Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-26
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON.
Current Event. Cleaned from the
Army and Navy ReRiaser,

Current Events CLEANED from the
Army and Navy Register.
some important contracts were awarded
last week in the office OF the quarter
master general OF the army. The PRINCIPAL
project was that OF constructing barracks
ana quarters and other army buildings at
Fort D.. A. Russell, Wyo., the work repre-
senting an expenditure OF 500, 900.
Everything Is in readiness for the ex.
aminations which will be conducted nv
army boards at various posts throughout
the country of candidates for appointment
to the grade OF second lieutenant of the
coast artillery corps. There are some 100
applicants. who have been notified that
they may appear before an examining
board at the military post nearest their
respective residences. The examinations
will take place on February 2 and the ar
engagements made this year to have the ex-
aminations held with due regard to the
saving of expense on the part of candi-
dates Will be appreciated. In other years
the candidates were obliged to find their
way to Fort D~eavenworth and maintain
themselves indefinitely at that post, pend.
ing the termination of the examination.
a prominent member OF congress from
New England has received a communica-
ton from a professional pedestrian who
has offered his services to the government
as an instructor OF walking for the per-
sonnet of the military and naval service.
The fame of the executive orders which
Impose the walking test as a demonstra-
ttOn of the fifOaSR IF nffipnro 20 ...za.
or to perform their professional duties has
reached the people who make a business
Of walking. 1t is pointed out in the APP
peal which has been received in washing
ton from the pedestrian that he is able to
impart to officers the best method OF loco
motion and he is willing to share the Sc
cret of his success for a consideration in
the interest of military efficiency. No in
dioation is given Of any official action on
this suggestion.
There is every prospect that congress
will act favorably on the legislation which
has been introduced and which is influen-
tally supported at the capitol contempIat-
ing a change in the condition surrounding
the examination for promotion Of majors Of
the army medical corps. Under the present
Jaw olllCtTH Oh lndI kThue VINO TAIL TO
qualify for promotion remain as majors
until they reach the retiring age or until,
after thirty years service, they apply for
retirement. 1t has been pointed out 10
congress that this operates as a hardship
as well as an injustice, inasmuch as II is
a new condition imposed since the officers
most vitality affected entered the service.
The proposition, according to the pending
legislation, is that majors OF the medical
corps who fail to pass the examination for
promotion shall remain in the grade for
one year and then be r~e-eXamined. II there
is a second failure they are to be retired
as majors and If they qualify they are to
be advanced. At present there are five
majors whose promotion is arrested. The
pending legislation is not particularly fav-
ored by the surgeon general Of the army,
who believes that the second examination
will defeat the object OF the existing law.
Reports coming into the War department
indicate that European countries are losing
no time in developing the dirigible balloon
as an implement of war A comparatively
small dirigible balloon built under the SUI
pervision OF a captain in the Russian army
has proved satisfactory, and the Russian
government has set aside about $,osS,0O0
for ~aeronautics. A Paris balloon manu-
facturer has been given an order TO manu-
facture a dirigible for Russia after the
latest French type. This balloon will cost
about $4,000. and it will hold about 1885, 900
cubic feet of gas. 1t will have two motors
OF eighty horsepower each. A dirigible
balloon will also be constructed in Russia,
at a cost OF about $40, O0O. This will be a
rather large affair. The military authoTi-
ties are also in receipt OF information to
the effect that there is no doubt that the
Zeppelin airship Is of practical military
value, as is also another type OF semirigid
dirigible balloon, when certain changes are
made in II. The tendency abroad is to-
ward large dirigibles. The latest Zeppelin
balloon. for instance. carries enough gas
to give a lifting power Of sixteen tons.
which, after considering tile weight of the
apparatus and crew, a capacity OF about
two tons, which can be carried in the form
of ballast or high explosives TO be dropped
In an enemy's dock yards, arsenals and
magazines, depots OF supplies, and defen-
sivO works.