Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
Local Target Range for Troops.

LOCAL Target mango 1oT AIooPs'
The special army board, of which Maj.
Gen. Duvall is chairman, appointed to in
spect and report on the eligibility of GER
tain sites in the vicinity Of Washington
for the purposes of target ranges for in
fantry and artillery troops visited the
High Point tract, in Fairfax county. Va
during the past week and will probably
submit its report to the Secretary within
the old historic George Mason planta ton.
and consists of nearly 5000 acres lying
along the Potomac river and Occoquan
bay. The territory possesses many ad-
vantages, but it Is stated that serious
drawback to its proposed use as target
range is it's inaccessibility. the nearest
railroad station being nearly nine miles
distant Other sites visited and inspected
by the board are In the vicinity of Falls
Church, Va, and near Knoxville. Md.
Privileges at Post Exchanges.
Adjt. Gen. Mccain has written a circu-
lar letter to commanding generals of mill
tary departments clearing up some points
of dispute regarding the scope of the
post exchange or canteen. recent CORE
spondence received at the War Depart
ment in reference to the use OF post ex-
changes by officers and their families and
by civilian employees of the War Depart
ment living on the various reservations,
says Gen. Mccain Indicates that there
exists in the minds CT some commanding
officers the view that such use under any
circumstances would be improper. Such
is not the view of the Secretary OF War.
The right 20 purchase from the store has
universally been conceded without ques-
tion to officers and their families. and
there is no desire to establish a new rule
upon this matter. and as the disposition of
the profits has been fixed by post ex-
change regulations and published to the
army. no change therein is deemed ad-
Nisable or necessary. The use by officers
and their families and by civilian en-
ployes at the various posts of the amuse
ment and recreation facilities afforded
by the post exchange buildings meets
with the approval of the Secretary
OF War. provided the hours of such use
are so arranged as not to curtail in any
unreasonable degree the full enjoyment
of this same privilege By the enlisted men,
for whom primarily Congress has un-
dertaken to provide these buildings. There
need be no conflict in this matter and
TO the end that there should he none II
is thought that at each post il would be
advisable to set aside explicitly the hours
during which the officers and their fami-
lies and civilian employees shall be per-
mitted TO have at their disposal the IA
cilities in question. and those hours
should be such least to interfere with
any possible use at the same time of the
same facilities by the enlisted men,
A Court-Martial Reprimanded.
Gen. Grant. commanding the Depart
ment of the East, has taken occasion to
rebuke a general court-martial convened
at Fort Ethan Allen, VT. for having irf-
posed sentence of sj forfeiture of his
pay soldier convicted of drunkenness
and disorderly conduct to the prejudice of
good order and military discipline. THE
court said Gen. Grant. has in effect
held that an enlisted man who becomes
intoxicated Is thereby privileged to COM
NIT every kind of disorder with impunity.
and although the record was returned to
the court for a re consideration Of its And
1ngs and sentence. the court adhered to
its original verdict. The action of the
court in this case is opposed to the evil
dence of record. the law and the custom
or the service in like cases and liz so sub
rersive of good discipline that the review
ing authority is at a loss to understand
how any court would be willing to use
the high powers intrusted to 1t to defeat
the very purpose Of its creation. The
findings and sentence are therefore dis
approved. The court having shown such
marked unfitness. the commanding officer
al Fort Ethan Allen. VT. is directed to at
once submit detail for a new court"
Travel Rates for Militiamen.
The War Department has taken up the