The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-15
Coast Artillery Corps Need
Not Take Ninety-Mile
Riding Test.
; DAYS ALLOWED
FOR LONG MARCH
Days Work Must Be Done in Con
secutiVe Hours, and Under
Time Limit.

s The President today approved another
general order drawn by Major General
+ Bell, chief Of staff. embodying instruc-
lions FOR carrying into effect the recent
order prescribing a ninety-mile ride for
officers. and containing d new prOvi-
sion that field officers of the Coast
Artillery Corps. who are exempt from
ihe riding test, shall take walking
test OF ifty miles in three days.
The officers who follow IA the foot
steps OF Weston Will take their trip
under the same provisions that govern
the riding test. The test will consist
oi a march OF nifty miles 10 be made IN
. three consecutive days, the march on
any enc day TO be In consecutive hours.
Ahould any OF the Coast Artillery ofn-
GERS not take kindly 10 becoming a
# Westonite they VIII be permitted 10
take a riding test instead on request.
Wants OfdceTs in Condition.
II is set forth in the order that the
principal purpose of insuUuung an an
nuaI physical test is TO render It neces-
saTy for officers, especially those ap-
preaching The close OF middle life 10
adopt such measures and pursue such
habits as are best calculated 10 main
tain a physical condition which VIII
enable them 10 always be fJ for active
neld service and Ia condition 10 per
form as high class and as large a
quantity of OIuCe work as possible.
Ine physical examinations or all Of
hcers In ali the military divigIons and
departments are to be neld each year,
pref Isrably beginning about August /.
IA ths United States and ALASKA. ana
about December / in Porto RICO. cuba.
HAWAII, and the Philippines
March Under Time Limit.
As soon as possible after the physical
examination officers viii be given the
opportunity OF taking the riding OF
walking test. Each of the three marches
VIII be made under time limit. two OF
lEem 10 be concluded within seven and
q half hours, and the third within six
hours.
tive hours
As soon as possible after concluding
the thiTd days march, and in no case
more thau three hours afteTWard, each
officer will again be examined as 10 his
physical condition.
VIII Protect Health.
The result of these examinations viii
be forwarded TO the War Department
Should IL be found IN the preliminary
examination that any officer IS unable
10 take the walk without seriously en-
dangeTiug his health, he VIII not be
permitted TO take the test
Any officer VINO prefers either retire.
ment after thirty years service or ar
examination by a retiring board 10 uu
dersoiug the test, VIII be permitted 10
make application for either
For the present field officers holding
permanent appointments in the various
SIAN cOrqs-the adiuLant generals de-
parJmeut, the inspector generals de
partment, the corps OF engineers. anC
the Signal COrps-may De permitted tC
take the walking test prescribed tol
coast artillery officers should they pre-
fer TO do SO.
Excuses From Test.
Field officers of the permanent staff
corps, not detailed from the line, en-
gagged upon civil work Of a technical
character. who have arrived at an age
and rank which renders IL highly i'm
probable that they viii be assigned "a
duty requiring participation III active
military operations In the field. may
upon their own application be excused
from the physical test under provision
that such a request VIII be regarded by
the executive authority as a conclusive
reason for not selecting them for any
future promotion in volunteer ranks OF
for assignment or promotion 70 posi-
tions involving participation "a opera
fions in line Of the army.
All tests must be closely observed by
commanding officers and reports made
as 10 the efficacy Gnd progress OF the