Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-06
Misplaced Confidence of Filiprnos.

Congress has been asked by the War
Department to reimburse the members
of the battalion of the Philippine Scouts
the amount of their savings lost through
the desertion of First Lieut. Andrew
Shea of that organization, with whom the
money had been deposited for safekeep-
ing. According to a memorandum pre-
pared by the judge advocate general of
the army, Lieut.. Shea was an officer of
the battalion of Philippine Scouts that
visited the St Louis exposition in 1904,
and was intrusted by the men of his
company with their money, either for
safekeeping or for transmission to their
families in the Philippines. He received
in this way $3.612.75. As Shea deserted
when the embezZlement was discovered, it
is assumed at the department that the
money was converted to his own use Al
though persistent efforts have been made
to discover his whereabouts, they have
been unsuccessful and he is still at large.
The money was intrusted to Shea in
perfect good faith by the men of his COM
mand,. says Judge Advocate General
Davis. and the loss fails upon ignorant
natives of the Philippine Islands. who
have been taught to believe that they
might implicitly trust the officers selected
to command and care for them in the
military service. In this case their con-
the sufferers American soldiers the case
would be somewhat different: being of the
same race as their officers they are in a
position to form an estimate of their re-
liability. Not so with the enlisted men of
the Philippines Scouts, who We're led to
believe that their American officers were
of all things trustworthy and regardful
of their interests. The good name of the
army has been compromised and the trust
and confidence of faithful Filipino SOL
NV ho
cowardly acts of a worthless scoundrel
1t is earnestly recommended, in view Of
the fact that the loss falls upon some of
the best enlisted men of the Philippine
Scouts, who We're selected on account of
their soldierly character and faithful serv-
ices to represent their comrades at the st.
Louis exposition, that the matter be COM
mended to the favorable attention Of
Congress-
Promoting Naval Gunnery.
In the interests of greater efficiency it
has been found advisable to divide the
seaman gunner's class into two sections
One of these is established at the WASH
ington navy yard The course there in
clddes guns, mounts and turrets. The
other class is established at Newport, r.
l., and is devoted to instruction in torpe-
does and mines.
six months course to more than ade-
qnately cover the subjects pertaining to
guns, mounts, turrets and sights taught
at the Washington yard. The increasing
compleXity of torpedo installations and
the use of the torpedo, together with in
structions in regard to the operations of
mines, made a certain degree of spe-
cialization necessary. Under the revised
plan, the course at the Washington yard
is six months, and that at the Newport
torpedo station eight months.
Diving is taught both classes and the
graduates are detailed to ships for duty
either with the general battery or with
torpedo or mine installation. A number
of machiniSts mates have also been de-
tailed to take the Newport course. In that
way they become familiar with repairs to
torpedoes and mines and will be of great
assistance vessels carrying those
weapons. The bureau of navigation. Navy
Department, desires to detail machinists
mates to instruction at the Washington
yard and Will do so whenever possible.
During the past year 23S seaman gun
ners We're in attendance at the classes,
of which number 1906 completed the
course. At the latest report, 81 men re-
manned under instruction, : at the Wash
ington yard and % at Newport.
Head Hunting Decreasing.
Head hunting which anon, the Iporotec