Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20
Cruise of the Middies.

Cruise of the Middies
The squadron of warships detailed for
the practical training of midshipmen at sea
under service conditions this summer con-
sists of the cruiser Newark, the practice
ship Severn and the monitors Nevada, Ar
kansas and Florida and Is commanded by
Rear Admiral Bradford. The squadron
will cruise along the Atlantic coast as far
north as Maine and will not go to Europe,
as has been suggested 1t is expected
that the squadron will start from Annapo
lis June 16. The midshipnen OF the first
class will not accompany The remainder of
the student body on the cruise They will
remain at the academy and take special
course of instruction in preparation for
their early graduation in September next.
Enlarging Army Posts.
General orders issued by Gen. Bell chief
of the general staff of the army, define
number of changes in the boundaries of
army posts Fort Fremont, s. c., has been
increased by purchases of land, until the
reservation now approximates 10 acres.
The Fort Brown, Tex, reservation is de-
scrf5ed as now containing about 1888
acres; the Columbus barracks reservation
Ohio, exclusive of streets granted to the
city, is described as containing about sew
enty acres, and the Fort Ogelthorpe Ca
military reservation is bounded and de-
scribed as containing approximately 500
acres.
Reorganization of Atlantic Fleet.
On account of the large number of new
battleships which will go into commission
between now and next fall a complete re-
organization OF the Atlantic fleet will be
necessary. The battleships Virginia, Rhode
Island and New Jersey are already in COM
mission, but are unassigned. The Connec-
ticut and the Louisiana will ,be ready soon,
probably within very few weeks. The
battleships Minnesota and Vermont will
probably be ready for commission by Oc-
tober i, and four out of six of the new
armored cruisers. the California, South
about 80 per cent complete now, will doubt
less be ready for active service in the
autumn.
Last of the Blue Flannel Shirt
The passing of the blue flannel shirt
of Uncle Sans army is foreordained. The
old familiar garment which has been
source of great comfort to the soldier boys
for many years is shortly to give way to a
shirt of conventional olive drab or khaki
shade of the regulation field service uni
form now applied also to leggins, hats,
even to scabbards. The reason for the
change is that the blue shirt makes a con-
-trast to the uniform, which Is an objec-
tonable feature from a military standpoint.
Gunner Davis Commended
Acting Secretary Newberry of the Navy
Department has addressed letter to Frank
Davis. gunner's mate, now attached to
the navy yard. New York, commencing him
for gallantry In saving the life of Hugh
McGovern, a civilian, at the risk of his
own. In August. 1906 McGovern attempted
suicide by jumping into the East river near
the navy yard. Davis jumped In after him
nd a. adaa In,
getting him ashore. In his letter Mr. New
berry says to Gunner Davis that the de-
partment takes great pleasure In commend
ing you for your gallant act. and regrets |
that so long a time was allowed to elapse |
before 1t was brought to its attention
Against Distribution Of Pension Liter |
AZURE.
In recent general order Gen. Grant,
commanding the Department OF the East,
says that "it having become known that |
certain pension attorneys are in the habit |
of soliciting members of the Hospital Corps |
to distribute, for compensation, literature
to soldiers discharged on surgeons certff- |
cate of disability, with view to prosecut-
ing their claims for pension, the distribu- |
ton of such literature is prohibited"
Acting Surgeon General.
Col valery Hayard of the medical de-
partment is acting surgeon general Of the |
army and Medical Director William r. Du |
Bose OF the navy is acting surgeon general |
of the navy in the absence, respectively, OF
Gen. o'Reilly. who has gone to Switzer-
land, and Rear Admiral Rixey. who has
gone to the Philippines
Naval Orders.
Lieut.. Commander ]. H. l. HoIcombe, to
the naval hospital. Mare Island. Cal. for
treatment.
Lieut.. J. H. Tomb. from command of the