New-York tribune., 1910-06-04
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Nav Be Sensational Develop
ments in Philippines.
TFroIn The Tribuns Bureau

martial are being convened there and the
numerous instances in which recommeHda-
tions for the exercise OF military discipline
have been made by General w. H Duvall,
I in command OF the military force in the
/ islands. A case Of more than ordinary in
terest, largely because of the mystery at
/ tending the details and the unwillingness OF
/ the authorities in Washington TO discuss 1t,
has recently been brought to the attention
Of the President. Mr. Taft has designated
/ court OF inquiry 10 meet at Manila and
I has ordered officers from the United States
/ 10 present themselves before it This action
is based on some affidavits which have been
submitted TO President Taft from James
/ L Thorne. formerly q first lieutenant of the
army medical reserve corps, and not now
4 in the service. This is all that is publicly
mentioned in connection with .he convening
Of the court OF inquiry. but IL has been
otherwise ascertained that this is a case in
volving charges of serious misconduct
against Captain Boss Reese, OF the Philip
pine scouts. an officer well known in the
I Philippines. Reese entered the volunteer
service, as an enlisted man of Georgia In
/ fantry at the outbreak of the war with
SPAIN and in 1900 was appointed a second
lieutenant Of the Philippine cavalry. He
has been captain in the Philippine scouts
since August, 1908.
The information possessed by the former
medical officer was OF such e character as
to lead General Duvall 70 institute spe-
cial investigation, and for this purpose he
detailed Captain Samuel D. Rockenbach
18th Cavalry. then in the Philippines and
now in this country. Captain Rockenoach's
report. according TO Thorne. fully sustained
the charge. It is alleged by Thorne that
General Duvall suppressed the case, but It
is now considered in the interest of the ser
vice that steps be taken TO bring Captain
Reese before a military court. and Mr.. Taft
believes the circumstances Of the investiga-
ton and the alleged shelving Of the case
should be inquired into. Captain Rocken-
bach has been ordered to Manila to give tes-
tirnony before the court
NAVY PAY DEcIsIoN.-A decision Of
the Treasury Department that the gov
ernment has no right TO pay naval officers
I OF attaches mileage when they come home
on leave of absence has aroused a storm
Of disapproval in naval circles. The de-
partment holds that such orders are not
for the good of tha service" but purely a
pe-sonaI matter with the officers, whose
travelling expenses must be borne by
themselves. The decision is regarded as
the more serious from a naval point Of
view for the reason that IL is retroactive
end all officers who have received such
! mileage within the last five years must re
fund 10 the government the amount re-
ceived The Navy Department, while pro-
! testing against the order, takes the view
that il can be overcome by the issue OF
another order, namely, ordering a man
home on waiting orders and then granting
him leave.
/ HAMS CASE IN NAVY.-The navy also
/ has a Hams case on its hands, and even
/ the Attorney General. whose aid was in
voked, has been unable to find q way to
get rid Of a man convicted of manslaugh-
ter Recently John Stokes, e boatswain.
killed his wife He was tried by civil
| court in the State of Washington, con-
victed and sentenced to from one years TO
twenty years Imprisonment. Naturally.
the Navy Department wanted TO get his
name off the lists. but the Attorney Cen
eral holds that he cannot be deprived Of
! his boatswain's commission. and so he
must be carried along as absent without
leave" although without pay, to the
chagrin OF naval officers.
/ RAISING THE KATAHDIN.-The ram
Katahdin. sunk recently near Indian Head
practically emptied of water by the tugs
at work on her. The shot hole is TO be
patched up and the trials resumed.
WORK ON THE DEWEY.-The big
/ floating drydock Dewey, which recently
sank 10 the bottom OF Subig Bay. at Olon-
gapo. Will be raised on June 20. If all goes
well. according 10 a cable dispatch received
| at the Navy Department from Captain
Mertz. in charge of the naval station there.
| He requests an allotment Of $4,000 TO de-
fray the cost of the work. Some of the
valves through which the dock was flooded
and emptied were found to be corroded, but
that is not believed TO be the entire reason
for its sinking, which must be the subject
of further investigation.
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders
have been issued:
/ ARMY.
Major BENJAMIN C. MORSE. 9th Infantry.
| detailed professor OF military science at I'M
versity OF Illinois. Urbana, H., to take effect
October !. vice Lieutenant Colonel EDMOND
/ @. FECHET Getired), who viii then pro
ceed TO his home.
Major DELAMARE sKERRET. paymaster.
/ coast artillery, relief from duty in Pay
Department. July 3, TO command Fort
CAPTAIN HARRISON J. PRICE. "a Infantry. de-
! tailed professor Of military science at Purdue
University, Lafayette. Ind. 10 take effect
Captain G. DE GRAssE cATLIN. 2sth Infantry,
20 Hot Springs Army and Navy General
Captain STANLEY D. EMI1cK. coast artillery.
70 Fort Monroe. 10 deliver lecture before
] classes at Coast Artillery School De
( fences Of Manila Bay June 10.
Captain WILLIAM H. WINTERS, ID Cavalry.
! detailed for duty at camp Of instruction at
| American Lake in August
| Following promotions and assignments coast
! artillery announced WILLIAM Il. MENGES
70 captain; LEWIS z. GooDIER, Jr.. TO
frst lieutenant TO 5ef5 company .. Fie,,
| Artille-y. from Army Signal School Fort
/ I,eavenworfh. on expiration Of leave OF ap-
sence. thence 20 proper station.
Second Lieutenant FRANK MooRMAN, z4lh
THOMAS T. FRIssELL 9th Infantry.
/ Leaves OF absence: MaJoc GEORGE Z PICK
EFT paymaster; one month; Captain s.a
month; First Lieutenant ROBERT DAVIS.
2d Field ARTILLERY, one month and twenty
days from July 10
NAVY.
Commander G. r SL0CUM. from naval hos
/ pitaI Mare Island; leave one month
/ Lieutenant Commander A J. HEPBURN, de-
tached Naval Academy; 10 the Georgia
/ rseufenanf A r II. YATES, detached SaTaI
/ Academy, leave three months
Ensign I. e BRATToN eornnissio5eI, q ,rv
| tun: 10 the Paul Jones.
/ Passed Assistant Surgeon A H ALLEN, de-
/ tarhed naval hospital, New YORK, 10 navy
yard. Boston. IN connection with navy rife
Passed Assistant Surgeon ". E. PCGH. Jr-.
! 70 naval hospital, New York
PAY Director J. 6 CARPENTER, from NaPel
! Medical School Hospital Washington; leave
assistant Naval Constructor z. o. FITCH. Jr-.
detached navy yard Philadelphia: TO naval