New-York tribune., 1908-08-03
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Medical officers IN Early Campngn
for Army Billet.
rFrom Tn. Tribune Bureau

Washington. Aus.
NEXT SURGEON GENERAL.-some OF tins
officers Of the army medical department. are al
ready beginning a campaign IN anticipation OF
vacancy in the position of surgeon general Of tins
army. The present incumbent. Brissdi-r General
r. NJ O'ReiIly will ordinarily retire for next
January. BY virtue Of special legislation he may
retire at any time az major general the higher
rank being given to two or three officers Of ths
grade Of brigadier general who served in the Civil
War. 1t seems be the impression Of some OF
General O'ReilIys subordinates that that oncer
will take advantage OF premature retirement. our
there is no Indication that he will out OF Office
until he retires by operation OF law The contest
for the position promises TO be interesting Prob
ably the most prominent Of the officers who VIII Dc
regarded candidates is Colonel William =
Gorgas. did such valuable work IN the eradiea-
ton of mosquitoes In Cuba and who is now ~
charge Of sanitation the isthu1us Colonei
Gorgas a major al the time he performed this
service in Cuba and was made a colonel in tns
medical corps where he Is now the senior IN tnat
grade His opponents in seeking the appointments
as surgeon general pointing out that this pro-
motion was a reward and that Colonel Gorsss -
not really TO be considered eligible as. under ths
ordinary conditions OF service. he would noT os
more than a lieutenant colonel Tne otner
officers who less active candioates sIs
Colonel vaery Havard who has been acting sur
geon general IN the occasional absence Of Censrai
o Reilly, and who duty st the Army Meffcai
School: Colonel John Van r HoT who ts the chief
surgeon Of the Philippines Division: Colonel L. M
Maus who is chief surgeon Of the Department OF
h.uzon and Colonel George n. Torrey, who is IN
charge Of the general hospital in San Francisco.
OF these officers Colonies Havard and Hor ars
New York men
NEW COMMODORES- reason II the volu--
tarv retfrements number Of captains IN tn. navy
will have title and the rank Of connu'odore On
the retired That position no longer exist, fo-
active officers the Office being represented 6y that
1-f.x. -. aTfaA
distinguish the position OF the nine senior
rear admrals. II is on this account that unusual
and what might easily be awkward stnation
exists the Mare Island California; Nsvv Yard.
where Captain John VI. Robinson. UPON voluntary
retirement. becomes commodore. and fs srnl N
command receiving ship Indep>ndsucel As
a captain duty the Mare Island yard Roosr-
junior TO the commandant OF the yard
the captain Of the yard ard III. captains who vsrs
in comma of ships which happened to be at that
station But by his retirement he Jumped all Of
Them including Captain Phelps, who IL cornr1sn-
the yard OF course, II the incident crestsd
anv friction Commodore Robinson would bs az
once detached and occupy the place IN rstir-u-nr
TO which he entitled. a matter OF fact
this retired commodore will bs under the activS
captain who is commandant cf the yard
MILITARY AMBULANCES-Ths War Dep.r..
nent will probably 20 into the market for Isrxs
quantity Of new ambuIances. along with other
for the military service IN the field. IL "a pro-
posed by the surgeon general sud the duarternar~
general of the army to put army transportation
footing which will render 1t possible 70 meet
fully and promptly the demands upon those feat
of army equipment 1t is coming 70 be resFs
ICED that the transportation branch of the army s
intimately with military efficiency II 10
vital adjunct of mobility of troops In the field.
il represents the adsquats equipment of soldiers
with ammunition the firing Line; the supply OF
satisfactory the soldiers OF shelter which II
is necessary to keep up with the advance Of tho
line OF the facilities for caring for the sick
and injured which also be the move
There has lately been much investigation Of ths
different methods Of transportation and improve
ments have been made in all the vehicles used hv
the army. New types OF ambulance hsve been
tested. and the four-wheel vehicle which ha. b-e7
used for this purpose for many years has bean
teria1Iy improved. The old sfx-muie army vasorS
has been abandoned as being too cumbersome. It's
place will be taken by the four-muls team Thers
will continue TO be dependence upon animals in
stead Of traction engines