Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-07
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON.
Current Events Cleaned from tn
Ann ma NM RrnIafer.

Army ma Navy HeHtsters
A question has been referred to the War
department whether an enlisted man o. the
army may have charges preferred against
him for refusing to pay sum Of money
az the value OF certain private property
lost through his negligence. The soldier
was placed in charge Of pack train return
Ing to Fort Apache. Ariz. The packs con-
tained the bedding Of certain soldiers who
had been on duty as escort to a paymaster.
one Of the packs containing a shelter half,
the property Of the United States and some
blankets, the property Of two soldiers, was
lost. The surveying odicer recommended
that the soldier be required TO make good
the losss TO the other enlisted men. The
soldier refused. In this case the circum-
stances are not regarding as constituting
a scandal, and II Is considered as establish
ing n dangerous precedent TO hold that on
GERS and soldiers are personally responsible
for private property which may he included
in certain government transportation OF
which the oficer or soldier has been placed
in charge and for which he is responsible
to his superiors alone. The soldiers refusal
in the case is not regarded as warranting
his trial by court-martial
There has been issued from the War de-
pdTNUlenl n general OEutI puDuenluB NHG
new regulations governing the school Of
application for cavalry and field artillery
at Fort Riley. There is an increase in the
number of officers detailed annually for in
structions. There will be detailed each year
not exceeding twenty-four lieutenants OF
cavalry who have not previously attended
the school. and twelve heutenants of
artillery who have not been at the school,
the cavalry officers to be nominated by
reglmental commanders or by the chief OF
stan and artillery lieutenants to be nomi-
mated by the chief Of artillery. The COM
mandant at the school is authorized
TO detail as student officers also such off,
GERS belonging to organizations stationed at
Fort Riley as are available. The course
Of instruction has been increased and now
will extend from November to the follow
ing October 10, with a recess from Decem-
Der "a to January 2. An important feature
OF the new regulations is that diplomas Of
the school will exempt the holders thereof
from professional examination for promo
ton 10 the grade next above that held by
them at graduation for a period Of two
years in cavalry drill regulations, field ar
tillery drill regulations, hppology, and Sc
curlty and information.
officer Of the army, who, with Major l. w.
Littel, the army quartemaster, accom-
panied the circus for a week or so for the
purposes Of observation, has made a full
report OF his visit. It was not expected
that the methods of provisioning in the cir
Gus would be productive Of many ideas Of
value to the military establishment, but It
was considered worth while detailing the
commissary and the quartermaster TO see
! just how the circus people handled a large
| force OF employees and a huge amount Of
material. II was observed by the army
officers, who were afforded every courtesy
and opportunity to see for themselves. that
| perfect system prevailed in all departments
of subsistence and transportation. Every
man has his task to do and the labor must
! be performed with the precision OF clock
work. The discipline among the employees
was a factor in the whole arrangement and
| introduced an element which could hardly
| have been adopted in the military service,
| where the practice of dismissal without
| notice or other formalty as a means OF
| maintaining efficiency would be out of the
question. The transportation is a problem
which is smpliied to some extent by the
| preliminary contracts with the railroads,
while the subsistence is by contract which,
|
does not in any way serve the purposes of
the army The equipment. also, is much
| too heavy for military use. although quite
suitable in all respects for a travelling show.
| After ALL the army officers found there was
very little to learn OF military value from
the circus methods.
| The decision of the secretary OF war to
admit civilians TO the competition for APP
pointment as second lieutenant Of the army,
regardless OF the number Of enlisted men,
Professionally eligible to appointment by vir-
tue of meeting the requirements of the pre-
Iiminary examinations, who may be ulti-
mately eligible, is the subject Of much crit
! icism II is quite deserved, It may be ad-
ded It is certainly unfortunate that there
should have been any decision which re-
stricts the appointment of enlisted men who
pass the required examination. There will
be much trouble as a result OF the whole
affair, the blame for which attaches to
those who are responsible for the paragraph
in the army regulations making IT possible
for the secretary Of war to let in civilians,
II he wishes. regardless OF the number OF
available candidates from the ranks and
their relation to the existing vacancies,
Mr. Root believed that the examination
should be competitive and under the opin-
ion OF the attorney general. solicited by the
War department and never published to the
| army, that the enlisted men should be pro-
vided for as far as the vacancies permitted
before there was any thought OF the candi-
dates from civil life. The admission Of civ
ilians to the competition is species OF
politics, which may very easily be employed
to good uses, and II is unfortunate that
there is such a condition in the War de-
partment that whatever may be desired by
the secretary of war and the president may
readily. somehow, be accomplished without
regard to the provisions OF law and the in
tention OF congress. 1t might be proper for
some brave soul 10 suggest that law should
stand before the general-staff-made regu-
Iations or departmental Interpretation OF
statutes; but no one has arisen to the oc-
casion with any great amount OF vigor at
this writing. although there are signs
that some expressions OF an official char
acter will be made soon-and certainly
the young men who have right TO enter
tain a grievance in this whole matter
will be heard from. AS the situation
stands, eighteen OF the vacancies will be
reserved for the enlisted men. twelve in
the infantry and cavalry and six in the
artillery, leaving ten for civilians.
"
REGULATION of Rates.