Evening star., 1917-11-11
ssNe,us of the Army and Navy

, send on models of the proposed new
saddle.
This model will show changes in the
design of the pummel, which Will pc
being made straight: in the under side
OF the cantel. which will rest more
lightly upon the withers. and In the
sides. which will be partly covered.
-ou of inspection on 1.-The Mexlcan
border between Fort Bliss and Fort
Douglas, had two detachments
equipped. one with the old and the
While his report is not available, II is
understood that the new saddle STOOD
up under the tests in a way altogether
satisfactory to the board.
However, delays incident to the pro
duction of the molds and plates OF the
new saddle are SO threatening that II Is
doubtful whether the manufacture OF
the old saddle will be discontinued
certainly not until the cavalry for the
corps organization is fully provided
with the equipment that can be OBJ
tanned with the least delay.
The status of Army field clerks has
been a matter of no little concern 70
those who have accepted appointments
to this service for military duty The
Judge advocate general has recently
rendered an opinion to the enect ~tnat,
under the language of the act (August
I29. 1870. under which the office held
by these clerks was created, the holders
of the positions have military status:
and. since they are appointed oy the
Secretary of War, although not com
misSioned officers, they are Officers In
the military service.
The following order as to their uni
form and insignia has been sent TO ali
division commanders:
Army field clerks and field clerks, -.
NJ. c., will wear the same uniform as
officers, emitting all insignia OF rank
q, ta NfffY . IT
service coats. Cords for service hats
will be of black and silver. The collar
insignia will consist Of crossed quill
pens with miniature ad1utant gen
Army field clerks and a miniature
Quartermaster Corps insignia at the
lower angle for field clerks. Q. NJ: c.
With the increase in the naval per
sonnel there will be corresponding
expansion of the number of officers in
the several grades of naval rank, as
provided for in the act. 1t is under
stood that the Secretary of the. Navy
has approved the computa tions, and 1t
is said officially that as a result the
following vacancies will have TO be
filled.
In the line: Renr admirals. 4; cap
tains. II; commanders. 80; lieutenant
commanders. SO: lieutenants, 13i: lieu
tenants Gunior grade) and ensigns
1I5. Medical Corps: Medical directors,
rank of rear admiral. 2: medical direc-
tors, rank or captain, 10, medical in-
spectors, Il: surgeons, passed assistant
surgeons and assistant surgeons. 232.
Pay Corps: Pay director, rank of rear
admiral, /; pay director. rank of cap
tain. !: pay inspector, !: paynasters.
past assistant payriasters and assistant
paymaSters, 1877: and in the ConStruc-
tion Corps: Naval constructor, rank of
captain. /: rank of commander; naval
constructors and assistant naval con-
structors and assistant naval construc-
tors, 20.
The officers above the rank of lieu
tenant in the line are selected for pro-
motion by a selection board. those in
the other branches are appointed by
the President by and with the consent
of the Senate.
OF course, no hint has been given as
TO the officers to be named for pro-
motion, but it is a fact that many of
them have for some time beer per
forming the duties of the grade above
their commissioned rank, and it is not
n unreasonable speculation that the
commission will be given to such Off
GERS when they have shown their abil-
ity to fill the higher Office.
The style of fighting in this war has
called for all sorts of new units for the
line and back of the line and one OF
the latest is called the Quarry Regi-
ment." and will be known as the 2Sth
Engineers, n. A.
It will consist of six companies, each
to contain sufficient number of skill
ed men to operate a quarry plant. The
equipment of each company Will in
clude steam and air drills, shovels 10
comotives. cranes. freight cars and all
the rest of the equipment that an ac-
tive quarry would have if it were to
operate in the United States of America
instead of in the fields OF France. 1t
will even include a rock-crushing and
screening outfit of capacity of thou
sand tons a day.
An engineer officer will be in com
mand and the other officers will be
either from the engineers or from
quarry superintendepts or engineers
who have volunteered and-who- after
training In the reserve officers train
ing camps will be commissioned in the