New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-23
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
SECOND LIEUTENANTCIEs FOR CIVILIANS
prrLDING VARIOUS V VESSELS

Washington. March % (.pecaD 1t Is caicuHteu that
there will be ten or twelve appointments 10 seoonu
,iou.enantcles TO the Army from clvll HE ms 9o"'
rho ,n,,ic,tlon, already received at the War Depart
rent show Il general interest in the matter among ooi
Iocc students. National Guardsmen and ex-cadets'
The number Of such appointments made possible pS
the rrtircments Of the year will depend upon the
number of graduates Of the Military Academy anu
the number OF non commissioned officers found quah-
fed for appointment as second lieutcnantS. ONO il
the subjects which will be taken up by secretary
Proctor on his return from the present ioar OF ihspcc-
ton will be The requirements for civil app0tltec' 10 the
Army. There is pretty certain 10 be an eXaminatloh'
mental and physical. Hereafter, greater importance
will attach to the physical capabilities of ohcers
in the examinations for admission to the Military
Academy as well as in those for commissions from inc
ranks and from civil life, and the doctors scrutiny
will be closer than has been the case. Thls Is inc
lesson taught by the sixty retirements within The iaSt
two months among Junior officers for phySical IN
capacity. The result Of the recent examinations Tor
promotion has surprised the War Department Officials,
who supposed the majority OF Instances Of disability
had been acted upon by the retiring boards. IL Is
desired that officers commissioned In future shall have
a physical equipment sufficient to sIistain them until
the age Of sixty four, when all officers retire by
operation of law. 1t is likely that in tho appoint
ments from civil life to the Army preference VIII be
given, If indeed the appointments be not confined 10
graduates Of military and other colleges where Army
officers are stationed rs professors aud to officers OF
the National Guard.
Although the Naval Bureau Of Construction ana Re
pair has no new work In hand, The draughtsmen are
kept busy with the minor changes constantly being
made in vessels in course Of construction. The reports
show a satisfactory progress on nearly all the ships
building for the Navy. Work on the Texas az the
Norfolk Navy Yard. however, is not making rapid
progress. The frames are in place above the pro
tcctivc dock, but it will be a long time before
the vessel is ready for launching. The delay
is due to the long discussions to which the plans
have been subjected in the board OF bureau chiefs at
various times, and to the rejection Of material. on
one occasion over two hundred tons Of steel plates
were returned to Pttsburg on account OF failure to pass
the test, at Norfolk, and work was delayed while a new
shipment was prepared. on Cruiser No. II, building
at Cramps, rapid progress ii reported. The patterns
have been made for stem and stern post. The Loring
Works ut Boston have received five payments on Cruiser
No. II. no. having made. however, the progress Of the
Columbia Works Of Baltimore, where the companion
vessels. Cruisers o and 10. ere more than half finished.
The first payment has been made On the three tugs, OF
which the Navy. now more than ever, stands In great
need. According 10 the toms Of the contract, the tugs
Will be finished by next January. although the con-
tractors may ask an extension Of time. The gunloats
and the Ammen ram. building at Bath. Me, Iron Works,
will be done on time. There IS no complaint. a for
merry. Of difficulty in securing material. Tie plates
are arriving on time, and. while there has been no
decrease in the severity Of tho tests, few Instances OF
rejection arc reported. ono shlpbrillcr succeeded. fr
the first time In hi, experience. In making a penalty
contract with q Pennsylvania steel founder fr material.
This condition Of Affairs is CRAFTY Ing to the Secretary
Of the Navy. who a few months ago was apparently
confronted with the refusal Of steel men to furnish
plates and forrines. \ fact which makes the matter
more Important 70 the steel industry Il that this conhi-
tl0n has como about without a modification of the
Departments specifications. as had been Insisted upon
In some quarters as necessary.
No decision has yet been reached in regard to the
contract for r rpcdo boat 80. =. The paper, remain
Oh Secretary Tncy's desk. The Bureau chic:s CON
rcrncd In the matter sin hold % their
ton Of award 10 the Il~crreshof, instead of the Cowlc,,
Company. Tie Secretary is understood to favor an
acceptance Of the formers contract. after II shall have
Lccn modified as proposed By the bidders. This was
allowed In the ca.c Of Mccarthy y Baldwin. who were
the loves, bidder, for tho Port Royal. :. G., dry dock.
and who had an opportunity 10 make certain required
changes Ia the plans. Mr. Cowl"s desires the con
tract a, a basis for future Snip work. II he T., al
| lowed 10 construct the torpcdo-boat. Il - said. hs will
organize Il ship building company aMd establish Il
plant near New York.
The Chief Of Ordnance OF the Naty has invited bid,
FOR steel plate, and gun ~fOrElng,, 10 l' opener on
Aprll -. The call Tor Proposals Is i.suef In a.
c0,J nee with senator German, amendment 10 the
To ad|,crtl-c ipr al future ordnance and arnOr sup
plies. IRE Department maxi, the usual r, .1rgie s
mat the platcN and iQrslnSs shall ID" p'"ii'cd WIN,
the United states AMI Oi domestic material, ana thht
H. is,d G.adeff m@ ed,I pos n 4 P'1 alo ' a,sg1 for Tor lcd ne 3 I% NJ.
inch ,t",l plates for armorcd sppn~'n-, IA be delivered
shaped a, rcauir4 for Cruiser No. Is, The 300 ton
,c,,cl contracted for las; yfar.. IN, other blds arr
inch r1's 81 iorty Ca9blc. ;hioc sets Of iurgHgS Tor .
inch rGc, ~ tAirty tive c.!Itre. and one -, lor an =
inch rife 81 forty canbrr. The armament of Crulser
30. ~. authorized by the latest Saval Appropriation
Till. haa been decided npnn. VIII correspond: Il, 90
Frazier -. T.. The uiptr,rrc". vc~'cl buillli% At
'amp-,,, The main b4it"ry WI atFe Gjn ',,y, n
Ginch Of forty cauhN. a"d twci'c inch br'ech loading
riic,. Ihc t,rh snn !. an ~ cn,.Gmt "i,p' 9o aha
- 10 tons. las a Jclsth ot - : 10 feet. WIN =
.h!mber 49, iucheS l@ns, J.. VII ,Sat IS': IT SrL PoI"a L. 81
mated TO be a5lc to pe.torttc Ii 10 inches OF storl
at thr muzlir Of Tho gun. The inch guns OF forty
feet in length. The 100 pound p~r1!ecllc,;, which all
y a'T twclycinci ,ircl plate at tho mIz1lc. The !.
inch eun viii send It's thirty three pound pr,Jectilc
ou.arv battery VIII b., made up Of sixteen q ~poInd"rS.
eight pourder, a"d four Gatling guns, besides four
Thc usgol difficulty f, being experienced in getting
Offices 10" the Mcdlcrl CorIS % botl Army ANA
Navy. surgeon General sutherland. Of the Army.
and snrgcol.Gcncr1l llrown,. - the NavY, have ~
.iscl circula-, calling the attention of medical student Is
the Army and Navy Medical Department, are strict.
and most young men VINO can meet ths tfguiFcni'nts
feel that they have tctter, opportunities oUtIcn
either service. The chances of promotion I'm the Navy
Medical Corps. are better thaa those In The Arnay'
The average duration OF service IN t'e grade o. as
,i-iant surgeon OF the Army ha' been among officers
appointed. AT least since the war. over fifteen ear,
Will, in the Navy promotions have been mad" from
ua--ed assistant Surgeon 10 surgeon within ten years
In most Instances from date Of appointment. pf late
wears this record haj not boon sustained and those
ur1mofcd f. surgeon within IN" last few wears had
been passed assistant surgeons for ten years. inc
average length q service in the grade Of assistant
surgeon in the Navy Is three wears. In IN" ARMY
assistant surgeons durin- tho first tvc wears receive
"a 900 yearly and after that time FL 500. - surgeon
and major receive -. 500. a lieutenant colonel: OF
rrc Tx, e. 80. and The surgeon general $500. In the
Tavv y medical nan Is paid ~ 700 at >cn or $500
on .hnrc during the first five years. ana Sl"''', ana
~ coo respectively after that period. Passed as
si,tant surgeons arc paid 5000 and $500 dhring
Tho frs. five years and 5000 and 5000 aucr i!i"t
timc. surgeons arc paid -, 500 10 $1,000. according
to length Of service at the grade. while medical d.