Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13
Brass Cribs.
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS

an officer of the National Guard when
not on duty is privileged to express him
self in any manner he chooses that does
not conflict with the civil law. He stated
that he was not on duty when he made
the remarks upon which his prosecution
was based.
The superior court held that an officer
of the National Guard. while off duty and
not under orders, is unable to commit any
offense for which he is properly able
by military court.
This ruling is opposed by the legal au-
thorities of the War Department. They
are interesting themselves in the appeal
of the case.
In a general way they hold that it is
impossible for a National Guard officer
to throw off at will and at any time the
military satuS which vests in him by viz
tue of his appointment as an officer of
the organized militia.
Target Practice for Big Guns.
New regulations are being prepared at
the Navy Department to govern the rec
ord target practice of the big guns of the
navy. Some of these new rules may ap-
ply to the target practice of the battle
ships of the Atlantic fleet in Manila bay
next month, but for the most part the
new system is intended for the big gun
firing to take place on the range at Guam
tanamo, Cuba. next spring.
1t is planned that the big ships shall
repair to Guantanamo shortly after the
review by the President on the compile
ton of the world-circins cruise. One of
the new features includes firing over
ranges not previously known to the gun
nerS. Another feature will be firing the
guns while the ship is rolling or dipping
to that extent assimilating conditions
which may exist in battle.
Special interest attaches to the new re-
quirements for the reason that they may
have an effect on the accuracy Of fire
Several ordnance experts believe that the
new conditions will diminish the rapidity
Of fire, but will not materially affect the
actual craftsmanship of the men behind
the guns.
Philippine Military Cadets.
The bureau of insular affairs, War De-
partment, is in receipt of a cablegram
from the governor general of the Philip
pine Islands recommending Pablo del Viii
lar of Nueva Caceres and Vicente Lin V
PodicO of Manila for appointment as ca
diets at the United States Military Acad-
envy, West Point. This recommendation
is in pursuance of the joint resolution of
the last session of Congress authorizing
the President. to appoint seven Filipino
cadets to the Military Academy.
White Ants Are Pests.
White ants continue destructive opera
lions in the Philippines. Army officers
who have charge of the construction OF
government buildings there say that it
is almost impossible to get rid of these
devastating insects.
Most woods must be specially treated
before they can be put in the ground as
supports for foundations, nearly every
thing that is used for that purpose is
attacked by white ants. and if not entire
ly consumed is SO badly damaged as to be
practically useless. The influences of
the fungi are nothing compared with the
destructiveness of the Industrious white
ants.
To Distinguish Officers From Men.
The difficulty of distinguishing officers
from enlisted men in the army field uni
form has bean partially removed. Here
after officers on field duty wearing the
olive drab uniform in winter and the
khaki in summer will display on their
sleeve a half-inch brown braid.
The braid will be brown for all officers
regardless of rank except in the case of
those attached to the general staff corps,