Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-22
practice without delay whenever

needed.
Particular attention is given to the sub
ject of salutes. probably as the result OF
recent fatal accidents with guns in the
hands Of militiamen. Regulation XIV
directs that salutes shall be fred only
under the charge of commissioned officer
Fixed or metallic ammunition must be en-
ployed whenever practicable, otherwise
breech-loading guns using loose ammunition
should be used. Muzzle leaders will be
used only when breech leaders are not
available, and when they are used there
should be sufficient number to avoid the
necessity of fling the same gun until a
reasonable interval has elapsed.
For morning and evening guns three
inch saluting pieces and not service pieces
should be used. and with these a firing in
terVal of ten seconds can be maintained.
Cartridge bags for muzzle leaders or breech-
loading guns not using fixed ammunition
must be of silk, chemically treated to
make 1t unnflammable and the cartridges
Will be made to measure in length at least
one and one-half times the diameter
Revision of the Detail System.
An important feature of the report Of
Gen. Barry, commanding the forces in
Cuba. is that which urges a revision of the
detail system" by which, he argues. the
best officers are naturally and necessarily
taken from the troops. Discussing this
matter, he says:
THE numerous details demanded of the
army and the additional work deyolyiny
upon 1t cause many officers to continue on
detached duty for great number of years
For this the officer himself Is in MANY
cases responsible.
The detail system has been sufficiently
tried to warrant its careful consideration
by the department, with consequent enact
ment of Legislation which will put II on a
stable basis. Its purpose was to increa Sc
the efficiency of the staff departments In
time of war and to keep them in closer
touch with the line of the army than was
believed to be possible under the former
system. 1t Is submitted that 1t will fall
OF its purpose, especially in time of war
II Is dlfhcult to understand how any COL
oneI, major or captain whose regiment,
battalion or company, as the case may be-
is ordered to the front in war time will be
content with detail in staff department.
In order to keep the staff departments
IN touch with the line and at the same
time TO maintain the stability and irteg-
rity of the staff department. believe it to
be best to detail to the lowest grade in each
stan department line officers from the next
. low craze put when vacancies occur in
the next to the lowest grade in the staff
departments these vacancies should be filled
by the permanent appointment thereto of
ofhcers who have served by detail in the
stan departments, under some system of
examination or otherwise, as the depart
ment may determine, leaving 1t discretion
airy with the President TO appoint officers
or the line who have specially distin-
guished themselves in the field or other
wise"
Clips" Allowed by the Navy.
The new schedules of naval travelling al
lowances specify in detail the tips which
officers may give while engaged in carrying
out the orders of the department, varying
In amount according to the rank of the
officer and the manner in which he is tray
cling.
For officers of and above the rank Of