Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-14
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON.
Current Events Cleaned from the
Army aud Navy Rratster

ARMY GOSSIP IN WARRINGTON.
Current Events Cleaned from the
Army and Navy Register.
Some time IN the early autumn. or at
least before congress reconvenes IN De-
cembcr, Secretary TAFT will make an In
spoetion trip TO some OF the army posts In
the western section Of the country He will
be accompanied by General Bell the chief
OF stan OF the army. The itinerary OF the
inspection party has not been made out
and there IL an uncertainty about the date
OF departure and the duration Of the jour
ney. but II will embrace the principal posts
In the line Of travel. Secretary Taft de-
sires to see the garrisons which are
destined 20 come up In one or another
connection in the discussions in the War
department and at the capitol next winter
Much success has attended the trial Of the
galloping ambulance, types of which are
being used. under very practical conditions.
at the camps OF instruction at Fort Riley
and Chickamauga The surgeon general OF
the army has requested the quarterInastor
general to build or purchase nfteen addi-
tioDal aubulances OF this pattern with the
idea Of issuing one to each regiment Of the
NoNuhSs luz htNnOu - 10 10 Ant
vehicle q horse and Il Is 80 arranged that
any cavalry animal may be hastily at
tached to the ambulance and literally gal
Hoped to the destination. The use OF the
vehicle, under the observation OF the army
surgeons, shows that II is OF great value
in the field and II win take its place In
the permanent equipment OF the medical
department In time of war.
The War department finds It dificuit to
impress upon recruiting officers that they
are authorized to administer oaths, since
such officers are constantly found employ
ing notsries, sometimes, as in a case be-
fore the department this week, at excessive
cost. In this particular Instance the no.
tary presented a bill amounting to $3.50,
when the laws OF New York where the
oath was administered authorized but u
cents. The department will probably re-
fuse to pay the bill and will enter upon
correspondence with a view to obslinine a
correct charge. The ofncer acted under the
supposition that he was not authorized to
administer the oath. In which he was IN
error. as by virtue OF being the only officer
present at his recruiting station he becomes
the trial officer OF the summary court for
that station and as such was authorised to
ohNn III tDe idhlnk OF tne
deposition of a witness needed at the trial
OF a deserter at Fort Jay.
The new manual OF the medical depart
ment has Just been printed and IL being
distributed from the surgeon generals
once. 1t is larger than the edition which
II displaces, being In size and appearance
similar to the other stan corps manuals
and consequently larger type in It's text.
new feature of exceeding value is the
chapter on field, medical and sanitary ser
vice. 1t gives full tables Of supplies for
field hospitals, stationary hospitals, the ad-
vance supply depot and base hospitals, to-
gether with the total weight. packed, Of the
articles under each subject information OF
use In transportation. 1t is interesting to
know. for instance, that the total weight
OF the field hospital. including tentage for
wards and exclusive OF tentage for the hos
pital corps personnel, ia Is. 200 pounds An
other item OF interest is the replacing of
the Munson system Of packages, which was
found In practice too bulky, by tin con-
tanners, excepting for few articles that
act on tin.
The secretary Of war has taken up the
question OF eligibility to the second lieu
tenancies of the army. II is possible that
he will amend the order recently issued.
which provides for the examination OF
civilian candidates along with candidates
from among the enlisted men Of the army
In a competition for the thirty-six vacan-
cies. The admission of the civilian candl-
dates has provoked a storm Of protest from
various sources and some OF the remon-
strances have reached the president. This
re-. 81 ~ laaL int ~
matter more carefully than he has owl
IDENTIFY done hitherto. He is described as
being impressed with the point made in
communication addressed to him few days
ago on the subject from some of those who
feel that they are not being treated with
entire fairness in all respects As the stu
alton is now the candidates from the army
may expect to find themselves limited to
twelve vacancies in the grade of second
lieutenant, those in the infantry and cav
airy. The rest Of the places can 20, easily
enough. to civilians, those who are known
as honor graduates OF the six leading col
leges and others, who are after the places
and who are bringing all possible infiu-
ence to bear upon the president and Mr..
Taft to get designated for the examination.
which takes place at Fort Leavenworth on
December g. Mr.. Taft will very readily
find out that there IL no warrant OF law
for the admission Of the civilians at this
time to a competition for appointment as
second lieutenant: he will And that the
civilians come after the army candidates
have been appointed and do not share the
places with the enlisted men who have
passed their preliminary examinations and
who have reason 10 expect the commits
sions will be reserved for them and until
the result OF their fnal examination Is
known. There has been an endless lot OF
trouble about the appointment Of enlisted
men to army commissions merely because
succeeding secretaries OF war. three In turn,
have had as many varied IDEAS OF the law,
which was. certainly plain enough on the
subject. The whole situation was muddled
badly, too by the adoption OF a paragraph
IN the army regulations which gave the
secretary OF war the power to let in the
civilians.