Evening star., 1909-03-07


Panama. visits are to be made to a
number of ports en- route.
Examinations in Non-Com. Staff.
An important order is in contempla-
ton in tie War Department. This VII
aim to establish uniformity of examIna-
ton and determination of individual
fitness in the case of candidates for po-
sitions in the post non-commissione II
staff. Up to this time candidates for
appointment as post quartermaster
sergeant, post commissary sergeant
ordnance sergeant and so on have beeu
examined every few years, and an eii-
Sible list of qualified candidates has
been maintained, from which appoint
mentS were made as vacancies occurred.
IL Is purposed to have such examina-
ions held annually hereafter. the quoS-
uonS 10 be prepared in Washington.
and all the papers sent to a board con-
Fened Tor the purpose of marking on
fixed basis.
To Have Duplicate Pictures
1t is ordered that whenever permis-
sion is given by the Navy Department.
or by commandants of stations or oil
GERS commanding fleets or vessels. un-
DER the Instructions of. the Navy Ds-
partment, to persons not belonging t.
the navy to make photographs or
tnlted states vessels or parts Thereof
or OF navy yards and naval stations.
such permission shall he granted only
on the condition that the NAVY Depart-
ment shall be furnished without cot
with duplicates of all pictures taken,
10 be used by the department for such
purposes. other than commercial as it
may deem advisable: this agreement to
ihciude moving picture" films.
Expiration Of Gen. Bells Detail.
Under the law establishing the gem
eral stan Of the army the detail of an
onlcer to the office OF the chief Of STAFF
terminates with the expiration of the
term OF office Of the President by whom
the detail was made. Consequently the
oeta1l of Mai Gen. J. Franklin Bell as
chief Of staff expired on the 4th of
March. There is every expectation that
Gen: Bell will be redetailed as chief Of
STAN by President Taft. to continue in
that office at least until April, 1910.
when he will have completed his four
years tour OF duty. Owing TO the inti-
mate official relations between the Sec
retary OF War and the chief OF staff. ac-
ton in the matter is suspended until
the new Secretary OF War assumes
charge OF the War Department In the
event of change In the office of chief
Of staff 1T is intimated that the assign
ment may go to Brig Gen William II
Garter. now in command of the Depart
ment of the Missouri, who. like the in
coming Secretary, Is a native of Tennes-
see
Reorganization of Atlantic Fleet.
The battleships of the Atlantic fleet
have been reassigned TO the various di-
visions. The Connecticut remains the
flagship of the fleet, being at the head
Of the first division. The others In that
division
Louisiana. In the second division are
the Minnesota. New Hampshire, the
Idaho and the Mississippi The Georgia.
the New Jersey, the Rhode Island and
the Nebraska compose the third division.
while the fourth division consists of the
Virginia. the Ohio. the Missouri and the
Wisconsin. The Connecticut Minnesota
Georgia and Virginia are fiagships.
Retirement Of Paymasters' Clerks.
Paymaster's Clerk Henry +. Minkler. re-
Gently on duty at the navy yard, Pennsa-
cola. has been placed on the retired list
of the navy on his own application after
thirty years service. He is the first pay
masters clerk to be retired i'm accord
ance with the recent opinion of the At
torney General. that paymaster's clerks
are officers of the navy within the mean
ing Of the act of May IL. 1908. and as
such are eligible to retirment.
To Command Next Hospital Ship.
Surgeon George Pickrell. T. s. N. will
probably be assigned to command the new
naval hospital ship Solace when that YES
sci shall have been converted to Its new
uses and added to the Atlantic fleet. The
Solace is now en- route from San Fran
cisco to the Charleston navy yard. where
1t will arrive in the course of the next
week or two. Surgeon Pickrell is now
on duty at the Naval Academy
out-turning Screws for Navy.
An important order issued by the Navy
Department last week is that which
directs change from in-turning to out
turning screws in the cases of the Louis
lana, Virginia. West Virginia and Mary
land. This places all the big ships of the
navy on the out-turning screw basis.
Promotions In Pay Corps.
The retirement of Col. William F. Tucker
of the pay department of the army has
resulted in the promotions of Lieut.. Col.
Harry l. Rogers 10 the rank of colonel,
Maj. George F. Downey to be lieutenant
colonel and leaves a vacancy in the grade
Of major In the pay corps. Col. Rogers
master and Col. DOwney is on duty in the
War Department as an assistant to the
payma ster general.
Army Orders.
Mai. Moses G. Zalinski, quartermaster,
has been ordered to report in person TO
the uuartermaster general for assignment
to duty in charge of the quartermaster
depot in this city.
Leave of absence for two months is
granted Capt. Walter b. McCaskey, 18th
Leave of absence for three months with
permission to go beyond the sea is grant
ed Capt Robert q. Paxton, 10th Cavalry.
Leave Of absence for one month is
granted First Lieut.. Charles X. Mayo.
10th Cavalry.
Capt William r. Smedberg. jr., 14th
Cavalry, assisted by Veterinarian Henry
w. Peter. 18th Cavalry, is detailed to in
spect public animals to be delivered at
Union and La Grande. Ore.
Leave of absence for three months is
granted Capt. Frank S. Armstrong, 9th
Cavalry.
Second Lieut. Edgar NJ Whiting. Ist
Cavalry, is transferred at his own
quest to the 10th Cavalry
BY direction Of the President and upon
the application of First Sergt Samuel
kirkwood. Company Nj. 29th Infantry,
that soldier will be placed upon the re-
tired list.
Capt. Walter B. McCaskey, 10Th In
fantry, will join his company.
Naval Orders.
Capt H. Osterhaus. from command
to command of the second di-
vision, United States Atlantic fleet, hoist;