Evening star., 1909-02-14
Army Orders.

Capt. Charles r. Reynolds. Medical
Corps is relieved from duty as com.
manding officer, Company {. Hospitai
Corps. general hospital. Washington
barracks. District of Columbia, to take
effect upon the departure of that COM
pany for Fort Niagara, New York. about
March Ii, 1909. and will then report In
person to the commanding officer of the
general hospital at Washington barracks
| for duty
| Maj William Lasster. inspector gen
eral. repair to this city and report in per-
son to the inspector general of the army
| for duty in his office.
| Col. Sydney w. Taylor. I'd Field Ar
| tilery is assigned to the command OF
| the troops on the transport Fitzpatrick
| during the voyage of that transport to
the Philippine Islands.
| BY direction of the President the re-
| tirins board at Washington, District OF
| Columbia War Department. is dissolved
Maj. Willard F. TRULY, Medical Corps.
| will proceed to Fort Worden. WASH. for
duty.
Capt. George R. Armstrong. retired,
is relieved from duty with the organized
militia of North Dakota and will pro-
Ceed to his home.
The following-named officers Of the
examining board at New York city for
examination to determine their fitness for
promotion: Capt. Edwin r. Stuart and
Second Lieut.. Edmund L. Daley.
Red Cross Auxiliaries.
Military Red Cross work and the best
method of developing it are discussed in
the fourth annual report of the American
National Red Cross, just submitted to the
Secretary OF War by Secretary Charles
l.. Magee. The central committee has
been studying this subject and has come
to the conclusion that what may be call
ed military Red Cross work. as dis
tinsushed from relief work in disasters in
time of peace should be committed for
the necessary study and preparation to a
board composed largely OF military and
naval men. surgeons. physicians. heads of
nursing corps and others of like qualif1-
cations. To prevent local and national
relief agencies from duplicating work, it
is planned to elect the stronger and more
efficient charity organization societies as
institutional members, to obtain their
trained personnel to take charge. under
| national direction, of relief measures. An
emergency relief board Of fifteen persons
| is to be appointed by the president of the
Red Cross to study. prepare for and
supervise emergency relief in all states Of
the Union and exterior possessions. Maj.
Charles Lynch. Medical Corps, U.S.A., a
member of the Red Cross has prepared
handbook on first aid, and it Is expected
the Young Mems Christian Association
will adopt this work as text book
Special instruction of relief columns has
been begun. and arrangements are making
to affiliate the Federation of Trained
Nurses with the Red Cross, so as to pro-
vide trained nurses in cases OF calamity
epidemics, etc.
Polo in the Army.
Army officers. especially those OF tho
cavalry branch who own polo ponies have
asked the War Department If they are
nf 1o1
account of the possession of those ami
mails. The Secretary of War has decided
that this allowance, which was provided
at the last session Of Congress. is limited
to two horses in the case of each officer,
and is permissible only on actual owner
ship of the animals. amounting in the
case of two horses to $500 year. Fur
thermore. these horses must be Service
able" and 1t Is ruled that this term re-
lates to the military utility of the animal
1t is considered that the polo pony does
not come within that class The officers
who are interested have pointed out that
polo is a physical exercise contributing to
individual skill in horsemanship, and is
desirable as means Of fitting officers.
especially those who are mounted. for the
performance Of their duties. Inasmuch
as the War Department has striven to en-
courage all forms OF athletic exercise and
has adopted a policy of liberality in this
matter. it was hoped that the allowance of
forage might be permitted In the case OF
the polo ponies. The War Department
criticism would attach to any such con-
struction of the law. The polo ponies.
therefore, will have to be supported en-
tirely without aid from the government.
This may have the effect of restricting the
playing of polo.
Volunteers for Vaccination.
Instructions have been sent by the War
Department to all army posts in regard
to anti-typhoid vaccination in the mill
tary service, and call for volunteers to
submit to the vaccination has been is
sued. Among the first volunteers. it is
understood, will be the medical officers
and the members of the Army Medical
Corps 1t IS expected that the enlisted
men will, in the majority of cases, be
willing to submit to the vaccination after
1t has been demonstrated on their officers.
The vaccination does not cause any in
convenience except for the first few
hours. This method Of preventing typhoid
fever was adopted for the United States
Army after it had been recommended by
a commission of well known medical au-
thorities and was brought about by the
experience of foreign armies. especially
the British army, in the successful use Of
the method
Restricting Naval Academy Memor-
1alS.
Capt. Badger, superintendent of the Ma
val Academy, has issued an order making
an important change In the rules govern
ing memorials and other offerings to the
Naval Academy. 1t is desired that such
memorials should be only to officers who
have distinguished themselves. and the
order states that the crypt and window
spaces in the new naval chapel are to be
used only for memorials to the United
States naval officers who have success
fully commanded a fleet or. squadron in
battle or who have received or may re-
ceve the thanks Of Congress for con-
spicuous distinguished service In time of
war 1t is specified that no memorial shall
be accepted or installed in the crypt or
window spaces until at least five years
after the death of the officer in question.
The only memorials thus far installed in
the chapel are the windows to Admiral
David D. Porter and Rear Admiral Will
liam T. Sampson.
Improving the Magazine Rife.
At the Springfield Armory report OF
verihcation of the sight leaf markings
of the United States magazine rifle. mod
ell of 1908. chambered for model OF 1908
ammunition, has, 1t is believed. estab
lished the correctness of the present
graduation. Absolute correctness in any
single rifle cannot be expected, and 1t
should be understood that only mean
graduations that will answer. for differ
ent locations and different ammunition
can be secured. 1t is thought that this
graduations on the sight of the present
seryica rifle The targets obtained by