Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-28

The paymaster general of the army has
passed upon the question Of the enlistment
period OF an enlisted man Of the army who
served as a commissioned officer of Philip
pine Scouts from July /. 1901, to April I.
1909, resigning to become post commissary
sergeant. The soldier on April : completed
continuous service of ten years, five
months and twelve days, embracing a
period OF time equivalent to more than
three fun enlistment periods. but less than
four such periods. 1t is held that upon re-
enlistment on April 9. the man should be
viewed as constructively taking up the
thread of the fourth continuous enlistment
period. Creditlng him with one additional
enlistment period for his re-enlisted pay
status, 1t is held by the psymsster general
that upon re-enllstment on April 9 the sol
der entered upon his fifth enlistment
period.
A new army rcmount depot will be estab-
lished at Fort Keogh. Mont. in accordance
with a recommendation OF General ]. Is.
Aleshire. quartermaster general of tho
army. II has been found that the first
depot established at Fort Reno has pro-
duced excellent results in furnishing the
army with suitable animals. and General
Aleshire proposes to extend the system
The new depot. which will be in operation
by the first of July, is situated In the CEN
ter of a horse raising district. from which
many Of the best animals have hitherto
been obtained. The depot at Fort Keogh
will be IN charge of Captain Harold P.
Howard. Fourteenth cavalry. now\on duty
at Fort Walla Walia, Wash, The quarter
master general has in view a further in
vestfgation of the horses OF Virginia in the
hope OF obtaining from that section ami
mails which are adapted for military pur-
poses. He has requested the detail. for
the purpose of acquiring this formatio
of Captain Casper II. Conrad. jr.. Third
cavalry. now on duty at Fort Clark, Tex.
1t is exceedingly fitting and perfectly con-
sistent for Senator Martin N. Johnson to
suggest to President Taft that he show
preference in promotion" to those officers
of the army and navy who abstain from
alcoholic liquors." because Senator John
son takes pride In the fact that he is the
author of the first anti-canteen law. MIR.
Taft has given no inclination that he will
adopt the suggestion. OF course. the exer-
else OF of presidential authority or discre-
ton is exceedingly limited in the matter
of the promotion of the commissioner per-
sOnnSi VI IA miliNdI -hdNdi ESTABLISHMENT
and there will probably be no more atten-
ton paid in the future than there has
been in the past to the personal habits of
officers who are the object of presidential
consideration for any reason whatever;
that IL TO say, there will be quite as much
consideration paid to the habits and per-
sonal character OF officers as there has
been hitherto.
The secretary of the navy has had oeca-
sion this week to request Information con-
corning reports which have reached him
Of the mayor of Medina. o.. and the Judge
Of a local court in Des Moines. la. Those
officials. 1t is reported to the Navy depart
ment, suspended sentence In the case OF
youthful culprits, one charged with petty
larceny and the other with forgery. pro-
yided the accused young men would enlist
in the navy. In both cases the recruiting
officers discovered the purpose and were
able to block the plan. In the case of the
offender at Medina the recruiting officer
At Cleveland discovered from the record,
hat the young man had served in tn,
navy. In which he had a bad record, al
hough this was covered up by the pro
iuction Of a forged honorable discharge
rhe Navy department will await infor
nation from the Medina mayor and IN,
Oes Moines Judge before writing the sharI
.etters which those officials deserve 10 re
,eive on account OF their misconception o
he purpose OF the navel service. II Is re
narkable that at this late day there ar,
men OF intelligence I'm official position any
where who think an enlistment in the nava
= service will serve the purpose OF protect
r ng society from culprits and may be sub
stituted for a sentence OF imprisoinmert.
-
The appointments which have been an
nounced at the White House OF genera
I officers of the army in anticipation OF tn
vacancies in the grade OF major general an,
O brigadier general by virtue OF the retire
! ment OF Brigadier General ]. b. Kerr O.
Il May IS and Major General John F. Westo
J. on November 10 will be received wit
satisfaction. Considerable interest a,
J. tached 10 the appointment OF a brigade
J. general upon the retirement OF Geners
= Kerr as affording a chance OF determlnin
= President Taft's policy In these matters {
selection In military advancement. Til
|, Offices who were indicated for appoln.
~ment-colonel Jacob A. Ausur. Tenth ca,
!. airy; Colonel NJ p. Maus. Twentieth II
fsntry; Colonel j. @. d. Knight. corps
engineers. and Brigadier General w.
"a Contemporaries the factor OF seniorit
!, which will be appreciated. The untimeI
death Of Colonel Augur at Manila on n
day following the announcement Of h
appointment Is the occasion Of reKr
y throughout the army. He was an officl
"a with a splendid record in war and pea.
Il and was a fine example OF the true soldie
n II was such as he who have been depriv,
or OF the recognition for duty we'll perform,
IN and for experience gained In the militia
profession.