The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-31

the law passed last Congress providing for the
examination OF the officers OF the Army, and
requiring that in future all examinations pre-
scribed shall be conducted by boards composed
as the Secretary of War may direct The bill
further provides that the examination OF OIL
GERS IN the Engineer and Ordnance Corps who
were officers or enlisted men in the volunteer
service shall be conducted in the same manner
as the examination OF other officers Of their re-
spective corps.
At the court martial Of Mai Charles B.
ThrockmortOn. % U. 9. Art, which il now
going on in New York City, two witnesses, one
a clerk in a New York dry goods house, and an
attorney for the dry goods firm, refused to an
swer questions prOpounded by Judge Ad vOCate
Barr. on the ground that they we're civilians
After severely scoring both witnesses, Judge
Advocate Barr bad the court room cleared and
the court held both witnesses guilty Of con-
temp" but they could not be punished, the
law not permitting such action. IL was in
view OF these facts that Senator Proctor intro
duced bill giving courts martial the right TO
punish civilians for contempt.
DIR. George Woods Chief Surgeon Of the
United States Steamship Charleston, was
thrown from baggy on Dec. II, ut Honolulu,
Sandwich Islands, and had two ribs broken, be-
sides receiving cash on the back Of the head
aud cuts on the forehead. He was taken to the
house Of DIR, McGrew, whore he was attended
by the latter, Dr. White, Of the United States
Steamship Pensacola and Dr. Henry also Of the
Charleston. No serious results are expected, but
DIR. MeCirew says it will be several days before
his patient can be moved. The Charleston put
TO sea without a Surgeon. The destination Of
the cruiser Is supposed to be Valparaiso. Chile.
Lieut. P0wbatan H. Clarke, of the 10th u.
$. Cav, who is in Dusseldorf as a represen Ia
tive Of the United States Army, is stud yng
German cavalry methods and manuvers. Lieut..
a. =. n 80
writer Of military subjects. The young Ger
man officers are said to listen with great in
teTest TO Lieut.. Clarkes stories Of Indian war
fare. The Lieutenant says the Kaiser himself
would like to try his hand at Indian fighting
il any were 10 be had at this time. He would
fud it somewhat different from anything he
has ever tried, and when be bad gone hungry
few times. or run into an ambush he might
not like 10 "a well as be thinks he would.
The first l2-ineh gun ever made at the Wash
ington Naval Ordnance Foundry was tested at
the Proving grounds at Indian Head Md,
| Tuesday. Successful results were obtained
both from the rifle aud the pneumatic carriage
upon which it is mounted Five shots have
been fred in all and the best Sults have been
stated az follows: Four hundred and thirty
pound charge $50 pound projectiIe 1911 feet
initial velocity. and Is 40 tons pressure. The
Bureau OF Ordnance is highly gratifed at this
showing, which is more than abreast Of both
domestic and foreign progress. The powder
tried was Of the brown variety furnished by
tho Du Points, and this was the first sample
submitted. The Bureau regards is test as very
satisfactory. and expects greater results with a
more extended trial.
The troops stationed at Fort Meyer near Ar
lington National Cemetery, we're given turkey
dinner on Christmas. Although military disci-
pline was not entirely east aside, the day was
most appropriately observed.