Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-04

The army signal office is purchasing ten
portable wireless sets Of an improved pat
tern to replace the original type which Is
now in the service and used by signal
corps companies in the field. The new
model is more efficient. although the range
of communication is not materially in
creased. That remains at from twenty to
twenty-five miles. according to the atmos-
pheric conditions. The ten sets which will
be recalled will be brought up to date.
An effort is already being made in be-
half Of the twenty-four army officers
fourteen lieutenant colonies and ten majors
OF the retired list-who were recently ad-
vanced on account of civil war service and
who are to receive the Increased pay OF
advancement only from the date Of the
senatorial confirmation OF the nominations
on April s. An appeal has been addressed
to the secretary of war and to the at
torney general in the hope that there may
be another ruling which will result in
having the dates Of advancement amended
80 as to provide the increased pay for
the period since April %. 1904. from which
occurs the advancement Of other army re-
tired officers Of civil war service.
$3.50 6N'h U " diIlN VII
probably. at the next session of congress,
seek to have increased the nav of the
members of the army hospital corps. This
was a project favored by General O'ReiIly
and is likely to be taken up with the same
determination by General Torney. The
present situation is one which makes II
difficult to keep competent and speciallv
trained hospital corps men. They find that
the experience which they have gained
In that branch enables them to make much
more money outside the army. and while
II Is out of the question to obtain I'm the
military service any such rate of nav as
hospital corps men would get in civil en-
ployment, 1t is desired to establish a means
OF compensation which will be more in
keeping with the exacting duties performed
by members OF the corps.
Inc general staff Of the War department
has under consideration the sample of a
rev style of campaign hat suggested for
army use. This Is of the khaki color with
a crown somewhat lower than the nresent
campaign hat, and with a brim which IL
wider and SITTER. 1t ia considered that
this hat, worn invariably with the "Mon-
tana peak" will be more serviceable Than
the present campaign Rat. 1t is the STYLE
or headgesr which is worn by COWBOYS on
the western prairies and appears to he best
adapted for those who ride horses. II is
believed that the cowboy must have some
very good reason for adhering to this mar
ticular style Of hat and this suggests the
ACCESSIBILITY Of at least trying out the tyne
or nat for those in the mounted branch of
the army. In the meantime, the War de-
partment is in possession Of the exnrks-
sions of opinion from officers and enlisted
men of the line concerning the relative ad-
Vantages of wearing the campaign hat with
the so-called Alpine crease or with the
Montana peak, AS might be expected. the
division of opinion is about equal. showing
that 1t Is, in the end, a matter of indi.
vidual preference, as so often happens
when views on such a subject are sought
by the military authorities. II the decision
required the campaign hat to he worn In
one or the other fashion, II is realized that
there would be about the same number
against, as there would be for. the adopted
style.