Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-06

Current Events Cleaned from the
Army and Navy Register.

Army ana Navy Register.
A most serious situation has been pre-
sented at Fort Meade. S D.. by the de-
~faulting OF the contractor who was to
furnish the water supply for that post.
All the supply has been cut off, requiring
all drinking and cooking water to be haul d
by wagon for about two miles and making
1t necessary to pump very Objectionable
water from a creek and lake below the
post into the water system Of the post for
flushing purposes. This case was so serious
and the amount Of water required for
an independent supply was so large that
the secretary of war has authorized a
special estimate to be submitted to con-
gress. a number Of other cases, similar,
but requiring less funds, have recently
come to the War department.
Protests, individual for the most part,
are still being received by the War depart
ment from those army officers who find
Objectionable the proposition to effect by
legislation a Encouragement Of the lineal
list Of the commissioned personnel of the
line. This is the proposition which was
made by General Bell at the close Of the
first session of the sixtieth congress-, and
those who would be adversely affected by
the readjustment have emphatically made
known TO the War department the reasons
why no change should be made at this
late day in the effort to correct the injus-
tice wrought by old time regimental pro-
motion. 1t is apprec ated at the capitol
that quite as much is to be said against,
as there has been said in favor, Of the
proposed legislation. The War department
will, upon occasion, and when the military
committees want the information, send
these prote SITS to the capitol. In the mean
time. there appears no likelihood that the
subject will be taken up by congress.
The War department authorities will
make an effort at this session of congress
to have increased the means for adyertls-
ing for recruits and the funds available
for the apprehension Of IdeserteTs. 1t is the
intention to continue the activity in recruit
ing, to which end II is desired to increase
the allotment for the incidental expenses of
recruiting by about $4,000. The expenses of
apprehending deserters has amounted dur
ing the last year to a little more than $500
per month. A resolute effort is being made
by the adult mt general to increase the per-
centage of deseIters apprehendsd, and the
increase in expenditures for rewards indi-
Gates that results are being obtained. To
AiOtN lhS ICdSS III tApGiAdAAhlNt NlC -
mate, is $50, 700 greater than the apportion-
ment for the current fiscal year. This is
money we'll spent, and as the certainty of
apprehension and punishment for desertion
is increased, doubtless the number OF de-
%sertions will decrease, resulting in a reduc-
ton OF expenditures for reward and to the
good Of the military service in general.
On February 10, 1908, the soldiers station
at Norris, near Fort Yellowstone. Wyo.,
was destroyed by fire. Claims were filed
by three enlisted men for the amount Of
damage sustained by them and a board Of
army officers, having investigated the loss,
found that the articles enumerated by the
enlisted men were lost and destroyed by
fire through no negligence or fault on their
part and, consequently, the treasury ac-
counting officers in this city forwarded
warrants covering the amounts claimed
Major Allen OF the Eighth cavalry, com
handing Fort Yellowstone, returned the
warrants to the department with the state
ment that a subsequent investigation had
led to the belief that two of the enlisted
men were directly responsible for the fire
and that the third had deserted, robbed
a ranch a few miles from the fort, and
was serving a p~enitentlary sentence for the
latter offense. Before the first two had
been found out their terms of enlistment
had expired and they were out of the SER
vice. AS a result, the assistant comptrol.
Ter OF the treasury has ordered the cancel
lation Of the warrants.
The War department has approved the
plans which will finally equip Boise Bar
racks. Idaho, for the accommodation of the
| 40. - ,Nl Ez,- $780,. - uIva-
Much of the work has already been &C
Ecomplished. The estimates to congress for
the fiscal year 1909 included the following
buildings for Boise Barracks, which were
in the original 1905 list: One c~olonel's quar-
tiers. four officers quarters, one band bar
rack, three cavalry stables, one field staff
and band stable, one hay shed and one
l~granary. Also the following additional
buildings, which were not in the original
list: One additional cavalry stable, one
bakery, two stable guard buildings, one
Iquartermaster's storehouse, one coal shed.
None OF these buildings was included In
the approved project for construction for
the fiscal year 1909, because sufficient
funds were not available for all the work
under consideration and the buildings at
other posts were considered necessary at
that time. The project now contemplated
will provide for the buildings necessary for
the ccommodation of the four cavalry
troops, with a view to making use of two
OF the old barracks that are considered
serviceable.
Bids have been received for the extensive
construction proposed at Fort d. A. Rug
sell, Wyo., with a view to converting that
station into a brigade post. The proposals
have been forwarded to the quartermaster
general and they are regarded as accept
able, being within the estimate Of cost.
This contract will represent about 500, OC
worth Of building. Minor contracts awarded
by the quartermaster general this week in
cluded the construction of a qu~artermastes
storehouse and cavalry stable at Fort
Meade. s. D., to the extent OF about $40. 900
PERSONAL NOTES.