Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20

- 10 Ilolje Vi Saving the grade Oh lSuten-
ant general after the retirement of Gen.
Macarthur in 1909. There has been some
Interesting gossip to the effect that the
President was Sc anxious to preserve the
grade for the benefit of Maj. Gen Leonard
Wood that he would go to the extent of
Vetoing the army appropriation bill con-
now regarded probable. 1t is known
however, that had there been separate
measure such as the Prince bill. which
passed the House last session, the Presi-
dent would have vetoed it.
To Preserve the Texas.
The officials of the Navy Department will
undoubtedly make an adverse report on the
bill authorizing the use of the battleship
Texas as target in the testing of certain
shell loaded with high explosives. 1t is
felt that the test Of high explosives and the
demonstration of implements and missiles
of warfare may be fully carried out by the
facilities at the ordnance proving ground
at Indian Head and that no advantage is
to be derived from sacrificing a useful ship
in such work. The Texas is ship which
would be valuable in harbor defense and is
still entitled to prominent place in the
reserves.
Dispensing With Metal Ornaments.
1t is proposed to do away with the metal
collar and hat ornaments of the enlisted
force of the army and the quarteTmaster
general will conduct some experiments with
view to providing a substitute for them.
Some complaint has been made by officers
against these ornaments, which are easily
detached and lost or broken. The quarter
master general recently recommended that
they be laid aside since every purpose of
Identification is now fulfilled by the new tag
badge worn by the individual The
proposition doe snot meet with the entire
favor of General Bell, chief of staff, and
the quartermaster general has been asked
to suggest substitute for the insignia
which will indicate the organization to
which the wearer belongs, such insignia
being regarded necessary for purposes of
discipline.
To Correct a Growing Evil.
The Secretary Of War will shortly issue
an order designed to correct existing evils
in the system of details OF line officers to
detached service. The general effect of the
order Is to reduce the number of captains
taken away from their troops or companies
for detached duty by providing for the de-
tail of captains to only such detached duty
as the law requires shall be filled by officers
of that grade. Many previous attempts
have been made to limit detached service
details, but to little effect, because of po-
litical interference, and it remains to be
seen how the new regulations will stand
the test.
Holds the Record for Good Conduc,.
1t has remained for young man from
Utah, who formerly a student at the
University of the Latter Day Saints. to
break several records at the Naval Acad-
envy. Reference is made to Midshipman
Mervyn BennIon, who entered the academy
in June, 1906. The records show that at
last accounts he did not have single de-
merit, his being the only case where such
a clean record has been shown for that
length of time and that in a class of 215
members. He stands number in Eng
nd no 90 mr. fG iph in,
mathematics and other studies.
New Gallery Practice Rife.
The ordnance department of the army has
adopted for issue to the regular service
gallery practice rife which differs from the
model of 1903 only in the caliber of the
barrel. Rim fire. 22-caliber cartridges,
short or long, may be fired from this rifle
by means of an adap,or or cartridge hold
er. These holders resemble in appearance
the model of 1903 cartridge, but are short
er in the body, so that it is impossible to
load into the rife the service 30-caliber
cartridge. The accuracy of this rifle is
quite as good as one which does not use
the adaptor and II has the additional ad-
vantage of permitting its for rapid
fire. 1t has been decided that these rifles
shall be issued complete. 1t was the earlisr
intention of the department to issue the
barrel and receiver assembled but the
process of transforming a model o. 1893
rife into a gallery practice rifle OF the
same model is so complicated that 1t is be-
ieyed that much better results will be OBJ
taIned by making issue of the gun entire.
Hermit Life of Soldier Leper.
The case of Sergt Charles o. Mix of the
9Th Company. Coast Artillery. stationed at
Fort Screven, Ga, is peculiar and pathetic.
He has been under treatment for lepr5sy
for some time and his case has attracted
much attention from the medical profess
sion He is separated from the other in
habitants of the military reservation, oc-
cupying quarters in a yard which is fenced
in. No one may enter his domain and he
does not leave the limits of his indiv du al
camp The recent orders which tran fer
the 5th Company from Fort Sereven to Fort
Williams, Me-, brought up the question OF