Evening star., 1923-10-21

Army.
In sustaining the contention OF
Capt. Daniel Noce, c. E., U. S. A, for
cadet service longevity credit, the
Court of Claims. this week handed
down one of the most important deci-
slons affecting the service for some
time. The belief has been expressed
by those who have closely followed
this case that 1t will eventually be ex-
tended to apply to midshipman serv-
Ice at the Naval Academy. but it will
be necessary for one of the Naval
Academy graduates to file claim for
this back pay and go through the
same procedure as was done in the
A.. Noce case. The controller general
viii no doubt refuse it and in this
event the naval officer in question can
brlng+-his suit in the Court of Claims.
The Noce decision will be applicable
to all classes which have graduated
from the Military Academy beginning
with the class Of 1917.
So sweeping was the Court of Claims
opinion, which was delivered by Chief
Justice Campbell, that it is extreme
~ doubtful whether the Department
of Justice will appeal to the Supreme
Court. Every point in the brief pre-
pared by the attorneys OF Capt. Noce,
was sustained and the opinion was
concurred in by all Of the members
of the court. So frequent was the
Supreme Court quoted in the Court OF
Claims opinion that it is stated that
in appealing the case TO the Supreme
would be asking the higher court
to reverse itself 1t is understood
that this opinion will affect more
members OF the serS ice than any otn-
er ever handed down by the Court of
Claims. and in the Noce case alone
something over $500 is due this Off
Ger at the present time. As the
controller does not possess the au-
thority TO review the decision, this is
final unless the government takes the
case up to the Supreme Court.
Under the usual course of events.
Military Academy graduates coming
under this class should file their
claims through this test case, but
troller, he has required claimants to
secure an order from the Court OF
Claims. This will be matter of de
tail, however, and no argument Will
be required by the attorneys.
1t is stated OH reliable authority
that the War Department will short
ly issue an order substituting brass
for black buttons and ornaments for
the service uniform. Adoption OF the
District Of Columbia department of
the brass insignia some time ago. no
doubt, had a great deal to do with the
decision of the War Department au-
thorities in this matter. Both in and
out of the service, many compliment
tary comments have been made on
the Improvement in the appearance
on the uniform of the men stationed
in Washington.
More than a score of years ago
when all countries We're endeaNoring
to produce a field uniform, which
would be difficult TO distinguish, the
American Army for a time adopted
bone buttons. These did not prove
to be satisfactory and prior to 1903
brass buttons We're standard issue to
the service. In 1903 the department
issued an order abolishing the brass
buttons and ornaments and substi-
tuted black. The, reason for the
change to black gilt was that the
glare OF the brass ornaments made
our troops easy targets for enemy
snipers even without the aid of field
glasses, and although the service in
dulged in quite u heated discussion
over the change, it is stated that the