Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-16
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON
Matters OF Interest Cleaned from the
Army and Navy Register.

the army signal corps is established AT
It's new general depot at Omaha. II is
proposed to conduct tests and experi-
ments Tor the purpose of devising a
portable hydrogen generating plant,
winch Is greatly needed in the field in
the event of military balloon opera
tons. There is nothing on the market
which answers this purpose and moth
Ing quite satisfactory has been invent
ed for the use by European armies, or
has been used in the balloon work Of
the warning armies In Manchuria.
There are two classes of military bal
looms. the spherical. such as is used i'm
the French service and shape which
may be loosely described as resembling
the familiar bologna sausage and used
exclusively by Germany and Italy.
This government possesses both types
and Will make some extensive expert
ments with them at the Omaha station.
There are also two classes of hydrogen
plants. neither of which is entirely sat
isfactory, and it is expected that the
signal corps will be able to improve
upon the existing devises, especially in
the way of portability Of plant.
There is IA delay in the cOurt-martial
of Captain George w. Kirkman, Twen-
ty-ffth infantry. at Fort Niobrara,
Neb. The case is suspended until May
H. and the officer who was detailed as
counsel for Captain Kirkman, Captain
Charles l.. Bent. Thrtieth infantry. has
returned to his post. Fort Logan II.
Poots. in the meantime. Nothing is
l. in VI nf
of the delay in the trial. but it is as
sumed that testimony is needed from
officers in the Philippines and it is like
~ this will be taken by means Of depo-
Sitions.
The commiss:,ry generals Office has
not vet received all the names of candi-
dates who are pronounced qualified to
be carried on the eligible list for APP
pointment AS post commissary ser
geart and until all the reports are in.
including those from the boards con-
vened in the Philippines. the relative
position Of the candidates cannot be
determined. Information as TO the re-
sl.ective standing of the eliSibles. there
fore, cannot be given out for several
weeks. The prospects are That not less
than fifty candidates have been re-
ported as qualified, and these with the
names already on the list will make
sixty or Sixty-five candidates from
whom appointments may be made.
The examination Of civilian candl-
dates for appointment to the position
OF second lieutenant i'll the army began
this week. There were tWenty-elght
candidates for the sixteen vacancies III
the grade to the credit of civilians.
These are the places which might have
been filled by candidates from the army
previous to July l last, but there were
not sufficient approved candidates Ut
that time from that source. Ii the eS-
listing vacancies are not filled by the CT
villains. those already designated ana
under examination and those hereafter
designated, the places Will go TO the
credit of the graduates of west Point
next July. There are 116 members Oh
the present first class at the military
academy. and it is likely all OF them
can net find places. If there are any
additicnals. there will be no vacancies
for the candidates from the army TINS
wear and the two final examinations
might rs well be omitted.
Brigadier General Frederick Funston. !
L. s. A. who is in command OF the PC |
partment OF the Lakes. with headquarters
at Chicago, will become commanding ON,
Ger OF the Department OF California anu |
will take temporary command OF the IA
ciiIc division from April b. succeeding
Ericadier General Francis Moore. who |
goes on the retired list on that date. The
selection OF a commanding ofhcef LOT Inc |
Department of the Lakes has not been
announced. 1t is possible That Teherhi
Frank l.. Baldwin. now III command oi
thc Department of California, Will so 10
Chicago.
4 valuable pamphlet for use among
army officers who have charge OF inc
decorative feature of military posts has
been published by and issued from inc
Guartermaster general , ONE, i nf t t,e
u,lartcrmastcr general OF the army upon
furnished by the Departmchi
of Agriculture. The text is accompanied
by Il map designed to snow IN d Sc'i 1nnu
grasses of this country should DC uSed:
and the descriptive material relates nor
shrubs. 1t must be remembcrcd that pc
tween the areas so designated there Is no
hard and fast line of separation. IN soIiic
cases the boundary assigned 10 tle area
OF successful cultivation OF certain Spec!eH
ma, be Incorrectly placed owing TO lack
OF accurate knowledge OF aitltuueS,
amount of rainfall. limits OF certain t!P,
of soil and other factors that enter mo
the question. Further: although. as III
the case of kentucky blue grass, a very
large area has been designated as having
conditions best adapted to the srowtn,, OF
this grass. there are certain other
erusscs such as redtop. which can DC
profitably emplo. ed over much OF me
eastern portion of this area. The same
fact holds true of certain other areas.
This is brought out in detail uiiueI tue
discussion of the various species. guar
tcrnaster General Humphrey, IN a note
OF introduction. says: 49,
..This pamphlet is intended to give n
general indication of suitable trees
Shrubs, and other plants for use at mill
tary posts within the United States To-
eethrr with the kinds OF grass that
Should be sown for lawn purposes. ana =
general description of the manner OF
planting. 1t would be impraeticabtlce Ito to
give detailed information or descriptions
without going into an elaborate treausc
on the subject herein touched upon. ms
should he borne in mind by those consult
ing these pages. and where such informi;
ti0., is desired on specific SUBJECT. IL
may be found by consulting suitable DO
tanical works or from those familiar with
IA