Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-27

The secretary Of war has at last approved
the recommendation Of the surgeon general
Of the army that recruits shall receive,
upon admission to the service. the treat
ment which win protect them from typhoid.
More than year ago General Torney pro-
posed that this precautionary measure
should be adopted, but II was felt at the
time that the system had not been sur
fieiently tested to Justify this proceeding.
The results In the army have been such as
now leave no question among the medical
officers and those who are interested in
the prevention Of disease among the fight
ing personnel Of the efficacy Of the treat
ment The fact that there has been no
typhoid among the troops in Texas has
been convincing, and II is attributable en-
tirely to typhoid prophylaxis. Under the
orders which have been issued the army
will be immune to typhoid in three years It
is estimated by the medical officers. This
Is nothing short OF an important contrlbu-
tion to the efficiency OF the service.
The surgeon general of the army has
called the attention of the War department
to what he regards as an excessive ply
steal RECRUITMENT in the examination of
candidates for appointment as army pay
masters clerks. Recent examinations were
held OF several candidates in washington
and II IL understood that all Of them failed
physically or, at least did not come up 10
the standard adopted and published In gem
eral orders No. 81. of April %, from the
War department 1t will be necessary to
waive the defects reported by the examin-
ing surgeons, in order to appoint any of
them. The surgeon general points out that
1t Is desirable to modify the requirements
| In the case OF these candidates, as the cir
cumstances Of the service OF army pay
| masters clerks are not such as REQUIRE
the strict physical fitness of the fighting
personnel. The suggestion that the sur
geon general be permitted to waive such
defects as may be regarded as not inter-
fering with the usefulness of a candidate
Is not received with favor by the medical
officers. who believe there should be a re.
asonable standard with moro or less strict
adherence thereto.
The house committee on expenditures in
the War department has been holding SEES
sions lately. among those who have an
peared being tho quartermaster general of
the army, and. later Major b. Frank
Cheatham Of the ouartermaster's depart
ment The latter officer has charge of
construction at military posts and the
committee desired information and opin-
ions, especially concerning the wisdom of
establishing small Rarrisons. Major |
Cheatham was able to inform the com |
mittee concerning many subjects relating |
to the cost Of erecting and maintaining |
posts but he carefully refrained from in |
dulging in any expressions OF his personal |
views on matters involving policy. 1t has |
been quite evident that the committee in |
No "A k.,
who has prejudice against Fort d. r. |
Russell. wyo.. and an effort has been
made to make It appear that that post
is an extravaRance and has been fostered |
by the War department and provided for |
by congress at the expense OF other posts !
such as Fort Logan Colo. The investiga-
ton IL conducted with entire good humor |
but II Is apparent that a desperate effort |
Is being made to obtain something dam
aging somehow to somebody.
Some consideration is being given to the |
suggestion OF the medical officers Of the |
army who are with the maneuver division |
in Texas that there be q change in the |
site OF the big camp OF that command |
II any transfer 10 made. It will be purely |
local one and in the interest of camp |
sanitation It is represented that this is |
necessary for the protection Of the health |
Of the troops. There is no prospect that
the command viii be moved any distance,
since the present location is the best |
which can be obtained in Texas for so
large q body of troops. The desire for q |
change Of base. described as prevailing |
among the troops along the border, can |
hardly be regarded by military authorities
as Justfying any material change in that
particular. The withdrawal OF the troops
from Galveston and from San Diego con- |
sttute all the movement which IL likely
to occur for some time. the destiny of |
the so-called maneuver division depending
entirely upon the outcome in Mexico, the |
affairs OF which country ara being OBJ |
served with the keenest interest by the |
military and the State department people |
In Washington. There 10 some apprehen- |
sion that the Mexicans will not abide by |
the results OF the coming election, and |
those who know of the situation In Mexico |
and who are acquainted with the tempera-
nrent Of the peole are dispose dto regard |
the conditions az still more OF less menAo-
ing. 1t u for this reason that the Ameri- |
iii al ~.