Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-24

o. continuing the work Of developing ord
nance suitable for use against air craft
Naturally every effort IL being made TO
keep the results attained sercet Atten-
ton il being given to improving the fuse
and the tracer elements OF the proiectile
to be used with guns employed for firing
against air craft. The manufacture Of
seventy-five such proiectllcs has been COM
menced at the frankfort arsenal for use
In experiments by the ordnance board. II
is appreciated that the ascertainment OF
the range Of air craft will be difficult,
and much dependence viii have to be placed
upon the tracer for this purpose. II Is
FOR this reason that so much attention is
being given to this element OF the pro-
jectlle,
Brlgadier General j. W. Duncan. United
States army expects to leave Washington
about February 20 for his new station at the
headquarters OF the Department OF Dakota.
lie win be succeeded on the army retiring
board as a member by Brigadier General
Robert x. Evans, who viii become, also,
chief OF the militia division, in anticipation
Of the appointment Of Colonel e. NJ,
Weaver. its present head, as a brigader
general and chief OF coast artillery. In
the meantime, Colonel Weaver expects to
avail himself Of a leave of absence and
indulge in a trip south. 1t has been de-
cided to detail Colonel George F. Ander-
son, who becomes a brigadier general on
March 10, TO duty In command Of the De-
partment Of the Visayas in the Philip
pines, relieving Brigadier General d. II.
Brush, who will sail for home on the trans
port leaving Manila on April 10,
The secretary of war is i'm favor Of legis-
latlon, which he hopes to obtain at this
session, which shall authorize the stoppage
Of pay in the case of enlisted men OF the
army who are unfit for duty ON account
Of alcoholism and certain other diseases.
The army medical officers have adopted
methods which are considered as protect
Ing men from such Affections as render
them incapacitated for duty The records
show that there has been what may prop
ery be regarded as an alarming increase
In such cases OF unfitness, and the inter
ruption OF military service on this account
has reached such proportions that the sec
rotary of war believes something should
be done to discourage in q positive way
the habits which bring on this trouble.
Stoppage OF pay Is regarded as one OF the
most effective methods to that end and is
likely to have a different influence which
would be valuable in connection with other
ties to check the ravages of these diseases
It is shown from the reports of the army
medical officers that the number of men
constantly excused from duty averages
nearly 1OOO equivalent to more than an
entire regiment at peace strength.
Representative j. A. T. Hull, chairman
of the house military committee. Is at work
ON a speech which he will deliver when the
military academy appropriation bill is taken
up for consideration in the house. There
Is no telling when that bill will come up
Hearings on the measure will occur next
week before the military committee, and
II will not take many days to prepare the
bill for report. The political situation in
the house, however, is such that there may
be required an extra session in order to
get through the appropriation bills. In
that event, of course, MIR. Hull will pre-
sumably take, and 1t is hoped will have
that opportunity OF taking, some other
, occasion to deliver his remarks, which. as
he says. are in the nature of a farewell
message to his associates in congress, after
a long and useful career in that body, es-
pecially in connection with army legisa-
ton Mr.. Hull proposes to express his
. Views on the subject OF the needs of the
national defense and II is understood he
Will nave boUitiillNk ul importance 10 say
. concerning the development of the militia,
! Undoubtedly, he will speak in behalf of the
increase of the army. At all events, his
speech Is bound to have an influence and a
u value coming from such source under
such conditions.
large number of details to the duty
of professor of military science at mil
? itary colleges will expire during 1911, and
on account of the scarcity of army Off
GERS for duty with troops and the desira-
= bility, for the sake of discipline and gem
eral efficiency, of getting captains back to
duty with their organizations, the secretary
e OF war has announced a general policy in
r regard to such details during 1911, Details
i expiring at colleges where the last report
: OF inspection shows an attendance below
/ the minimum prescribed by the War de.
II partment will be filled by retired officers
d The three-year details of majors and cap.
n tains expiring during 1911 will not be ex.
n tended for the additional year authorized
l. by regulations. but they viii be replaced
!. by first lieutenants or by second lieu
lie tenants OF over five years service
y The same rule will apply to four
y year details expiring in 1911. The new de
3 tails will not be given to officers whost
r regiments are under orders for Phlllppin,
r service during 1911, and no three-year de
y tails viii be extended to four when tn,
m officers regiments are about to go on for
1T eign service. The idea contemplated is 4
keep majors, captains and second lieuten
ants OF less than five years service will
i their regiments and TO send troops OF
foreign service with as complete a com
plement OF officers is consistent will
the present imperative demands for neces
= sary detached service. It is estimated tina
d. this policy will return. during 1911, tw
a majors and twelve captains for duty wit
h. their regiments, their places being take
ne by properly equipped lieutenants OF by re
re- tired Officers