quired certificate, which follows the declaration, based upon the official records of the organization and on his personal knowledge of the facts in the case. 2. When the physical examination papers of the officers and men of a company or other organization are so far completed, they will be given to the mustering officer, who will cause the physical examination to be made and said papers to be completed by a medical officer of the Army, Regular or Volunteer, detailed for this duty by proper authority. 3. Any officers or enlisted men under examination who claim to have a disability of which the medical officer can find no evidence, or claim to have a disability incurred in line of duty while the medical officer is of the opinion that the disability was not so incurred, will immediately be reexamined, without delaying discharge, by a board composed of not more than three medical officers, which will make a full report of the case in accordance with the terms of this order. If the medical officers fail to agree with regard to the case, a separate minority report will be made by the dissenting officer. Should there be but one medical officer present, the physical reexamination will be made by such other medical officer as may be available, otherwise the mustering officer will make such examination and express his opinion upon the merits of the case after inquiry and investigation of all pertinent information obtainable. 4. Upon completion of the medical examination the papers in the case will be turned over to the mustering officer, who will forward them with the muster-out rolls to the Adjutant General of the Army. 5. The physical examination having been completed, the regimental and company records and blanks, and the colors, will be packed and marked, showing the organization to which they pertain, and forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Army the day the muster out and payment takes place, as required by General Orders, No. 128, series 1898, from this office. On the same day or earlier, as may be deemed advisable by the mustering officer, the ordnance and other public property in possession of the organization will be turned over to the proper officers of the supply departments, to be disposed of in accordance with the special instructions received by them. BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL MILES: H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant General. No. 18. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, February 21, 1901. I--By direction of the Secretary of War, paragraph 257, as amended by paragraph II, General Orders, No. 42, June 30, 1897, from this office, and paragraph 261 of the Regulations are amended to read as follows: 257. Sergeants and corporals are appointed by regimental commanders on the recommendation of their company commanders. To test the capacity of privates for the duties of noncommissioned officers company commanders may appoint lance corporals, who will hold such appointment not to exceed three months and will be obeyed and respected as corporals. The appointments, with the approval of the regimental or post commander, may be renewed for three months, but no company shall have more than one lance corporal at a time, unless there are noncommissioned officers absent by authority, during which absences there may be one for each absentee. Lance corporals holding renewed apppointments are on the same footing regarding reduction as corporals. A lance corporal holding a first appointment will wear the uniform of a private with a chevron having one bar of lace or braid; if holding a renewed appointment he will wear the uniform of a corporal, except that the chevron will have but one bar of lace or braid. 261. A noncommissioned officer may be reduced to the ranks by sentence of a court martial, or by the order of the regimental commander on the recommendation of the company commander, but a noncommissioned officer will not be reduced because of absence on account of sickness or injury contracted in the line of duty. If reduced to the ranks by sentence of court-martial at a post not the headquarters of his regiment the company commander will forward a transcript of the order to the regimental commander. The desertion of a noncommissioned officer vacates his position on the date of deser tion. II. By direction of the Secretary of War, paragraph 1407 of the Regulations, as amended by General Orders, No. 119, September 6, 1900, from this office, is further amended as follows: 1407. Accounts of pay and clothing of members of the Hospital Corps will be kept by the surgeon under whose immediate direction they are serving. All members casually at a post are under the immediate orders of the surgeon except prisoners, who will, however, be borne on the muster rolls, morning report, and returns of the Hospital Corps detachment. If discharged their final statements will be prepared by the surgeon. BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL MILES: H. C. CORBIN, No. 19. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, February 21, 1901. By direction of the Secretary of War, paragraphs 31 and 46, pages 30 and 38 of the Regulations and Decisions pertaining to the Uniformn of the Army (4th edition, 1900), in so far as they relate to chevrons, brassards, and cap ornaments for the enlisted men of the Hospital Corps, are amended to read as follows: CHEVRONS. 31. HOSPITAL STEWARDS. -Three bars and an arc of one bar of emerald green cloth, inclosing a modified maltese cross 2 inches wide and 2 inches high of the same cloth-the bars and cross to have a narrow white border. ACTING HOSPITAL STEWARDS.-The same as for a hospital steward, omitting the arc. PRIVATES OF THE HOSPITAL CORPS.-Device consisting of a modified maltese cross 2 inches wide and 2 inches high of emerald green cloth, having a white border, and to be worn on both sleeves of the blouse midway between the elbow and shoulder and on the overcoat below the elbow, one-half inch above the cuff. In time of war with a signatory of the Geneva Convention, by all persons in the military service neutralized by the terms of the Geneva Convention, a brassard of white cloth 16 inches long and 3 inches wide, with a Geneva cross of red cloth 2 inches high and 2 inches wide in center, to be worn on the left arm above the elbow while on duty in the field of operations. UNDRESS CAPS. 46. HOSPITAL STEWARDS.-A modified maltese cross of German silver inch high and inch wide inclosed by a wreath of dead or unburnished gilt metal. For acting hospital stewards and privates of the Hospital Corps the same without the wreath. BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL MILES: H. C. CORBIN, |