Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06
Criticism of Militia Officers.


In an official report to the War Depart
ment, Capt. F. ]. Rooster OF the COM
missary department, makes some rather
caustic observations regarding he work
of the militia commissary officers, VINO
were on duty at the camp OF lnstruc'ioh
at Pine Camp N. Y. He says the major
ity of the commissary officers were evil
IDENTIFY appointed for some other reason
than ability to perform their duties. sew.
eral of these officers showed ignorance oi
elementary arithmetic. he said, ana were
property and knew nothing about com
missary papers. He suggested that militia
authorities use more care In the seiec-
ton of officers for such duty .
A course of instruction was given 10 all
commissary officers at Pine Camp he
said. and most OF them showed great
Improvement.
To Study Japanese and Chinese.
Mai Gen. Leonard Wood, who is now
in Europe on his way to the United
States to succeed Maj. Gen. F. D. Grant
as commander of the Department of the
East, with headquarters, on Governors
Island, will suggest to President Roose-
Welt on his arrival ii Is said, that num-
Der of the officers in the regular army
be sent to China and japan to master
the languages of those countries, believ-
thorough speaking knowledge of those
LANGUAGES AS Gen Wood stands high in
the regard of President Roosevelt army
officers are of the opinion that the Presi-
dent will give serious consideration to
his recommendation.
The proposition of Gen. Waad looks to
the sending of four of the younger of
ficers, not above the grade of captain.
TO the countries named for two-year
period of study. At the end of the first
six months in China or Japan they will
be examined as to their progress, and if
II has not been satisfactory they will be
ordered TO rejoin their respective COM
mands and other officers sent to take
their places. The final examination at
the end of the second and last year will
be one that will test the ability of the
aplest officers in the army. This exami-
nation Will include conversations on all
topics with Japanese and Chinese schol-
airs, while many questions will be asked
on military topics the answers to which
must be written in the Chinese or Japa-
nese languages.
The general opinion in the army is that
Gen Woods suggestion will be adopted
by the War Department. with the appro-
val OF the President. and that next year
four OF the ablest of the younger army
officers will be sent to China and Japan
10 master the language
More Troops for the Yellowstone.
Provision is being made at the War
on duty in the Yellowstone National Park
which is under the command of Mai
Henry l. Allen of the sth Cavalry.
Gen. Young, who is in charge of the
PARK has recommended that the force
OF soldiers be increased
The recent hold-up by lone road
agent on seven tourists coaches with a
hunored and twenty-five passengers
called attention to the necessity for bet
ter supervision of the park precincts II
Is realized that to make adequate pro-
vision in that direction would REQUIRE
a large army All things considered the
park is fairly well protected and it is not
thought the recent incident will discour-
age the army of tourists and campers
who annually visit that reservation.
Transferred to Construction Corps.
Three officers of the line of the navy
are to be transferred to the Corps of
Naval Constructors. They are Ensigns
II. G. Knox, l.. NJ. Atkins and Whitford
Drake, who will be required to take a
finishing course in naval architecture at
the Massachusetts Institute of Tech
nology.
Special Flag for Submarines
A new flag has been adopted by the
Navy Department for the use OF sub
marine parent ships to warn all other
craft that there are submarines about,