to say about this matter in my
forthcoming annual report"
Military Use of Plowshares.
officers of the signal service are favorably
impressed with a device invented by
Massachusetts militiaman which converts
the ordinary peaceful plowshares into an
implement of warfare. The device was
operated ut a recent encampment of the
Massachusetts militia, and will be given a
more thorough test by regular army Off
GERS. The implement in question IS sort
of plowshare. At the recent test, 1t cut
a thin furrow. nine inches deep, in the
ground, and at the same time embedded
therein and covered over against the chance
of harm and discovery, the wire of the
field telegraph and telephone. There was
some difficulty in collecting the w.re after
the operations, but 1t was recognized that
this system of laying subterranean lines OF
communication had It's advantages, although
ordinarily the system used in the army of
laying wire on the ground will have to be
used in hasty operations.
Saluting the National Air.
Questions frequently presented to the
War Department in regard to the regula
ton military salute during the playing of
The Star Spangled Banner which has
been adopted as the national air. The army
regulations as recently amended, provide
that during the playing of that air, ''all
officers and enlisted men present will stand
at attention. and If not in ranks, will render
the prescribed salute. the position of salute
being retained until the last note
Capt William M. Cruikshank, Artillery
Corps, at Fort Howard. Md. referring to
the provision quoted. said 1t might indi-
cate the salute with the hand, but para
graph 3S2, army regulati tons, 1904 states
that Officers and enlisted men passing tie
uncased colors will render the prescribed
salute; with arms In hdnd, the salute Will
be made by uncoverlng" Capt Cruik
shank requested to be informed to what
is the prescribed salute during the play
Ing of the national air. The question hav-
ing been submitted to the War Depart
ment, Col. H. p Mccain, military secre-
tary. has informed the officer through Gen.
Grant, commanding the department of the
east. that in an analogous case the chief
OF STAFF decided that the words prescribed
salute, as used in paragraph 3Ss, army reg
ula tions, as amended by general orders,
No. 10, War Department, October Is, 1905,
mean the salute with the hand or with the
weapon with which armed.
Desire Naval Commissions.
Warrant Machinist r G. Van Ness and
Boatswain William Martin have made APP
plication for appointments as ensigns in the
navy and will be examined next year.
To Cruise in the West Indies.
The captured Spanish gunboat Don Juan
de Austria Will be placed in commission at
the Portsmouth, n. H, navy yard on the
18th instant. with Commander William
Braunersreuther, United States navy, in
command The ship is destined for duty
in the West Indies, and will take the place
Of one of the vessels in the command of
Rear Admiral Bradford, patrolling the wa
ters of Santo Domingo.
Soldiers Not Menials.
President Roosevelt last week received a
letter from a member of Congress inquir-
ing whether soldiers are required by Off
GERS to drive their carriages, black their
boots and perform other mental service.
The President referred the letter to the
general staff, who report that soldiers are
not required to perform such work; that the
Law forbids an officer to use an enlisted
man as servant; that officers do some
times employ enlisted men 10 work for
them but il is nv and
the men are entirely free TO work or not, as
they see fit, that some men are glad of the
opportunity thus to earn few dollars in
addition to their pay, the work being in ad-
ditiOn TO their military duties.
Destructive Cuban Insects.
The Cuban ant, described as most indus
trious and destructive Insect. is playing
havoc with some OF the frame structures
at the new naval station at Guantanamo.
Nothing but the most expensive native
woods will stand the attacks of this raw
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