New-York tribune., 1910-02-01
In ARMY AND NAVY
Demand for Increase an Num-
Der of Army Officers.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau

SHORTAGE OF ARMY OFFICERS
The prospect that Congress will do nothing
in the way of increasing the commissioned
personnel Of the army has rendered 1t
necessary 10 make some important changes
in detached duty
General Bell. chief of staff, has submitted
to the Secretary of War a report which
shows in detail the officers now absent
from their line commands on staff and
other duties. There are more than six hun
dred of these officers. and the pending
legislation contemplated the addition TO the
commissioned personnel of the army Of 612
officers. that the places vacated by line
officers on detached duty might be filled
General Bell has now indicated in a re-
port to Secretary Dickinson what officers
could be relieved from detached duty and
SO help the situation to that extent. One
proposition is to relieve about one hundred
officers from college duty and recall some
of the officers now with the militia. Objec-
tion is likely to be made TO both PROPOSE
tions. especially on the part of the col
leges. which realize that the presence OF
active army officers at those institutions is
of great benefit.
While retired officers might be detailed to
this duty. there are. perhaps, few Of them
who would prove as efficient as active Off
GERS. The latter keep up necessarily with
the professional advancement, and are be-
ter fitted TO perform the duties devolving
upon instructors of military science No
change. however. will be made by the War
Department in this particular until the end
of the school year.
The War Department has hesitated to
take such action hitherto lest it might ap-
pear that the military authorities were try
N m RI .Oy7cr 10
mote legislation for an increased commits
stoned personnel. The situation, however.
has become aggravated, and those in
thority in the War Department do not see
any way to avoid recalling many officers
from detached duty.
ECONOMY IN THE ARMT-The army
appropriation BILL as reported to the Senate
to-day, carries s95,440,568, which is only
s142,S60 more than is appropriated in the
bill as it passed the House The law for
the present year carried more than S1o2,-
100000
Senator Warren, chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs. said that the
military establishment had taken such heed
of the admonition of the President for econ
omv as to make reduction of not less
than s8,OOO.OOO from the expenditures of
last year.
ORDERS ISSUED-The following orders
were issued to-day:
ARMY.
Major a. THURsToN (retired). from the
militia Ill Of alabama p14-,, to his -i home
recruiting service, Charlotte. n. c.. March
81. vice First Lieutenant WILLIAM s
SINCLAIR, 5th Infantry, recruiting Off
GER. to his regiment
First Lieutenant CHARLES E SCHWARTZ.
10th Infantry. 10 recruiting service. Park
ersburg. W Va, March 81, vice First
18Th infantry. Teoraitng officer. to p! his 1sg
ment.
Second lieutenant RoDERIcK DEW. from
Leaves of absence: Captain WILLIAM 8
SCOTT, quartermas fifteen days. Captain
days; First Lieutenant CHARLES c.
METTLER. Ordnance Department. two
months.
Louisiana; to continue at Naval Hospital.
Norfolk.
lowing movements of vessels were reported
to the Navy Department.:
ARRIVED.
Jan 2a-The Ieonidas at Port Lirnon: the
Eagle at CrisJobaI
JAN S0-The Dixie. at Tompkinsville: the
Flusser at Charleston; the Nanshan at
Jan. 31-The Alexander. at Manila.
SAILED.
Jan 2a-The Uncas from Guantanamo for
Santiago: the Eagle. from Cristobal for
GGantanafio Gaaf for Key West
Jan. 80-The Dixie. from Tonpkinsville
ward. New York. for Guantanamo; the
Virginia, from Hampton Roads for Guam
tanamo-