Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
ARMY AND NAVY. NEWS

| Evans fleet during its stay at that city.
The extract is as follows:
Some 2.030 or 900 men were on shore
daily from about 10 am. until 10 pm. 1t
| Is the universal opinion of the officers OF
| the fleet and the people of the city OF RIO
! that the work of the committee was OF in
calcuiable benefit TO the men. Their
money was exchanged at a just and rea-
sonable rate. thus saving them from be-
! ing robbed by INSCRIPTIONS money chang
ers; thousands OF them were sent on the
most interesting and pleasant excursions
possible about the city; wholesome meals
/ were furnished al reasonable rates in the
best restaurants. and the best possible
| facilities were afforded In the bureau of
information the Y. NJ. c. A. and Saamen' s
| Mission rooms for writing letters and
| postcards. reading. resting and amusing
| themselves as they desired. A special
service was held for the men in our large
mission hall Sunday afternoon. A surpris-
| ingly large number. indeed we may say
almost the entire body of men who came
! ashore daily. awaited themselves of these
/ advantages. and were most grateful for
| the provisions made for their pleasure and
best interests. At times our mission rooms
were thronged with men. as were the
other two centers Of the committees oper-
atoms.
II have been living in this city for TWEEN
! ty-one years and have seen about all Of
our American navy vessels that have Wis
| tied this port during this time. 1t gives
/ me pleasure to say that l have never seen
on board such good set of men. nor have
| ever seen upon the part of those who
came ashore the upright and praiseworthy
| department. The work of our committee
and the kindly and courteous attentions of
| the Brazilians did much to put them on
| their best behavior"
Athletic Exercises for Soldiers.
Gymnastic drills and athletic exercises
| by troops in the Department of the East.
which includes all the posts in this vi
| cinity will be governed by general Or
| ders just issued by Gen. Grant. command
| ing the department. Under these orders
gymnasium drill will be limited to thirty
minutes each day. Saturdays. Sundays
and holidays excepted. This drill Is COM
pulSory for foot troops and discretionary
with post commanders for mounted
| troops. During the season for field train
ing pest commanders will prescribe such
outdoor athletic training as in their opin-
ion complies with the spirit and purpose
OF the orders of the department. Attn
| letic meets field days Will be held at all
pests once during each quarterly period
at such times as post commanders deem
most appropriate. The one for the first
quarter Of the year will be designated
! as the "indoor meet" and Will be re-
quired only at posts where there are
gymnasiuns or other suitable facilities.
! The other three field days will be held
within the period designated for field
training in general orders.
Clearing a Sailors Record.
| Clemency has been exercised by Secre-
| tary Mettalf In the case Of Charles L.
Wilson. an ordinary seaman IN the navy,
who was convicted by court-martial at
| the Washington navy yard of desertion
and sentenced to be dishonorably dis
| charged There were eXtenuatins cir
| cumstances iE tine case of Wilson. He
| go, into some small trouble and ran
| away 10 Canada. There he obtained en-
| pioynent on a railroad and was doing
| pretty we'll when his father, vino held a
| sinai federal office IN MissiYipp. per-
| sCaded him that the family honor re-
qu:.cd that lie sfond surrender to the
| naval authorities and. if possible. remove
the stigma of desertion from his record,