Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12
Local Court-Martial Cases.

Private Lee +. McCleary. Company {.
Hospital Corps. and Recruit Bertram A.
Wilson. Infantry. unassigned. were con-
victed by a general court-martial con-
vened at Washington barracks and SEN
fenced to be dishonorably discharged, to
forfeit pay and allowances and to be
confined at hard labor. I similar SEN
tence was imposed in the case of Private
James ". Harpleroad. Battery h, Sd
Field Artillery. at Fort Myer. who was
convicted of fraudulent enlistment. Pri-
vate Joseph Keefe, Company {, Hospital
Corps at Washington barracks, was ac-
quilted of the charge of larceny.
More Prison Accommodations.
The U.SS. Topeka is to be used as a
receiving ship for prisoners as an au1ili-
airy of the Southery. now serving in that
capacity at the navy yard at Portsmouth,
n. II. The Topeka is now at the Ports
mouth navy yard.
Captains on Transports.
A decision has been made at the War
Department giving army officers who
have been detailed as quartermasters on
transports the rank of captain at least.
provided they have had Reasonable ex-
perience" It has also been decided that
The detail shall be for a period of four
years.
Cruise of the Middies.
II has been decided not to have Euro
pean cruise for the midshipmen who Will
serve with the Naval Academy practice
squadron during the coming summer. The
policy of the authorities at the academy
and at Washington is to restrict the oper-
atoms of the practice squadron to home
waters. and this year the cruising VIII De
,t,t. INn
end the Atlantic ocean in the vicinity of
hampton roads.
Naval Academy Commencement.
The commencement exercises at the Ma
val Academy, at Annapolis. will be held
June 5. About 200 students will complete
their scholastic course and will be sent to
sea for two years before finally complet-
ing their education as midshipmen. Sec
rotary Metcalf will present the diplomas
to the graduating midshipmen.
Mr.. Hunter secretary of the American
Seaman's Friend Society. has taken d
mdshipmen at the Naval Academy. Mr
Hunter delivered 145 American revised
Bibles. Roman Catholic editions of the
Bible and ~ copies of Hugh Blacks "Cul-
ture and Restraint" each muddy having
designated the books he wanted About
.,t
United States Navy officers since the Gus
tom of giving each graduate d mementC
was begun in 1874.
Two More Naval Golfers.
The naval collier Vestal. under con-
struction at the New York navy yard, the
first special collier built by the govern
ment will be launched May 10. The sis.
ter ship of the Vestal. which has beer
| named the .Pronretheus, under construc-
ton at the Mare Island navy yard. is
about two-thirds completed. This differ
ence in the progress on the two ships is
due to the fact that it was necessary td
equip the Pacific coast yard for the con.
struction work. which took much time.
To Increase Military Efficiency.
The special board designated by Gen
Bell. chief of staff, to prepare plans fol
| the reorganization of the army has at its
| head Brig. Gen. Wotherspoon ana EN-
| braces Lieut.. Col. Thaddeus Jones, &c
| Cavalry; Maj. Carroll A. Devol, quarter
masters department: Mai c. J. Bailey
| c. A. c.; Maj. S. d. SturSis. LIST Field
Artillery; Capt. George w. Read. 9ti
Cavalry; Maj. George o. Squier. Sigma
| Corps: Capt. Ralph Fl. Van Deman, 21s
| Infantry; Capt. p. d. Lochridge and
others of the general staff corps and from
| the line and staff departments. The ain
| is to frame a comprehensive report to be-
submitted to the President within a few
| months for his consideration and lor sub
sequent amendment for the purpose Of
presenting to Congress next winter Il par
| for an army adequate to the necessities
of the country. The work laid out fol
the special board is to show how lars,
each arm and corps of the army shoulc
be. how it should be differed. transported
| fed. clothed, equipped, and how the reg
ular army and the National Guard shoule