New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-27
ARMY, AND NAVY NEWS.
lFRoM THE TRIBUNE BuREAu.I

washington, March 25.
ACTIVE OFFICERS FAvORED-The retired
officers OF the army are getting restless because
only few Of them have been detailed. their
application, for active duty Most OF them have
signifed desire take charge OF recruiting off,
IN the leading cities. and It believed that If
enough of them could be obtained for duty at such
places would suit the convenience Of the authori-
ties there would be appreciable effect upon the
fraction Of commissioned officers who what
is known detached duty. General Chaffee found.
during ranscontinental inspection trip of last
year. that troops and companies and batteries
were without a captain commanding officer,
while in some instances the command was reposed
in a second lieutenant in officer brought
from some other command-in the latter instance
all company officers being absent for one reason or
another. It has been found. however, that the re-
lief gained by the detail Of retired officers is by
no means sufficient Many of the officers thus
available do not wish to where it is convenient
for the War Department to send them, and in
other cases General Chaffee says the officers are
too DID, have been separated from active mill
tary work too long to be OF much value. Retired
officers are not entirely suited for college duty
either It is said, while the militia authorities al
iutant general has recently sent compliant to the
and said that the guard OF the State would rather
il he cannot travel about from place TO place. In
many cases where retired officers have asked for
their age makes them unavailable.
HYGIENIC PRECAUT1ONS-The army surgeons
have prevailed upon the General Stan 20 adopt
tain strict regulations which shall govern the
lection of future camp sites the combined army
and militia n1anoeuyres. Much trouble had been
ported this respect concerning the camp sites IN
course Of exercises In Virginia last year and it
is intended there shall be such difficulty here
after. Some OF the militia commands dis
tnguished great disregard OF the ordinary sani
tary precautions. and It is still wonder 70 the
doctors that more sickness did not prevail The
escape from serious trouble of that sort is at
tributed the short period whom the troops were
required TO remain IN the neghborhood OF the
swamps. One of the most exasperating conditions
with which the surgeons have had to deal in the
vicinity of the manoeuvres the Atlantic well
the Pacific Coast, was the lack OF good water
and the impossibility Of getting the enlisted men,
especially those OF the militia commands. 10 pay
attention TO the signs which designated the good
and the bad water. Then too, the owners of wells
oftentimes down the evidences contaIninat-
ed water, and probably nothing short OF having a
guard placed condemned well would keep
hot, thirsty soldiers from drinking Of the water
The General Staff has accordingly adopted nstruc-
tons which will be used hereafter in the selection
OF the sites and the arrangements for conVeniences
and water supply. IL is also planned that much
preliminary instruction shall be impaired bv tho
officers who are on duty ia connection with the
militia