Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-23
Fort Riley.

FORT RILEY, Dec. Especially
the aid Of several women in town, chaplain
Prioleau has been able in the last few
weeks to furnish the inmates Of the post
hospital with new reading matter every
Sunday. All the reading matter that ne
has so far been able to collect mas peeh
hungrily read from cover to cover, ana
he would be pleased If officers and their
families who have any book OF fiction that
they feel that they can dispense with
would send 1t to him for that purpose. Inc
project is a laudable one and he hopes
that he may receive the hearty support or
the garrison in such a good cause speak
ing of reading matter brings our post IL
braries very strongly to mind. Isn't the
post library as now conducted complete
farce? Ancient tones filled with statistics,
records of the war of the rebellion ana a
few worn books af ancient fiction litter
the shelves These, with the limited num-
her of current periodicals allowed by the
Quartermaster s-department, are supposed
to attract the soldier to the reading room
ana keep him in the straight ana narrow
path. Truly the word library" in this
case is a misnomer. 1t could more aptly
be termed a jdnkshop. 1t seems strange
that out of the appropriation made an
nuall by congress, more money is not set
aside for the proper equipment OF libraries.
| Funds are literally appropriated for ex-
change buildings with a reading room set
aside for the use of the enlisted men. But
how about funds for buying books? We
hear OF Helen Gould furnishing books for
the soldiers when to our mind 1t should be
done by the government. The Navy de-
partment spends thousands of dollars for
libraries for the ships of the navy, but
for some reason the War department only
allots small sum annually for the pur-
chase of current periodicals. With the
welfare Of the soldier at heart, IT seems
that money could not be better spent than
would be libraries in fact and not merely
in name. The healthy entertainment of
the soldier increases his efficiency both
mentally and morally and consequently
makes him of more value to his govern
ment
! maj fFf ar1f Nrhn yrffh De for f1Nr hoe
the guest of DR.. and Mrs. Roberts, and
who recently appeared before the retiring
the retired list. Captain Murray left on
Wednesday for New Mexico and Arizona,
where he will select place for home.
Mrs. Murray and the children will, for
the present, stay with DR.. and Mrs. Rob
Major Morgan, Ninth cavalry, who has
been detailed for four years in the military
secretary's department, and his family, will
not leave for Chicago until the last of the
month. Major Morgan rs under orders to
report in that city not later than jan
uary l.
A large number of officers and enlisted
men have left for their homes or for those
of relatives and friends to pass the, holi-
Second Lieutenant KiehI, Thirteenth cay
airy, is taking the course of instruction
Sergeant Bean, troop A, Thirteenth cav
airy, now on furlough, has been ordered
discharged by purchase.
Captain Reno assistant surgeon, returned
the last or the week from d leave OF alb
Last Thursday evening the Fort Riley
basket ball team went to Manhattan, Kan,
to play the State Agricultural college. The
game was a rough and unscientifc one
from start TO finish. The playing re-
sembled that of foot ball more than 1t did
that Of basket ball. The opposing cam was
composed Of men much larger than those
of the Fort Riley team, and as physical
strength played an important part in the
game, the score was much larger than IL
should have been had the rules of the game
| and scientific playing been more strictly
adhered to by the cOllegians. Final score,
53-l6, in favor of Manhattan.
At the home of the brides parents, south
of the city, Veterinarian Jewell Thirteenth
cavalry, and Miss Anna Oesterhaus We're
married on December p. After short
wedding trip they will be at home in the
Captain II. Bentley Mott, artillery corps,
left on Wednesday for New York City,
availing himself Of leave OF absence for
two months. Lieutenant Boiseau, artillery
corps, commands the Twenty-second bat
terry in his absence.
In the Twenty-third and Twenty-seventh
batteries at Fort Ethan Allen, VT, which
| were recently made into mountain bat
teries everything is carried on the back
and in the work of lifting and packing, a
short man is very undesirable for obvious
reasons. The matter has been referred to
| the War department, and that office has
1 caller for the names of men OF the desired
height in the batteries Of this post who
desire to transfer with their shorter COM
| names have been forwarded 10 the War
department. and in all probability the re-
quired number will be chosen for transfer.
Mator Walter Finlay, Ninth cavalry, re-
Gently transferred from San Antonio, Tex.
where he has been on duty in the military
! secretary's department. Joined the post on
| the 18th inst, and a few days thereafter
was announced commanding officer Of the
cavalry post.
Second-class Privates Allen, HenterIy,
Phipps and Raymond, Engineer battalion,
have been transferred TO the Hospital
corps.
Captain Kochersperger Second cavalry,
has returned from a thirty days leave OF
absence.
Private HageTdon of the Twenty-second
battery has made application for his dis
charge by purchase
Private. Bogart OF the Seventh battery
has been appointed a corporal.
Private Jesse Lewis. Troop A, Thirteenth
cavalry, has been transferred TO the Fifty.
FIRST company, Coast artillery. He left last
week for Fort Hamilton. n y.
The Bridge club met with Mrs. Conner on
last Tuesday.
Lieutenant Wiley is eonvaIescing from
an operation tor appendicitis, which Was