Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-31

the Army ana navy hoRastet
Tho surgeon general of the army will
early next week make his recommendations
for the assignments to station OF the fifty
appointed officers to the regular corps.
These members OF the army medical reserve
corps have been under instruction at the
army medical school In this city. OF
the fifty-three, fifty will be APP
appointed leaving seventy-flvc vacancies,
which will probably be increased by three
before the end OF the year. Tho officer
who is at the head of tho list Of graduates
is First Lieutenant Albert S. Bowen. The
officer who won the Hoff medal of this
years class is Lieutenant Henry Beeuwkes.
The army medical officers believe that the
limit has been reached in the anti-typhoid
vaccination of members OF the military
personnel. Some $500 vaccinations have
taken place, representing in all probability
all the volunteers to whom the treatment
has been confined. 1t is expected that the
demonstration of the advantages Of this
protection against typhoid will ultimately
lead to compulsory vaccination. There has
been a wide difference in the number OF
volunteers at different posts and this is
army surgeons who have had this matter
in charge. AS has been stated in these coll
umns, the War department has refused to
compel recruits to be vaccinated as recon-
mended by the surgeon general.
In considering the final order prescribing
regular physical exercise and an annual
physical test for officers of the army, an
! important aspect of the question has been
presented in a report of the surgeon general
of the army. It has been suggested that
some consideration must be made for the
lack of time on the part of some officers
to engage in daily physical exercise, with
out which the annual test would be under
taken at considerable danger. In that con-
nection II has also been maintained that
officers should be regarded competent
to decide what exercise they should take
outside of that imposed on them by the
performance OF their duties 1t is also
important to make very liberal concessions
in behalf of officers who are stationed in
the tropics, under which conditions the
heart muscles are weakened and any de-
mand made upon them may easily result In
permanent physical harm.
The army medical officers and the sub
|
ment are discussing the ACCESSIBILITY Of in
creasing the Communication of rations for
the sick. The surgeons who are on duty at
hospitals have been appealing for an in
crease in the ration from 80 to 40 cents a
day. II there is final approval of this
request, it will be necessary to increase the
= estimate for next years appropriation on
this item. 1t is pointed out in the reports
received by the surgeon general OF the
army that the allowance OF 30 cents day
for sick ration is entirely inadequate in
view of the fact that the articles of food
required by the sick come under the head
; of delicacies and represent the best and
more expensive classes of food, the price
of which has increased at the local markets
in greater proportion than the components
of the regular army rations In 1898 the
| allowance for rations for the sick was 60
cents. The next year this was cut down
to 40 cents, since which time it has been
twice reduced to 8s cents and 80 cents,
which is the current price.
The recommendations of the infantry
equipment board are being considered by
. the quartermaster general, commissary
= general, surgeon general and chief OF ord
nance with a view to obtaining from those
heads of bureaus criticisms and suggestions
on such features of the new equipment as
:, pertain to those respective supply branches
u When these reports have been received they
:. will be taken up by the special committee
u of infantry officers connected with the
general staff, of which committee Colone
j. w. Duncan, Sixth infantry, acting chief
e of infantry, is chairman. In the meantime
. the arrangements have been made for the
: manufacture under the ordinance depart.
u ment of the equipment aside from the
&c articles Of clothing, with view to the is
b sue of the outfit. to infantry troops for
practical trial during the joint army and
81 militia maneuvers at the various encamp-
Ii ments during the summer. At the conclu-
e sion of the additional experience gained ir
c the field for a sufficient period and under
II the observation Of experts, final action will
20 be taken. The expectation is that the
equipment will be adopted practically as
IS it has been recommended. There may be a
e few minor changes necessary
II Considerable interest attaches to a device
IS which has been described as adopted by
IT some friends of the enlisted men of the
3 army to overcome the dire effects of anti
{: canteen legislation. 1t appears that al
II several military posts the soldiers are being
. induced to establish, OUTSIDE OF the mill
tary reservations, soldiers clubs, where
may be obtained under regulation of pur'
4 chase, beer, light wines, and other harm
less beverages. There is every reason why
such q proceeding should be encouraged
II If it becomes a question Of any action II
the matter on the part OF the military
B authorities The canteen feature of the
II post exchange was driven out of the army
i0 ~, on unuIsa law enacted by congress
- hurried into frenzy of terror by the tota
abstinence people, who maintain in Wash
- ington what they are pleased to call {
Christian lobby" under the leadership o.
gentleman who rejolces in the title o.
4 Christian lobbyist" The direct result o
= this legislation is well known Throughout
. | the military establishment. Tho worst sor