Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-19
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON.
Current Events Cleaned from the
Army and Navy REGISTER.


The War department has not been so
busy in long time as It Is with the prelim-
mary details of arranging for the mobll-
izaton OF the regular army at seven
camps Of concentration from July Is
to October 10. Important changes
have been made in the commands OF three
of the camps, on account Of the designation
OF Brgadier General w. p. Duvall to
observe the army maneuvers in Germany,
where that officer goes as the associate OF
General T. II. Barry. General Duvall was
on the list TO command the camp at
Chickamauga park. where his place will be
taken by Brigadier General John w. Bulb.
The latter was to command a camp in the
vicinity of Fort d. A. Russell, where the
command will now devolve upon Brigadier
General Constant williams, whose original
assignment at American Lake. Wash. will
be taken by Brigadier General Frederick
Funston.
The artillery authorities hope to have an
opportunity for the regimental formation
and operation OF field artillery during the
summer mobilization period. There will
be chance Of this at Fort Riley and
probably at Fort d. A. Russell, and 1t is
expected there will be substantial results
OF enduring value on account OF this con-
centration Of field artillery commands. 1t
has been the cause OF regret that 1t has
not been possible to do more work with
the field artillery in regimental organization
and 1t is intended hereafter 70 take adj
vantage OF every possible opportunity
where may be enough batteries of field
artillery to form a regiment. This ar
rangement would undoubtedly be carried
out in real warfare, as was conclusively
shown in the artillery operations in Man
churia. II is realized that II is necessary
to anticipate such a condition and require
ment and be able TO meet Il fully without
the peril of lack OF familiarity with such
employment Of field artillery.
-s1 ----l- ,t III t-s
There will be another preliminary ex-
animation for admission to the medical
corps of the army on July 81. when It Is
hoped TO obtain more qualified applicants
than was a result Of the examination on
May l. The qualified candidates will
attend the next session of the Army Medi-
cal school, taking the final examination for
commission as lieutenant and assistant
surgeon upon completion of the course Of
instruction. In the May 1 examination
fifty-seven applicants were invited to APP
pear. six OF whom declined and ten OF
whom failed TO appear. There were forty
one CdnQlOdIeS eAdHlntus One Oh NHOUl
withdraw. eleven of whom were found phys
ically disqualified. twenty-five of whom
were rejected and seven Of whom were
found qualified : There are at present
twenty vacancies in the Junior grade
Of the army medical department. II the
seven Professionally qualifed candidates are
admitted to the corps there will still be at
least twenty-five vacancies to be filled.
It looks as II the present session Of
congress would end with nroviS'or he'"~
made to pay the claims OF military and
naval people for reimbursement OF losses
sustained In the Galveston food, the Porto
Rico hurricane, the typhoon In the Philip
pines, and-which must now be added
the earthquake and fire in San Francisco.
It will require a change OF law to permit
the payment OF claims OF this sort, and
for two or three years the War depart
ment has made recommendations for such
amendment OF the statutes as will enable
the claims to be paid. II the truth must
be told. there is an inclination at the
capitol TO DO nothing in the direction de-
sired, and apparently no amount OF argu-'
ment introduced In behalf OF the victimr
Of Hood, wind and hre serves 10 mr.
the legislators from their determined
unfriendly position.
The army bill was signed by Presider
Roosevelt on June IL. II contains much
new legislation Affecting the army which
became effective at once Among the more
important items are these:
Expert rihemen in the army are entitled
TO g a month extra pay sharpshooters to
~ and marksmen to 81. The unjust
rule OF deducting i2lk cents each month
from the pay Of retired enlisted men for