Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-15
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON.
Current Events Cleaned from the
Army and Navy Register.

Army and Navy Register.
Quartermaster General Humphrey has
prepared a list of work amounting to more
than 100000 to be done at some twenty
nine army posts in various parts of the
country. The secretary of war approved
the recommendations and arrangements
were at once made by the quartermaster
generals office for undertaking the work
under contract. The following posts are
included in the list:
Fort Crook, Neb.-Providing barracks
with separate company messes for eight
companies.
Des Moines. Ia.-One set field oficers'
quarters; one double set lieutenants'
quarters; one double set non-commissioncd
stan officers quarters; quarters for civi.
liam employees; stable for draft animals;
band stand; blacksmith and wheelwright
shop.
Fort Douglas, Utah-One storehouse.
Fort Lincoln, N. D.-Enlarging stable to
capacity for about thirty animals.
Fort Riley, Kan.--Root house; stable
near hospital for ambulance draft animals
mails.
Colonel Enoch H. Crowder of the Judge
advocate generals department and a MEM
Der of the general stan, now enroute 20
San Francisco under orders will return
to Washington and become acting Judge
advocate general of the army. He will be
at the head of that corps in Washington
during the absence in Europe of General
George B. Davis, who goes abroad as one
Of the representatives of this government
in the conference to revise the Geneva
convention. General Davis will probably
be absent all summer and in that time
Colonel Crowder will act in his place.
The army signal corps has adopted a new
reel for taking up the buzzer wire used
in field telegraphy. This is a device which
is worn on the breast of the carrier to
whom it is secured by means OF straps
passing over the back. The reel is geared
and the wire can be quickly collected on
the SPOOL which is turned by hand as the
bearer walks or runs along. When a spool
is filled, of course, IT is replaced by an
empty one, which is filled in turn. This
taking-up reel is supplemented by a holder
to be carried in the hand and containing
laden spool from which the buzzer wire
is paid out. The new taking-up reel, of
which large number will be purchased
for use in the field, will shortly be SUBJ
jected to practical test, probably by Cap
tain Charles de F. Chandler of the signal
corps, with a view to formulating lnstruc-
tons as to its use.
The quartermaster general OF the army
has Apr the plans for a new type
cavalry drill hall to be erected at those
military posts where are on duty large
cavalry and field artillery commands Au-
thority has been given by General Humph-
rey for the erection of one Of these halls
at Fort d. A Russell and another at the
post at Des Moines. The building will be
a brick structure and will include the latest
Improvements in construction and equip
ment. One of the new features is the in
stallation of a monster skylight, furnishing
light TO the huge apartment from above in
stead of through windows at the side. This
will prevent the casting of shadows which
are apt to cause horses to shy. The drill
halls authorized for Forts D. A. Russell
and Des Moines will cost about $4,000
The military secretarys ONCE of the War
department has published new roster of
the organized militia of the United States
by divisions. brigades, regiments, compan-
les and other organizations, with their sta
tons The roster Of the organized militia
issued by the War department in January,
1905. although made up from the best in
formation obtainable at that time, was
found to be incorrect in many respects
when compared with later and more ac-
curate data received from the militia au-
thorties. Moreover, among the immediate
results of the special inspection made in
the spring of 1906 were the dsbandment
and muster out Of many companies, the re-
cruitment of others and an entire reorgapl-
zation of the organized militia Of several
states as we'll as a material change in the
organized strength of nearly every state
and territory from that last reported by
the adtutants general.