Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-09

brlgadler General Charles Morton mas
made a recommendation to the war de-
partment IN favor Of the purchase by the
government OF additional land at Fort
Robinson, Neb., so that future military
m%aneuvers may be held on that military
reservation. 1t is proposed TO acquire the
tract Of land lying between Fort Robinson
and the nearby timber reservation. The
terrain is well adapted for the purpose
The climate is better and the maneuver
grounds much more accessible to all
troops than can be said Of the Grow Creek
timber reservation in Wyoming, where the
m]aneuvers Of 1908 were held. one of the
objections in addition to the question Of
| climate to that reservation, as described
by General Morton, was the tendency of
the community to make eNtorionate claims.
Another place favored by General Morton
is the Niobrara military reservation. which
is convenient to railroad transportation,
possesses store buildings and an excellent
water supply. An enlarged military reser-
walton at Fort Robinson would have the
advantage. in time Of maneuvers, Of the
neighboring military post for the concen-
~tration of supplies and the preparation OF
the camp In advance. There is, OF course,
no appropriation available for such a pur-
pose, but the matter will be taken under
! Amusement. 1t is very doubtful, however,
II congress at the coming session makes
any allotment for the purchase Of land for
maneuver camps.
The forthcoming annual report of the
! surgeon general OF the army Is expected
to contain some important comment CON
corning the annual physical test for the
military personnel. The recommendations
from that source and the which
have been made by other officers may lead
to a change in the present conditions,
which are the result OF President Roose-
yelt's orders requiring an annual demon
s~tration Of physical fitness. The i'm
preston prevails that, il Mr.. Taft takes
up the question il will be to require that
the exercise, whether riding or walking,
shall be regular and not annual, with the
provision that commanding officers shall
certify to the performance OF duty. BY
this means it is believed that the object Of
Mr.. Roosevelt's orders will be accomplished
In greater degree than is now the case,
The president will shortly have submit
ted to him a list of army officers, who are
regarded as eligible to appointment as
brigadier general in the army. During the
coming year there will be an opportunity
to appoint three general officers Of that
rank and a chief of engineers of the army.
These vacancies occur on January "a, upon
the retirement of the then Brigadier Gen
eral j. O.. d. Knight, who attains that
rank on November u, vice General Carter,
who becomes q major general by virtue Of
General eston's retirement, March IA,
when General Morton r~etires, and Novem-
Il, when General Myer retires. No va
cancy occurs In the grade Of major gem
eral until January, 1911, when General Du-
vail will be transferred from the active list.
General Marshall, chief of engineers OF
the army, will reach the retiring age on
June IL. Speculation is rife concerning the
selection Of the first Of the brigadiers in
January. The impression prevails that Mr..
Taft will be governed more by considera-
tions of seniority than by operations Of in
fluenee. There is an impression also that
the coming appointment to the grade Of
~brigadier will go to the cavalry arm, in
which event the choice appears to be be-
tween Colonies Hatfield, Dorst and Ander-
son, who are relatively senior in rank to
the senior colonel Of infantry, Colonel Corn
man.