Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-20

inc JudSe advocate general of the
army continues to receive complaints
"eaihst army officers for failure to pay
"'eSed financial obligations. There
Is some talk Of issuing circular which
snail be an official notice on people
most interested that the War Depart
meht can not undertake services of
TINS sort. especially in those instances
where the Indebtedness is disputed.
10 such appeals the War Department
is uniformly advising recourse to the
civil courts.
The War Department has refused to
consider favorably the resignation Of
Captain George w. Kirkman,
Twenty-lifth infantry. on duty at Fort
Niobrara, Neb., who is awaiting trial
on numerous charges prepared some
weeks ago. Since that time addi-
tional charges, all OF a serious charlc-
ter, have been made, and under the
circumstances the War Department
does not believe that KirkInan should
be allowed to leave the army by means
of a resignation. even were it accept
ed ''fOr the good Of the service" There
has not been in n long time a court
martha case where so many charges
of varied sort existed as in this case
of Captain Kirkman. 1t is under
stOd the defense contemplates the in
Production of plea OF insanity. which,
successfully raised, would undOubted-
ly result in the retirement or the
officer. To that end it is understood
potent western railroad influence may
be eXerted.
II is by 10 means certain that the
experiment of detailing retired officers
| Of the army to active duty in connec-
ton with recruiting service is sue
| cess. There are indications, indeed.
that the practice possesses anything
but those gratifying results. In the
first place, Il few of the retired officers
who have expressed a Willingness to be
detailed for duty are willing to go
wherever they may be sent. A rev SO
EXPIRE ssed themselves. but usually add
ell ii preference. and it is expected that
in many cases officers who have been
assigned to duty which is not entirely
to their liking-at least az to location
will find it possible TO ask to be re-
lieveI There is no way out OF this
state of affairs for the War Depart
ment. because the law requires that
the officer himself shall make applica-
ton for duty; and assignment to any
task must have the consent OF the re-
tired officer. Ii would not be surpris-
ing il, inside of a few months, there
are no retired officers on any sort OF
active duty.
The ancient and honorable title OF
assistant adiutart general. which mas
tecn in existance for many years,
passed into history with the enactment
of the latest army appropriation bill.
Ths Dill was signed on March 2, since
which date there have been no assist
mt adult Mt generals Il! the army. All
such. along with the assistant chief of
| the record and pension office. become
military secretaries. The assistant ad-
tutants general and the assistant chief
of the record and pension Office were In
the military secretary department,
anyway, and in tlule-upon the retire
nlert of General II. c. Corbin, the titu-
lar adjutant general, and the active
commanding general in the Philippines
division-the officers under the MILL
tary secretary were destined to be-
come military secretaries. 1t is
merely an anticipation by q few
months, comparatively. of the ahan-
Comment OF the titles which added
to the confusion OF designation Of
officers of the military secretary's
department. a general order has been
issued from the war department for
lnally announcing to the army the
change.
Colonel Allen Smith. sixth cavalry.
OH duty ut Fort Meade, S. D..
will be made brigadier general and
retired under the provisions Of the
act Of April 5. 1904. Colonel Smith
is one of the officers with a
Civil War record and would not be
retired for age until April IL. 1918. He
gained his Civil War record as a mid
shipman i'll the navy from July %,
1863. to March %. 1856. a few months
after which date he became second
lieutenant of tire First infantry. He
has been colonel of the Sixth cavalry
since June. 1902. By this retirement
Lieutenant Colonel William Stanton.
Eleventh cavalry on duty at Fort Ri
ley Kan. will become colonel of cav
MdJol y. MCAltIlldIld VI tiic
cavalry arm. member of the general
staff and a detailed officer in the mill
tary secretary's department. will be-
come Il lieutenant colonel. The promo
ton of captain. first lieutenant and
second lieutenant of cavalry as
result OF Colonel Smiths retire
lnent, is blocked by the fact that
there is returned to the cavalry arm for
service Mayor w. f.. Wilder. also a de-
tailed officer in the military secretary's
department, where his period of service
has expired. Major Wilder must be-
come a surplus officer of the cavalry
arm and until there is another vacancy
among the colonies or lieutenant colo
nels of cavalry there can be no adj
vancement in the grades of captain,
FIRST lieutenant or second lieutenant
Pointed Paragraphs.
Cupid draws plans for many an air
castle.
One seldom sees a full man with
| f,yl