No. 143.

WASHINGTON, August 31, 1904. The following letter from the Honorable the Postmaster General regarding the use of penalty envelopes in transmitting correspondence pertaining to athletics is published for the information and guidance of all concerned:

OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL,

Washington, D. C., August 26, 1904. The Honorable the SECRETARY OF WAR,

Washington, D. C. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the communication of Lieutenant W. H. Wilson, superintendent of athletics, of Fort Monroe, Virginia, and indorsements relating thereto, referred by you to this Department on the 16th instant, asking whether or not "correspondence pertaining to athletics (letters arranging games, dates, bills, etc.)," may, under the law (section 512 of the Postal Laws and Regulations), be transmitted in the mails free of postage under cover of a penalty envelope.

It appears from the indorsements that "athletics have been made a permanent feature in the training of the troops.” Paragraph 9 of General Orders No. 5 of the Adjutant General's Omce, of your Department, dated February 2, 1901, provides that a post exchange doing its full work should, among other features, embrace:

Reading and recreation rooms, supplied with books, periodicals, and other reading matter, billiard and pool tables, bowling alley, and facilities for other proper indoor games, as well as apparatus for outdoor sports and exercises, such as cricket, football, baseball, tennis, etc.; a wellequipped gymnasium, possessing also the requisite paraphernalia for outdoor athletics.

As the orders of your Department provide that post exchanges should possess the necessary pa ra phernalia for athletic games, and as athletics have been made a feature in the training of troops, correspondence pertaining thereto may under the law be sent in the mails free of postage under cover of a penalty envelope. Very respectfully,

W. S. SHALLENBERGER,

Acting Postmaster General. BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:

ADNA R. CHAFFEE,

Lieutenant General, Chief of Staff. OFFICIAL: F. C. AINSWORTH,

The Military Secretary.

ORDERS

, September 2, 1904. 1. With the view of preparing the 21st Infantry for a tour of service in the Philippines and of filling its ranks with men wbo on the date of its sailing will have at least two years and three months to serve, all enlisted men of the regiment who on September 15, 1904, have less than two years and seven months to serve and who desire to reenlist immediately in the regiment, will be discharged on that date for the convenience of the Government. Men so discharged will be at once reenlisted.

2. Enlisted men of the regiment, noncommissioned officers excepted, who on September 15, 1904, have less than six months to serve, and who do not desire to avail themselves of the privilege anthorized by the preceding paragraph, will be discharged on that date for the convenience of the Government.

3. Enlisted men, except noncommissioned officers and those having less than six months to serve, who have the option of taking their discharge under paragraph 1 of this order, but who do not desire to avail themselves of it, will be retained at their present stations on the departure of their organizations for the Presidio of San Francisco, to be disposed of as hereinafter directed.

4. On the arrival of the 21st Infantry at the Presidio of San Francisco, all enlisted men of the 20th Infantry, noncominissioned officers excepted, having two years and six months or more to serve in their present enlistment, and who so desire, will be transferred to the 21st Infantry.

5. On the arrival of the organizations of the 28th Infantry at their stations in the Department of Dakota, men of the 21st Infantry, left at those stations pursuant to paragraph 3, will be transferred to vacancies in organizations of the 28th Infantry; men not thus absorbed, will, under orders of the commanding general, Northern Division, be transferred to other infantry organizations in that division. BY ORDER OF THE ACTING SECRETARY OF WAR:

ADNA R. CHAFFEE,

Lieutenant General, Chief of Staff OFFICIAL: F. C. AINSWORTH,

The Military Secretary.

GENERAL ORDERS,

WAR DEPARTMENT,
No. 145. 5

WASHINGTON, September 3, 1904. 1. So much of paragraph 1, General Orders, No. 123, War Department, July 13, 1904, as directs the headquarters, band, and 2d and 3d Battalions, 9th Infantry, to proceed to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, for station is revoked.

2. Companies A and D, 9th Infantry, will be relieved from duty at Madison Barracks, New York, upon the return thereto of the organizations of the 9th Infantry now absent at maneuvers, and will proceed to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, for station.

The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the necessary transportation, the Subsistence Department suitable subsistence, and the Medical Department proper medical attendance,

3. On the recommendation of the commanding general, Pacific Division, to enable the 28th Infantry to complete its target practice in that division, paragraph 2 (b) General Orders, No. 123, War Department, July 13, 1904, is amended so as to direct the 21st Infantry to proceed to the infantry cantonment at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, for station, on October 31, 1904, instead of on September 30, 1904. BY ORDER OF THE ACTING SECRETARY OF WAR:

ADNA R. CHAFFEE,

Lieutenant General, Chief of Staff. OFFICIAL: F. C. AINSWORTH,

The Military Secretary.