Omaha daily bee., 1912-02-16
Army Gossip
Teens Of General interest
to the Services Gathered from
Various Sources
Army supplx Corps.

I
Army supply Corps.
Whatever else may happen 70 the new
legislation incorporated in the army ap-
preparation bill. 1t seems likely that the
clause providing for q supply corps made
up by consolidation Of the quartermas-
ter's, pay. and subsistence DEPARTMENT..
viii survive house and senate attack on
the measure. The only feature which en-
cages criticism Is the provision that the
head Of the new corps shall have the
rank OF major general. The main argu-
ment against this rank Of the officer
while he is detailed to the duty as chief
OF the corps appears to be founded on
the fact that In the civil war the head Of
the supply corps did not have a rank
greater than that Of brigsdier general
II Is rather unusual for the War depart
ment TO resist a congressional effort TO
establish an adequate rank for an officer
who viii have responsibilities beyond any
thing which has existed in the army staff
since the civil war.
Ds ~ huaschs
About the most interesting feature In
the reply OF the War department in the
house resolution for information regard
ing the abandonment Of army posts Is
that which deals with Fort d. A. Rus
sell, Wyo For some time II has been
quite evident that a species OF warfare
has been waged against this particular
post. 1t Is believed TO be inspired by
those who are interested in other sec
tons Of the country. where there are
large military stations or where there
may be such garrisons. II Is safe to say
that Fort d. A. Russell. being in the re-
gion from which Senator Warren halls.
will be amply protected at the capitol. Mr..
Warren was responsible for the establish
ment Of Fort d. A. Russell. and he pro-
tected Il during his career as chairman Of
the senate military committee. He is no
less Influential In senatorial proceedings
as chairman OF the appropriations COM
mittee. Whatever may come Of the War
department communication concerning the
Of army posts. II is likely
that Fort d. A. Russell will survive the
attack with colors flying.
Army shoe Test.
The chiefl Of staff OF the Army has
under consideration the report Of the spe-
ciai board which convened at Fort Leav-
and which went thoroughly into
the subject OF a type OF footgear for
the military service. The recommends
tons made by the board have been fully
described In these columns. The report
has the endorsement OF the surgeon gen
eral and the quartermaster general OF
the army. II Is desired TO have as com
plete an Investigation as It IL possible
to conduct. II is proposed 10 have
series OF marching tests held under the
OF the board and that these
marches be held daily for ten days. ex-
the NTH day. with the troops
carrying fun field equipment, the first
days march 10 be OF eight miles, with
Increases until a maximum Of fifteen
miles day Is reached. making a total
march Of IL miles. II is urged that not
less than two companies be detailed for
this test TO be held In March, which
month Is considered as furnishing suit
able weather conditions. 1t Is proposed
to divide the men into three classes. one
wearing ths proposed marching shoe Of
1919 model. another the garrison tan shoe
and the third an experimental marching
saoe embodying all the recommendation
made by the board. Fort Leavenworth
b. named as q suitable place to hold the
lest. and the Seventh infantry, soon 10
AXE station there as suitable COM
nand.
Military Aviators' Pay.
While there may be nothing done In the |
direction Of legislation which increases
he pay Of any member OF the military |
at the present session, there |
9. nevertheless. a disposition In con-
Iress to do something in behalf OF those
'rmy officers who are engaged on avia-
ion duty. One OF. the recommendation
made by the chief signal officer has to do
With the extension OF the four-year detail
. applied to these officers, for the rea-
on that Il may be necessary to have for
onger periods Of service the officers who
re trained IN aerial navigation, on which
FORK they can be. under the best posi-
IL conditions. employed but q compare
lively short time and that during the
arly part Of their careers II "a not pos
ible TO order officers TO such work with
ut they shan volunteer and without
areful training and much experience.
nth possession on the part OF the in
ividual Of certain Qualifications which
re requisite In such periious work.
ending legislation in the form OF three
Ills aims 10 increase the pay and al
'wances Of these officers that they may
. induced To continue on the work be-
ond the period when they are willing 10
o Il for the novelty OF the experience.
here Is evidently coming time when Il
IN be necessary to have an aviation
ranch Of the signal corps with q greater
srmansncy Of personnel than IL now pos
Ible. under the restrictions OF detail. In
reat Britain the increase In pay IL about |.
per cent with additional compensa-
on In the form Of bonuses dependent
pom the number. altitude. duration or
haracter OF flights. In France the nav
arranged on . bonus basis