New-York tribune., 1906-12-17
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
IRON The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, December IS.
ARMY OFFICERS TO SEE wORLD.-Secretary
Taft believes there should be encouragement OF the
army to travel in foreign countries and to this END
he is in favor of legislation to be incorporated In
the Army Appropriation bill this session whlch
shau have the effect OF regarding officers as ON u
tached service during certain parts or leaves OF
absence granted officers who are on duty III INC
Philippines Hitherto officers attached to stations
at a distance from Manila nave been obliged to
take the interisand transports. and much time ls
this period. sometimes extending over fortnight.
eoqta be taken out Of the officers leave ana rs
eaIued as period of detached service, IL Would
give more time for officers in the Far East to traVe
themselves in foreign languages. This concession
70 officers VIII have to be granted by act of Con-
position this suggestion Of the Secretary OF War
under the circumstances.
NAVAL STAFF REIIEF-Nothing will be at
tempted by the Navy Department authorities in
the course of the present session OF Congress, II
present indications count for anything. toward OBJ
tanning legislation which viii relieve the situation
Tor the members OF the staff corps of the navy.
The recommendations from the various boards re-
ierrlng to different staff corps not in entire
agreement and this was why, in short session
the differences 1t is possible of course, that the
stan o1icers themselves who are interested in OBJ
ttSS!lllng certain things, such promotion after
anreH years for the assistant paymasters and re-
m nle legislation Independent OF departmental meas
ure. rms might stand some chance Of Congress
tnle IN which TO work projects of this kind through
tne naval committees. especially when great part
OF the committee consideration must be given UP
70 the regular appropriation bill The Presidents
sPeclaI message on the naval personnel. which he
VIII send In early next week. probably on Monday.
WIN make no reference the corps and II is
c0nsidered that much OF Importance to the service
WI pc accomplished II Congress enacts the
tenpIated legislation in behalf OF the naval line.
WORTH OF OFFICERS wORD-Much corrs-
spondence has been exchanged between a captain
OF infantry. who detailed as surveying officer
TO fix the responsibility for the loss Of certain
public property, and the uuartermaster general Of
the army. on whose records tho property was car
ried The quartermaster general insisted on having
an affidavit from the surveying officer, who de-
clned 10 give it. and stated that he felt il
sary 10 furnish more than a certificate covering
the facts in the case. The correspondence became
spirited, and the War Department has had to take
action IN the matter, to the extent Of calling tha
Junior officer TO account and rendering formal de-
ciSlon that the quartermaster general is entirely
within his rights when he insists upon affdavits
instead of certificates from officers detailed
duct surveys Of lost damaged property. Not only
was this information given by the department, but
the surveying officer was Informed that he had
subjected himself TO disciplinary measures on ac-
count OF nsubordination.