The National tribune., 1907-08-08

commended having the wedding presents
on hand for the morrow, but the deco
rators seemed TO have spent most time
and energy upon yhe huge illuminated
sign which hung just beneath the bell.
This sign was painted by hand or a
whole sheet OF White cardboard. the
letters being red, -biue1and yellow, and
a gray frame of pink and green crepe
paper completed the Rainbow effect.
Il can't get away to sell you butter
to-day. My wife won't let me-" was the
legend which the brilliant sign bore.
The proprietor of the stall had taken
a day off to get married, and his friends
in the market made merry at his ex-
pense during his absence.
sifa -
In view of the difficulty experienced
by the military authorities in obtaining
necessary recruits for the Army there is
a growing belief in various quarters
that the discharge e-by-purchase system
should be abolished. When recruits
were more easily obtainable the practice
of releasing men from the service be-
fore the expiration of their enlistment
contract caused no serious embarrass-
ment. But even then discharge by pur-
chase was a costly thing, in that it gave
the Government no return for the time
Iand money spent in training the man
for the duties of the soldier. For the
first six months the new recruit is of
little real military value; yet the ex-
pense of his training and maintenance
has to be paid. the expectation being
that after becoming proficient in his
duties he will remain in the service un-
til he has served the full period of his
enlistment The money he pays for a
discharge before the expiration of his
term is no adequate return for what the
Government has diSbursed on his ac-
count, and, 1t is contended, the aboli-
ton of the practice would be in the
interest not only of economy, but of
military efficiency.
The three rooms of the Insular Bu-
rcau in the War Department Building
were thoroly disinfected last week un-
der the supervision of officers of the
Army Medical Bureau because of a fear
on the part of Gen. Edwards, Chief of
the Bureau, that they were infected
with the germs of tuberculosis. A clerk
in one of the rooms died of consumption
Il few days ago. and since then another
clerk in a room across the hall has been
taken i'll with symptoms of the same
disease.
AS measure of precaution it was
decided to fumigate the rooms with
formaldchyde. All the employees were
excused for the day.
The plan of reducing the danger OF
fire on board ships of war is now the
subject of some important tests which
are being conducted at the Navy Yards.
1t has been suggested by some naval
officers that paint used on shipboard
would communicate fire. and an effort
is TO he made to obtain a paint which
is not infammable. The ordnance Off
GERS believe that in time of war the
contact of shell with the side of n
ship might possible cause ignition when
no other damage was wrought. and that
by means of the paint with which the
structure is covered. The ordnance Off
GERS at the Naval Proving Grounds at
Indian Head. Md. will have erected a
structure which resembles the side of a
ship and covered with such paint as Is
used in the service. BY that means 1t is
expected to determineyby practical tests
and in a definite way the extent to
which there is danger from fire on ac-
count of the inflammability of paint.
"a
The big twin-screw suction dredga
Ancon, which was lni't at Sparrows
Point by the Maryland Steel Company
for the Isthmian Canal Commission, has
sailed from the yard of her builders en-
route to Colon, Whore she will go in
service. The dredge is one of the larg-
EST ever built in this country. and is
going to the Isthmus under her own
steam. The Ancon has aboard the ma
chinery OF the smaller dredge Mindi.
which is on its way to Colon in tow of
the Norfolk tug JackSTwohy and which
VIII arrive at It's destination about the
time the Ancon arrives there.
The Mindi and Ancon are to be en-
ployed in dredging operations in con =
nection with the digging of the Panama
Canal. Work on the construction of
II fha icta t,fV .
the Ancon. is now in progress at the
steel works at Sparrows Point, and
within six weeks she will be completed
and ready to sail for the south Capt
Heliikson is in command of the Ancoa
on the trip to Colon.
There has been received at Washing
ton Barracks from Europe military
rolling oven, such as is used in the Brit
ish army. Arrangements are being
made to take the wagon out on prac-
tice march at the first opportunity. The
experts who have looked at the vehicle
say it is altogether to heavy for mill
tary use, but it is hoped by testing it to
develop vehicle which will answer the
purpose in this country. The object OF
the vehicle is to bake bread on the road.
so that when troops go into camp they
Will find fresh bread awaiting them. In
some countries il could not be used. AMI
it is hardly likely to be empolyed wher.
the marches are long or sudden More
over, there is disiRclination in the Army
to add to the rolling stock. which has a
tendency to impede the movement of
the Army in the field.
Certificates of merit have been award
ed by the War Department to Quarter
master-Serg't John w. Ash and Corp-l
Preston Askew. both of Co. +, gath Inf
killed and injured in the campaign
against the Pulajanes at Tabon- -Tabon,
Leyte, p. l., July "a, 1906. The certifi-
cate in the case of each of these men
says: "By his fine example and cool
bravery, when the command, consisting
of about 10 men of the Gath y. S. Inf.
and detachment of constabulary, was
surrounded. he did much to bring the
engagement to successful conclusion -
A certificate was also awarded to
Lewis Broadus, First Sergeant Co. NJ
25th Inf, for Goodness. presence OF
mind and bravery" at Fort Niobrara
Neb, July 8, 1906. "in rushing in on a
man armed with rifle and intent on
murder, and. at imminent risk to him
self, seizing and DETECTING the aim OF
the rifle just before it was fired, there
by saving the lives of Others"
Pedro Yambao. Quartermaster-Se
geant, 9Th Company. Philippine Scouts
was awarded a certificate of merit foI
good conduct Sept. 10, 1906, in assum
| ing rom n1p1 of biS cornn Of DbiI;,,