The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-29 00:00:00

THE ARMY AND NAVY.

The Broad Arrow says :—We regret to hear that yellow
fever had broken out among the crew of the gunboat
Minstrel, while she was at Nassau, and that she had
several of her men, as well as her commander, down with
this contagious disease. The result was that she left as
quickly as possible for Halifax via New York, arriving St
the latter .place in the early part of the month.
The Minstrel had no assistant-surgeon on board.
—Extensive alterations are about to be made in the
Royal Artillery mess at Woolwich, in consequence, it is
presumed, of His Royal Highness Prince Arthur being
again associated with the Woolwich Garrison. The

Government have voted £2,000 for the work, but as the
cost will amount to at least £6,500, the additional ex-
penses will be met out of the mess fund. His Royal
Highness will resume his military duties in the middle of
October.

The Army and Navy Gazette says :—We understand
that the vacant post of Honorary Physician to her
Majesty the Queen will be conferred either on Dr. John
Davidson, C. 8., or on Dr. James Salmon. Both of these
officers are Inspectors-General of Hospitals and Fleets.--
Captain Henry Boys of her Majesty's ship Excellent has
been called on to select two officers for the appointment
of keepers of naval stores in the colonies. The amount of
salary has not as yet been settled.—Mr. Childers
has returned to London after a brief absence.
Admiral Sir Sydney C. Dacres, the Senior Sea
Lord, is at his post, and is likely to remain
there pending the stirring events now going on abroad.--
The Lords of the Admiralty have entrusted Messrs.
Rennie, of the Albion Works Blackfriars, with the
construction of two gunboats with their engines, Messrs.
Mitchell and (Jo., of Port Glasgow, with two gunboats
without their engines, and Messrs. Napier and Sons, of
Glasgow, with two gunboats and their engines, and also
with the two intended for the vessels tendered for by
Messrs. Mitchell.—Major-General Collingwood Dickson,
C. 8., V.C., Inspector-General of Artillery, has just re-
turned from a searching inspection of the fortresses, works)
and armaments in the Channel Islands.—Major-Genera
the Hon. A. H. Gordon, C. 8., late in command of the
Bombay Army, and Colonel Sir Seymour J. Blane, Bart.,
have arrived in England from India. The appointment
of Captain E. Keate, 7th Brigade Royal Artillery, as
aide-de-camp to Major-General J. Collingwood Dickson,
C. 8., V.C., Inspector-General of Artillery, has been
confirmed..—We regret to learn of the illness of Field-
Marshal Sir Alexander Woodford, G.C.8.,
—The new naval 'cadet training-ship Trafalgar is
expected to leave Portsmouth, under the command
of Captain T. B. Lethbridge, on or about the Ist of
September. Her cruise will probably extend over
six months; and she will then return to England. The
Trafalgar is pierced for 60 guns, and is a roomy two'
decked ship of 2,900 tons and 500 horse-power. The
Bristol, now at sea with a batch of cadets, is a frigate of
3,027 tons and 600 horse-power.—lf there should be n°
immediate necessity to retain the armour-clad ships
Abyssinia and Magdala, constructed in this country at
the expense of the Indian Government for the defence of
Bombay, officers will shortly be appointed to them, but it
is understood that service on board of these ships will not
count for full, half, or retired pay. It is presumed that
the liberal pay provided by the India Council will com-
pensate officers for the sacrifice they will have to make.--
We regret to hear that Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Spencer
Robinson has been so unwell as to be confined tohis house

for the last few days.—lt is repeatedly stated that, in re-
cognition of the very valuable services rendered by Gene-
ral Lord Strathnairn, it is the intention of her Majesty
immediately to promote him to the rank of Field Mar-
shal. That Lord Strathnairn deserves such advance'

anent none will be found to deny, and they bestowal
Field-Marshal's baton upon the gallant and warm-hearted
old soldier would be regarded throughout the army with
the very greatest pleasure ; but we have it upon the best
authority that there is at present no idea of extending the
list of Field-Marshals. The next officer to be promoted
to the rank of Field-Marshal, we believe, will be hi °
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.