The Sunday herald., 1886-12-19
THE ARMY AND NAVY.

lnlcss NHsle III tue new snlps
is made by the time they get anoat there will be few
vessels besides them in the Navy. aud even they
stand fair chance OF being In some respects obso
lete aud behind the times. The last addition TO
"Roiten Row" likely TO be made ere long is the
present nagship OF Rear Admiral Luce, OF the Home
squadron The Tennessee will 1t is said, be con-
demned as unit for further service, and the Secre-
tary OF the Navy has already designated The Rich
mond to replace her. The Tennessee, originally the
Na1awaska, was built in 1865 at the New York Navv
Yard. at q cost OF over million aud half OF dol
lars and was enpned by John Ericsson 10 compete
with the wampanoae, afterwards the Florida. The
declared intention OF Mr. whitney to 1T out the
Trenton as flagship for the Pacific Station is a
good move for our admlrals IN the Pacific should ny
their pennants from bigger ships than those Of the
Hartford class. With the probability of the compile
tton Of the De Lesseps canal, the South Pacific Is
destined 10 be, after the European, the most
important OF our naval cruising grounds, 1t
is possible that some of the latest H. $. ships as
signed 10 that station MAJ. return home for repairs
via the Panama canal. Adverse criticism OF that
vast enterprise seems TO be experiencing u for
the present, hut work On the canal is being pushed
with more energy than ever.
Tne Army friends OF Brig Gen. Thom, will SYM
pathze WIKI him in the loss OF his son, Ensign W. A.
Thom, who died at Ashylle. n. G., on the llth in
stsn,, OF consumption Ensign Thorn was an officer
OF much promise, and although hts death was not
| unexpected II produced q profound shock among
| his friends in the Navy.
| VALPARAISO. Dec. Is, via Galveston.l-The nag
OF the commander-in.ch OF the American squad
ron in the Pacific will be changed from the 1roquois
| to the Vandalia.
Mr. b. F. sherwood, late Engineer.in. Chief of the
Navy, Is in town, having arrived from New York a
few days ago Although on the retired list, the eX-
chief OF bureau retains lively interest In naval AZ
fairs, particularly that part pertaining to the corps
OF scientists OF which he was the able head at one
time. lie Will probably return to New York for the
holidays.
Passed Assis,an, Engineer kater is In town for a
few days, accompanied by Mrs. Kafer, EN- route from
the North. where the summer aud autumn have
hppn In 10 ip
Ca. is the objective point of their present trip.
While Mr.. kafer is looking well, he is feeling quite
the contrary.
Capt. George Brown, having completed his labors
as president OF the board to prepare detail OF op-
eraiions of the new arrangement of purchase aud
distribution of supplies IN the Navy, has returned 10
his station in Norfolk.
The Essex arrived at Singapore yesterday. The
Gaena sailed from Boston Friday for Newport aud
Norfolk.
Capt. William II. Bixby, Engineer Corps, has
been ordered from Wilmington, n. c., to Fort
Macon, n. c., on public business. Capt. c. b
Sears, Engineer Corps in'addion to present duties
has been ordered to relieve capt. y. Z. kinRman Of
the charge of the construction and repair OF roais
and bridges in the Yellowstone National Park
Leave of absence for six months with permission tc
go abroad has been granted Second Lieut. William
E. shipp. Tenth Cavalry. Ordnance sergean
! Michael McMorrow has been placed on the retired
list
The leave of First Lieut.. John BCeow, Jr., Tent
| y,
Capt John S. Wharton. Nineteenth Infantry, hai
been placed the retired list of the Army becaus,
OF disability.
: The retirement of Lieut.. Commander WEIGH, o
the Navy, on the 18TH instant, creates vacancy fo
Lieut.. Joseph N Hemphili, and he has been ordered
before the Board of Examiners at the Navy De
partment. Here IL the case of an ofiicer nearl,
forty, who for more than sixteen years has held the
commission of o lieutenant In the Navy. equivalen
10 captain in the Army, who has performed I'M
duties of the next higher grade and over again
and yet must submit to a searching examination
lasting probably several days. the board at the sam,
time having before It the replies to as many swOrT
nterrogatores as 1t has seen fit to send out and
medical certificate that the candidate is physically
sound.
Capt. F. c. Answorth, assistant surgeon, has heel
detached from the Army Medical Examining Boar
s, In New York and detailed for special duty at Wash
ington in the Surgeon Generals ONCE.
r Chief Engineer Melville has been relieved fror
8 duty as inspector of coal at the New York var
and assigned as chiet engineer OF the steel cruise
u Atlanta, MIR. McNary OF the Atlanta, being detache
TO assume the duties lately performed by MIR. Me
vile.
lr The many friends Of Lieut.. Col. Craghill, of III
l. Engineers in Washington will learn with peasul
et that he will he here for time In connection wit
ly certain Claims pending before the courts.
Surgeon Woolverton, OF the Navy, who recent
re- completed cruise on the Shenandoah, has bee
living at Suspension Bridge, n. " since his retur
at and his health shows signs OF improvement, althoup
on his arrival at san Francisco his condition was II
from satisfactory.
r. on the sth instant Col. G. l.. Febger, Of the Arm
S. Assistant Paymaster General, was retired fro
at active service under the provisions OF the compr
er sory IeuIelncilt act. W.. Ieuset " ttsiilug
he New Haven, Conn, where 1t Is his intention 10 ma
his permanent home He is a brother of Rear A
. miral j. C. Febger, retired, residing IN Washirgo
~ on the same day dec. s. Col. Luther +. Brade
es Thirteenth Infantry went on the retired list hav
arrived at the age Of siXty-fOur years. Col Bradl
il native of Connecticut, but Is at present !lvi
In Chicago.
FORT MONROE. Va. Dec. iS.-The Saratoga
er- rived here to-day.