Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
The Army in 1908.


Probably the most important event Ill
the history of the military establishments
during 1908 was the resignation OF w. IL.
Taft as Secretary of War to accept the
republican nomination for President ana
the appointment of Luke e. wright OF
Tennessee as his successor. Ihere Were
no vars and no occasion for the employ
ment of troops outside OF their roulile
duties in time of peace
Some slight disturbances occurred IN the
Philippines, but they subsidized at the hrsl
appearance OF rOrce. =.
Mai Gen. A. w. Greedy of arctic en-
liberation fame was retired in January,
and has since travelled extensively.
Lieut., Gen Arthur Macarthur is stlll the
ranking officer of the army lie Is at ms
home In Milwaukee, however, IN pIactica l.
If not actual retirement. engaged III the
preparation of report on his obs erVat on
in China, Japan and India, following the
RuSso-Japanese war 80
Cen. J. Franklin Bell, as chief OF STAFF.
is the actual head Of the army. with Maj.
Cen. W. p. Duvall as his chief assistant.
Under their directions extensive field ma
neuyers were engaged in during the year
by regular troops and the Nat1onal Guard
of varo Gus states. JOINT exercises were
also conducted at various Seacoast de-
lenses, including the Notifications at New
York and Washington city.
The long standing case or Col. Nlllam
F Stewart of the Coast Artillery Corps,
the so-called Fort Grant exile. was
sna,,v settled by his transfer TO the re-
tired list on the ground of disability.
Tests for Officers.
Tn accordance with the Presidents in
str7,ctions, all the field officers Of the army
were subjected to physical tests. either by
riding or walking. and no casualties were
reported A small party of officers rode
from Fort I.eavenworth, Kan, to Gettys-
burg. Pa, with no i'll effects. Maj. Cen
f.. d. Grant, son Of Gen. u. S. Grant, was
thrown from his horse while on prac-
tice march In upper New York, but was
not much injured.
fenced to dismissal for hazing, but their
sentences were mitigated to less serious
penalties Col Thomas w. Symons. for
merly In charge Of public buildings and
grounds, was retired at MS own request
July %. He was an unsuccessful candi-
date for appointment as chief or engf-
neers. Col William l.. Marshall, at New
York the heaviest man In the army, was
appointed chief of engineers, vice Brig.
Gen. Alex. Mackenzie. who retired for
age in May last.
Mrs. Sage's Donation.
In August Mrs. Russell Sage donated
Constitution Island In the Hudson river
10 the United States Military Academy.
Col. Richard L. Hoxie of the Engineer
Corps, who designed the big water tun-
mel from Georgetown to Howard Uni
versity was transferred to the retired
list in August last.
Capt. p. c. Hains of the Coast Art1l-
Iery Corps at Fort Hancock. n. j.,
son of Gen. T. c. Hams. U.S-A.. was ar
rested by the civil authorities in Au-
gust, charged with the murder Of a civil
liam. William E Annis. Col. Daniel
Cornman and other officers of the 9TH
Infantry at Fort Wayne. Mich. were
court martialed for the alleged improper
procurement OF forage.
The Army War College in the Wash
ington barracks reservation was formal
~ dedicated by the President and Secre-
tary Root November g.
Col. G. II. Torney of the Medical Corps
was announced surgeon general of
the army, to succeed Gen. Robert NJ
O'Reilly in January next. Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood assumed command Of the
Department of the East at New York
Brig Gen. r. H Bliss relieved Maj. Gen.
John F. Weston of command OF the
Army of the Philippines. The medical
authorities recommended the practice of
vaccination for the immunization of the
army from typhoid fever.
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.
The naval event OF principal interest