Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-27
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON.

Current Events Cleaned from the
Army and Navy Register.
On his way to Washington from his
recent inspection tour OF Alaska, Brigadier
General A. w. Greedy, chief signal officer
of the army. stopped at Fort Omaha, Neb.,
to observe the progress that has been made
toward completion of a four-company
signal corps post. He found that the work
of the quartermaster's department in re-
pairing the old buildings and in new con-
struction is of high character. and the
post promises to be an unusually fine one.
Two companies of signalmen are already
at Fort Omaha, one is en- route there from
the Philippines and another will be or
dered from Benicia Barracks, California.
The post is commanded by Major Eugene
o. Fechet, of the signal corps
Certain changes have been recommended
in full dress shoulder belts for officers OF
the signal corps. The change recommended
in the shoulder belt of the chief signal
offlcer at the army was concurred In by
the general stan. It appearing that the belt
as at present prescribed is Objectionable
in some small details. The change recon-
mended for other signal officers was not
concurred in, as oil officers have supplied
themselves with the present design, and the
change was not deemed necessary or OF
sufficient Importance to justify the trouble
and expense TO the officers concerned.
This action of the general stan is in accord
with the wishes Of the chief signal officer
of the army on the subject, as he has been
10th to favor any changes which will
entail upon officers additional expenses for
uniforms, which are heavy at best, and
which have been especially burdensome
during the recent period of numerous al
terations in the regulations prescribing
military attire.
In view Of the number OF cases of de-
fective vision found among recruits en-
listed at recruiting stations, recruiting Of
ficers have been enjoined by the War de-
partment TO take special precaution in the
examination of the eyes OF applicants.
Cases were reported where applicants prior
to examination had committed to memory
the letters on the test cards. thus securing
better rating for sight than that to which
they we're entitled To obviate this in the
future, 1t has been ordered that the cards
for testing vision be kept locked UP when
not in use, or otherwise protected from
access by prospective recruits. In all
doubtful cases a small paddle with hole
in 1t of such size as to expose only one
letter at a time should be used.
The general stan OF the army has made
an Interpretation OF paragraph IS of the
army regulations. which relates to hunting
leaves, and which was recently the sub
ject OF an opinion by the acting Judge
advocate general OF the army, as stated in
the register at the time. A question was
raised as to its construction in view of the
provisions OF circular IS, current series,
War department, which states that "all
authorized absence from duty on the part
of army officers not otherwise specially
provided for by law. whether In the form
of delays in reporting for duty under
orders, extra time allowance for making
Journeys, permission to be absent without
formal leave, or under any authority OF
any kind or nature whatever. unless spe-
cially stated and shown to be for the con-
venience OF the government, or excused by
competent authority as unavoidable must
be regarded as absence with leave and be
subject to the same conditions as to pay
as absence in pursuance OF formal orders
granting leaves OF absence" The general
stan concluded that circular IS does not
modify the provisions OF paragraph S.
Army Regulations, as absence for the pur-
pose OF hunting is clearly for the con-
venience OF the government, In view OF the
report which Is required to be submitted
in order that the absence may not be
charged against the leave account.
Radical changes in the methods OF ex-
aiming recruits for the army are pre-
scribed in general orders 1874 issued from
h. MI