Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-20

OF bhe E1E1nE Line Nleaneu from
the Army and Navy Register.
Captain E. c. Davis. United states army,
retired. who is on duty with the or
ganized militia Of Idaho. has been elected
to the legislature Of that state and he en-
tertains considerable doubt whether he
may serve in that body and at the same
time perform the duties with the militia,
TO which he has been assigned by the War
department. The question has been re
fetred to the department, with the result
that although Captain Davis incumbency
OF office In the legislature does not seem
70 fan within the letter Of section 222 Of
the revised statutes. II Is believed to be
opposed to its spirit to such an extent as
to make it highly inexpedlent that Captain
Davis should hold legislative office in
addition to his present employment as a
retired officer OF the army. Captain Davis
has, therefore, been informed that the
military authorities in Washington do not
regard with favor his request for con-
tinuance on duty with the militia
The reports received from our military
attaches abroad on the subject OF the care
and endurance Of military equipment fur
some animated discussion I'm the War de-
partment Of the situation in that particu-
lar at home. 1t has been alleged by one
observer that the equipment small arms.
leather articles etc, Of European armies
last two or three times as long as the
same material used by the United states
troops, and this making due allowance
for the influence OF climate when troops
are stationed in the tropics. One reason
given for the difference is that the
European commanders are required to
make the allotted quantity last a specified
period. There is no opportunity for early
condemnation of the equipment In the
leather articles, with the American ma
terial greatly superior to the European,
1t is alleged that the economy shown in
the European armies in the lasting quail
ties Of various articles is In striking con-
trast to the frequency with which that
material must be renewed in our army
In the past this has been due to the fact
that the rating OF organizations included
the appearance of equipment and the
| theory that newness OF material made for
the "smartness" of the soldier.
The War department will at once take
up the question of the duties which de-
volve upon general officers and the as
signment to command by virtue of the
changes to take place in the personnel OF
general officers. The retirement Of Gen.
eral Ward on March 10 is preceded by the
present leave of absence which has beer
granted to him, and st becomes necessary
to assign an officer to the command OF the
post at Fort Riley and the Mounted Ser
vice school for which the duty Colonel
Il WT.VA
lately on duty in the Hawaiian Islands and
recently assigned to duty with the benera
staff at the headquarters OF the depart
ment OF California, has been selected in
anticipation of his appointment as a briga-
der on January 4. B1gadier General M
! p. Maus, now in command of the depart
ment Of Columbia, Is destined to take
command of the Department OF Visayas
in the Philippines. The command at Fort
| d. A. Russell has been vacant since No.
vember IA and the command of the Depart
ment OF Dakota will be vacant on Decem-
Der 81, while the command of the Depart
ment Of Colorado will be vacant on January
l. Colonel Duncan Is destined for one OF
these. The command OF the Department OF
the Lakes will have to be filled in March
upon retirement of General Hodges and
! "
comes a major general at that time, will
be assigned to that billet. General Funs
ton succeeds General Potts in command Of
the Department Of Luzon, the latter taking
command Of Fort Leavenworth.
circular letter has been addressed t
chiefs Of bureaus, and others who are con
cerned with the subject, conveying the in
with marked disapproval any activity
which shall attach itself to the promotion
of army personnel legislation save tina
which has TO do with the pending amended
bill providing for extra officers of the
army. There is no MISLEADING the admoni
tory character Of this communication, anC
1t is intended there shall be no doubt Al
to the desire of the War department
in the matter Every influence which Il
controlled by the administration will b,
applied to the enactment of the extrG
officers BILL and there will be trouble
| for those responsible for any effort which
seeks to divert or divide congressional at
tention, now that the personnel measure
is pronounced as the most important o
all projects pertaining to the military per
sonnet. 1t is realized by those who hav,
the personnel situation that the extra Off
GERS bill is Of greater moment than any o
the other measures before congress or un
der contemplation Were it not for thii
prohibition some effort would be mad
again this year In behalf OF the increas'
OF the signal corps and OF the quarter
masters department, but 1t is now out o.
the question. There is some doubt whethe
even this prohibition will save the day foi
the extra officers bill Congress Is, gener
ally speaking in an Indifferent mood
which is sufficiently good sign, provided
there is not too much indifference. At al
events, it is intended to imperl the extrl
officers bill, which, II It must fail, shall
fail on its own merits and not becaus'
congress was confronted with too much II
the way OF special legislation.