Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-15
RIDING TEST USELESS.
Fails to Prove Officers Fit
ness, Says Gen. Myer.
CRITICISED IN HIS REPORT
Shorter Rides, He Declares. Would
Be More Practicable.
TOO MUCH LEAVE FROM DUTY
Need for Army Service Legislation
Pointed Out by Commander Of
the Department of Texas.
TOO MUCH LEAVE FROM DUTY

The Roosevelt riding test for officers of
the army doesn't amount to shucks in de-
| termining the fitness of the commissioned
personnel. according to the annual report
of Gen. Albert l.. Myer, commanding the
| Department of Texas, to the Secretary
of War.
| There are many very efficient and
valuable field officers" says Gen. Myer,
| particularly in the staff and supply de-
partments. who would never in any cir
| cumStanceS he required to make any
! such rides. A ride Of a reasonable num-
| Der of miles per day for five or six days
| continuously, with distances, camping and
| time such as might occur in a rapid con-
centration or mobilization of troops In
| case of war. would be a practicable test.
| l doubt II rate of thirty miles a day
| for three days in a specified number of
hours has ever occurred in actual serv-
| ice. although much more severe rides
have been made by troops without any
| previous preparation. 1 am in favor of
yearly physical examinations of all Off
| GERS to ascertain their fitness for the De-
cul1ar duties they are likely to be called
| on to perform
Many Officers Off Duty.
| According to Gen. Myer, each sue
| 1slation regarding a general service
corps for the army in order to re-
store to the ranks the large number of
men who are continually away on du-
ties not strictly military. He says that
| the absence of a large number of Of
hcers from their proper commands on
various duties outside the department
stlll continues a source of much an
Snoyance In the performance of duty and
the proper control of troops. The I'M
lawful disposition Of uniform clothing
! by enlisted men continues in the De-
partment Of Texas, and Gen. Myer rec
ommends the employment of govern
ment secret service officers in such
cases.
An echo Of the shooting up of
| Brownsville in 1905 is contained in the
| report by brief reference to Fort Brown,
which has remained ungarrisonef since
the 18th Infantry Regiment was withdrawn
| soon after that affair. Gen. Myer saws
that the post is now under the care Of
] two employees of the quartermaster' de-
partment and the Department of Agricul-
ture has an experimental farm there
| which farm, Gen. Myer says, tends much
toward the care of the reservation The
| encroachment of the Rio Grande still con-
| tinues, says Gen. Myer, notwithstanding
the efforts. to prevent 1t.
Indians to Be Evicted.
Arrangements have been made for the
eviction of the Seminole negro-Indian
scouts and their families from the mill
tary reservation at Fort Clark, Tex, by
| the LIST of July next.
The families of these scouts" says
! Gen. Myer, "as we'll as all others OF the
| Seminole negro-Indian tribe that have
been gathering about them for a num-
Der of years. have been the subject Of
much correspondence during the year,
with a final decision by the War Depart
ment that by no treaty, agreement or anv
known conversations are these people
| entitled to any benefits from the War
| Department or the United States govern
! ment, and they have been warned that
the military reservation at Fort Clark
must be vacated by them on or before
| June 80. 191O'