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

especially as a soldier or sailor dismissed
fer desertion loses his citizenship. Ac-
companied by his father young Wilson
went to the Navy Department and sur
rendered to Secretary Metmalf in person.
At the suggestion of the Secretary he
went to the navy yard here and reported
to court-inar!iGl in session at that yard.
The court found him guilty of desertioH
and sentenced him to dismissal In or
der to give the man a chance to redeem
himself and save his citizenship the Sec
rotary of the Navy directed that he be
placed in service on probation. and then,
if his record justified il, that he he al
lowed to serve out his term Of enlistment
and the desertiOn proceedings dropped al
together.
Army Surgeons in Demand.
The surgeon general OF the army is
sending out circulars to the principal cities
and towns indicating to physicians the
chances Of appointment to the junior
grade in the medical department There
are thirty vacancies in that grade, and at
present less than twenty applications are
on file. The examinations will be held
early in May at army posts in the neigh
borhood of the homes of the candidates
This examination will be preliminary. and
those who are found qualified will be APP
pointed forthwith as contract surgeons
and brought to Washington for six
months course at the close of which the
student officers will be finally examined
and commissioned in the medical depart
ment according to general percentage at
tanned. This year departure from the
usual practice is authorized, to the extent
that the examination will be physical and
professional. In lieu OF an examination in
general subjects the examining boards are
authorized to accept certificates of grad
uation. 1t is hoped by this means to in
duce qualified physicians to take the eX-
animation. it being believed that the gem
eral examination hitherto has deferred
some available candidates from present.
ing themselves.
Improving the Army Ration.
A general order will be promulgated in
a few days making radical changes in the
army>ration. Commissary General Sharpe
has. after long study and an inquiry into
the methods abroad. worked out a series
of rations that are expected to meet the
varying conditions of garrison. field and
duction at some points where the nutritive
character Of the ration would not suffer,
and there has been at numerous points the
addition of articles of food that are pala-
table. nutritive and usually craved by
troops. The average cost of tie ration
will be increased from 20 cents to % cents
and the annual appropriation for the COM
missary department will be increased by
the sum Of $GOO.OO0. Under the new ar
rangement there will be field and haver-
sack ration which will amply meet the
conditions of field service and marching
conditions. Under the new order the
United States Army will be fed more
abundantly and on more scientific lines
than any other army in the world.
Hard Test for Submarines.
Commander Charles c. Marsh has pre-
pared plans for further tests of subma-
rine vessels in Chesapeake bay to deter
mine their value as auxiliaries in the
defense of the seacOast The submarines
to participate in the cruise in Chesapeake
bay will be the Viper, the Tarantula and
the Cuttlefish. the same three vessels
which made the recent record run of 3S:;
miles from New York to Annapolis. These
vessels will be sent out under their own
power early this week from Annapolis.
practically sealed. and commanded by
one officer with his crew Of twelve men,
The record of $50 miles will De nearly
doubled before they return. Heavy seas
will he plOwcd through and maneuvers
and drill undertaken for the purpose Of