Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06
Absenteeism in the Army.

There being little or no prospect that
Cunxress at this session will authorize
any material increase In the commits
saooed personnel of the army. the au-
rhorities of the War Department are
considering plans for utilizing in regular
military duties the officers now on de-
teohed service There are about 600
officers now absent from their line COM
Ynands on staff or other duty. OF these
about 100 are teaching military science
and tactics at various educational instl-
tutions throughout the country. Many
others are on duty with the organized
militia of the various states anu terri
tories. In order not to disturb the eA-
listing order of things, and at the same
time fill the compliments Oh the resi-
ments. Congress was asked 10 add 612
officers to the commissioned personnel.
Realizing that the Desired increase Is
not likely to be authorized In the near
future, Gen. Bell, chief OF stan, ana ms
assistants at the War Department, are
considering the relief of many OF the
otIcers now on detached duty, so that
they join their regiments or regular sta
[ onS, as the case may be. one pan
cont.my ates the relief of most OF the
c..4ces Oh col eye duty and many OF
tao. Z on duty with the organized mill
La as a partial relief of the situation,
i ,osa.o.e, and filing their places with
C1a4NL.S ON the Tetl- &c iSt. 1ntie 10
co..- ..e. auie oppos.t on 10 this pan. par
ucu4aI IN the cases of the colleges.
oil ,nC geneI a. ground that the DER aAd
aSa9.eo oineers VIII not prove SO eHl-
cIent advantageous as the younger
olnCtls on the active list Such service
on the part of reti. ed officers would have
TO be voluntary. and would entitle them
10 the full pay of their rank.
The shortage of othcelS In the field is
a subject of general complaint. and
tn INN no Qf III
cheney of the army Gen. Duva4, COM
handing the army In the Philippines,
mas called special attention to the bad
results following the absence of many
reglmental officers on detached duty. To
illustrate the extent of the absenteeism,
Gen Bell, in a report to Secretary Dick
inson. shows that during the joint ma
neuvers last summer one battalion OF
infantry and several companies were
commanded by SergeantS, owing TO the
fact that all the commissioned officers
were ON detached service. 1t is stated
that the proposed recall of officers from
college duty certainly will not take eff
feet before the end OF the present school
year.
A New Indian Problem.
Secretaries Dickinson and Baliinger are
considering problems involved in the care
and subsistence of several thousand cap
Apache prisoners of war captured with
Geronimo many years ago, and now quar-
tered on large government reservation
near Fort Sill, Oklahoma Up to this
time they have been under the care OF
the War Department and sheltered and
fed out OF the appropriations for the
army. They have followed the scriptural
Injunction TO increase and multiply. and
their numbers have increased to such an
extent that the cost of their subsistence
is decided tax on the resources of the
army.
There is no longer any excuse for treat
ing them as prisoners OF war. yet at
the same time they would be almost en-
tireiy incapable Of providing for them
selves If turned loose on their own re-
sources. The Secretary of War wants to
transfer them 10 the fostering care Of the
Interior Department, but Secretary Bal
finger views them in the nature of a
white elephant, and objects strongly to
having such charge placed on his Shout
ders. II is probab that Congress will
be asked for remedial legislation.
Biggest Ship in the Navy.
The battleship Florida will be launched
at the navy yard. New York. the latter
part of April. She is the first vessel of
the Dreadnaught class to be built at a
government yard. The battleship Connec-
ticut. of lesser displacement. is the only
other modern battleship built by the gov
eminent in recent years. The Connecticut
mas displacement of JIG. 600 tons, and the
Florida a displacement of al, S25 tons. The
Florida and her sister ship, the Utah,
which is being built by the New York
Shipbmlding Company at Camden, n. J..
will be the first vessels OF the United
no ~
Twelve twelve-inch guns in turrets on the