Evening star., 1915-02-21
WAR DEPARTMENT.

Brig. Gen. Tasker II. Bliss, who has
been in command of the troops on the
Mexican border during the successive
revolutions south of the Rio Grande.
has arrived in Washington and taken
up the duties of assistant chief of stan
of the United States army. Maj. Gen.
Frederick Funston, who was in COM
mand of the American forces during
the occupation of Vera Cruz, succeed
ed Gen. Bliss in command of the de-
partment of the south. Gen. Bliss
served as assistant chief of staff in
1909. and since graduating from West
Point in 1875 has several tlmes been
on duty in Washington. He will ad-
vance to the grade of major general
this summer.
Col. Willis T. May. who recently re-
linquished command of the gath lnfan-
try. in the Philippine Islands. and who
is now in this city. on his own appl1-
cation will be transferred to the re
tired list, to take effect March 25. 1915,
after nearly forty years active serv-
ice. He has been granted leave until
that date. Col. May is from Indiana.
and was graduated from the Military
Academy in June, 1879. His entire
service has been in the infantry arm. in
which he reached the grade of colonel
July 1S, 1913. During the Spanish
American war he assisted in .he or
ganization of the 151th Indiana Volun-
colonel of that regiment from May 10,
1895. untn honorably mustered out
in the following November. He was
born September 3, 1857, and would not
retire for age until September, 1921.
Maj. James E. Normoyle. long con-
nected with the Quartermaster Corps
and stationed in Washington. but late
, lx ,ff 70 ho Tnf nf at
jay, \. V. has been ordered by the
War Department to command the gar
rison at Fort Ontario, Oswego, N. \.
While attached to the Quartermaster
Corps Maj Normoyle did notable serv-
ice on several occasions in flood relief
work in the Ohio and Mississippi val,
leys, and also at the Grand Army re-
union at Gettysburg.
Secretary Garrison denies that he was
Influenced to relieve Col. William ].
Nicholson, I'd Cavalry, from command
at Fort Ethan Allen by any petition
The action was taken, he said, because
the officer had threatened the owner of
an automobile and the chauffeur who
had endangered the life of his wife
offense would result in his taking the
law into his own hands and punishing
them. The Secretary said that while
there were probably extenuating cir
cumStanCeS, ne Iel1 IL necessary 10 re-
lieve the colonel rather than rest un-
der the suggestion that I could in any
way approve of an officer of the army
stating that in any matter he would
take law into his own hands"
The Sd Oregon Infantry of Portland
has been SO well satisfied with an army
officer on the active list as its colonel
that it has selected another regular as
it's commanding officer. Maj Charles
H. Martin, infantry. who has been serv-
ing as an inspector-instructor Of the
Oregon militia. and also as colonel of
the Sd Regiment of that state since
July 5, 1913, was recently ordered re-
lieved by the War Department and as
signed to the 18th Infantry at Doug
las, Ariz. To succeed him as colonel of
the militia regiment, the officers of the
Sd Oregon have chosen Capt. Clenard
Mclaughlin, United States Infantry.
who has been serving as an inspector
instructor of that state since Novem-
ber. 1913. Necessary authority for the
selection of Capt. Mclaughlin was
given in an order from the War De-
partment.
Maj. John H Rice of the ordnance
department has reported at the War
Department for duty in the office Of
the chief of ordnance.
William J. Galloway of Norwood, Va,
has been designated an alternate can
the West Point Military Academy.
sydney E. Smith, the disbursing clerk
of the War Department, was confined
to his home last week by the grip.
Clarence Mayo of the mai1room was
on the sick list last week.
Mrs. Jean Fox has been appointed to
a cIerkship in the bureau of insular af-
fairs, having been transferred from the
government of the Philippine Islands.
Gen. Frank Mcintyre, chief of the
bureau of insular affairs. visited New
York the past week on official business.
H. F. Worley of the correspondence
division, insular bureau, is enjoying a
ten-day leave from the bureau.
Manuel Quezon. resident commission
er from the Philippine Islands. leaves
Washington today to attend the exer-
cises in connection with the dedication
of the Philippine building at the Pana-
ma Pacific exposition February 26.