Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-23
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS

Bolos and repeating shotguns with DUCK
shot cartridges will be supplied to troops
In the Philippines If Gen. Leonard WOODS
recommendation to that effect is approved
by the War Department He says that re-
peating shotguns are invaluable for out
post duty in high grass and underorusn.
They stop men in their tracks, and their
possession, he says gives confidence to men
engaged in that sort Of work. They are
moreover, very useful On field service In
supplying the company with game.
Each company should be furnished he
says, with at least twenty bolos of the
shape and general type Of the Filipino bolo
or bamboo knife. These are needed in cut
ting trails through the Jungle. building
bridges, temporary shelters. etc. In his
view the new bayonet will not be OF any
practical value for that work.
"In recommending the repeating shotgun
and the bolo," says Gen. Wood, 1t Is
understood that these are not necessarily
a portion Of the equipment Of the soldier
engaged In civilized warfre, but the condi-
tons existing in these islands are not con-
ditions of warfare in the ordinary apple
cation of the word they are abnormal condi-
tons involving service against savage
enemy in a jungle country, and In opera
ton under abnormal conditions special arti-
cles Of equipment are required. 1t Is not
a case for academic discussion, but one in
volving practical dealing with the require.
ments of the situation. l believe that all
officers who have had actual field service
in this department concur as to the neceS-
sity of the issue of a certain number OF
boios to the troops for the purpose above
mentioned. Under present conditions 1t Is
necessary to procure the bolos somehow,
and they are usually got from the quar-
termaster's department, or at times OBJ
tanned by the men themselves from ma
tives."
Duties Of Young Paymasters.
The session of the naval pay corps school
of application in this city will close next
Tuesday instead of on the 29th instant, as
was originally intended, the change of date
being necessary on account of the begin
ming of the session of the naval medical
school, which is held at the same place.
The student officers have been under exami-
nation the last three days Of the past week.
The officers will be assigned to duty after
q short leave of absence as follows: AS
sistant Paymasters D. B. Wainwright and
H. H. Palmer, to the Asatic station; P. I.
NJ. Lothrop, to the Des Moines; E. c. Lit
tie, to the Scorpion; o. D. Conger, to the
Boston; J. N. Jordan, to the Hankocki
William H. Lamar, one months leave; }.
P. Helm. to the Wolverine; J. F. O'Hara,
brick, to the Yorktown; B. D. Rogers, to
the Mare Island navy yard for special tenn
porary duty; Reginald Spear, to the League
Island navy yard the assistant to the
general storekeeper; Frank Baldwin, w. H.
Wilterdink and G. P. Shamer, to the navy
yard at New York for special temporary
duty, and F. H. Atkinson and II. l.. Beach.
to the bureau of supplies and accounts for
special temporary duty.
The Detroit May Go to Chicago.
ton to send the cruiser Detroit to Chicago
as station ship for the Illinois naval mi
litia. The assignment will involve con-
sultation with the State Department as to
the restrictions of treaty obligations with
Great Britain, which convention has endur-
ed for nearly a century and may now be
considered as interfering with the desires
Of the Illinois militiamen. If the Detroit is
sent to Chicago she will have to be shorten
ed by about twelve feet in order to get her
through the ST Lawrence canals. That may
be done by removing that amount of the
bow of the Detroit and replacing 1t on the
passage of the locks.
Smoking Privileges of Midshipmen.
The regulations for the government Of the
Naval Academy have been amended so as to
provide that midshipmen who desire to do
so may smoke during hours of recreation
in the cadet barracks and, if in camp with
in the body of the encampment east of the
color line Cadets who are patients IN hos
pital may, with the approval of the surgeon
in each case, smoke at hours and In such
parts of the hospital as the surgeon may
| prescribe.
Reforming Artillery Posts.
| Col. Murray, acting chief of artillery, has
| recommended changes of important
| character in the artillery garrisons, and the
matter is now before the Secretary of War.
he orae nr0vi1pS for the concentration of
| artillery troops at one or more posts in each
artillery district so as to reduce the garri-
soned artillery posts from forty-seven to
about thirty. That will effect considerable
\ economy account of the decrease In the
| number of administrative offices 1t will re-
| lease a great many artillery officers from
administrative duty and render them avail
| able for duties of a purely artillery charac-
| ter; 1t will allow artillery drills to be con-
Quoted by fire and battle commands, where
| there Is now a limitation to battery drills,
| and will to a great extent reduce the isola-
| ton of both officers and men at small one
and two company posts. The one and TWO
| company posts from which the garrisons
will be withdrawn will still be available as
quarters in case of any increase in the Ar
tillery Corps.
Military Reservation in Texas.
| The United States recently purchased for
| military purposes a tract of about 2i25
acres Of land adjoining the military reser-
| walton Of Fort Crockett, near Galveston,
| Tex With this addition the entire reserva-
| ton Will contain about 1900 acres. Inc
| post is not garrisoned
| Much interest is being shown by Gen.
| Bell, chief Of staff, and other officers of the
army in the races of the United Hunts AS
ISOLATION which are to take place at Ben
| ming track late in October. One of them is
| a steeplechase for prize offered by Perry
Belmont, and three of the races are for
| military riders. In one Of the steeplechases
! army officers may take part, using mounts
| which they do not own. This is a valuable
| concession, and will result in the admis
| sion to the contest Of several officers who
are good riders and who will use army ami
| mails 1t is desired to encourage to the
| greatest extent possible the individual ardor
| for military riding. and lately the general
| staff has done much toward the equipment
| of the horse and the practice work of the
riders in an effort to improve army horse
| manship.
Changing Stations Of Artillery.
Orders will shortly be issuer transferring