New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-02
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
WHO WILL SUCCEED REAR ADMIRAL BRAlNEi
CONDITION OF THE DESPATCH-ARMY

though the detail is not to be filed until BraincS re-
trement two months hence The qudnuncs OF tie
Navy Department have settled Rear-Admiral L. \.
Kimberly for the place. He is at present the prcSi-
dent of the Inspection Board and the transfer TO the
New York Navy Yard would he in the nature OF pro-
motion
board Of survey has been looking into the condi-
ton OF the Despatch celebrated the Presidents
yacht" year ago Chief Constructor Wilson called
attention the vessel and asserted that she would not
be fiji for longer service without extensive repairs
The report Of the Board is understood to place The
needed alterations at all expense in excess OF the 20
per cent limit OF law. II may be that minor repairs
will be made and the Despatch continued in com
mission, but it is generally thought that the vessel VIII
be condemned and eventually sold The Despatch
has been OF great convenience TO the Government, e.
pecally in the entertainment OF public guests. and
trip down the Potomac on the Despatch ha> come TO
be feature Of the programme on such occasions inc
vessel purchased by the Government in 1874 from
H. c. Smith, OF NewYork City. She is Of 800 tons
displacement. has a complement OF six officers and
| seventynve men, and carries one s!Xinch gun Tor
saluting purposes. If the Despatch is condemned an
otl er vessel will be assigned to the duty OF pubic
entertainer There have been limitations that the
bennington, sister ship of the Concord, would be de-
voted to that purpose. She is larger vessel IMAM
the Despatch OF about 700 tons displacement The
fact that flush deck has been put down and changes
made in the armament has evidently prompted 'le
suggestion. The need OF vessel for this duty IS IN
dsputabe.
There is however, a good deal of doubt surrounding
wooden vessels. and would he surprised To see
the Despatch continued in service. There is the Ian
caster, for instance 1t was given out that her con-
dition entitled her 10 the peaceful ending of an eX
iscnce since 1898 "a gunnery ship at the Naval
training station The reftting begun with that ideaWas
interrupted, and the vessel will be sent, probably
in March. to China flagship o. the Asiatlc SQUAD
rom Office proposed hitherto for the san Francisco
the Charleston, the Baltimore. There has been
no detail yet of commander for the Lancaster
There are several officers available for sea duty, and
of them is likely 10 be assigned to TINS DUTY
Captain ~ p. Cooke, who has not been to sea since
1885 Captain Walace,whose last cruise ended in l77i
Captain Mahan who has been ON shore duty since
1855: Captain Seaver. who returned from sea duty
in 1554 and Captain Whitehead, whose last sea service
ended in 1857.
Ii is not settled whether gunnery ship Will be
added to the Naval training station The New-Hamp-
SHIRE at present detached and being Thoroughly over
hauled will return in the spring t0 Newport ana take
the place Of the Richmond. on which the apprentices
are now quarered. The latter vessel may be re
fitted for a gnnncry ship.
General Flager. the new Chief of Ordnance OF Tue
Army is expected hele this week Naturally there
is interest in the policy he may adopt IL i
rot likely however 10 be radically different from
that of General Benet
The privilege accorded Military academy appointees
be appreciated by parents While te eAalnti ;I
will not be accepted by the authorities a, colc,Ne
and Will not the applicant IRON thc rEuln
physical inquiry al West i0int, the system viii ihdi-
the existence OF any malady which would rele1'
road transportation. To te Army medical ollccS
has been given additional duty They are engasen
illness for service in the field. The long season 81
inactivity which preceded the Indian caInpaen dd
not prepare large number OF officers Tor the trvIhg
season in Dakota, and some OF he occ, were excused
will a ken Al he
the actual fighting force may be known and strength
The Board which has been IN session at the Navy
Department examining Assistant Naval Constructors
nnsd and wS nhd tgl to- he S s and
the officers have returned to their sspeGtye Stat T
York. The promotion Of these two Officers docs not
necessarily create yacancie In ne Construction Corp,
rctary i credited with the intention Of charging ne
corps that proper consideration may De gwen gwen t th
corps has been recruited from among graduates OF
at Edinburgh Paris The necessity for the incrca.e
c"nine appointments to those already in the Navy
The hopelessness Of securing outsiders familiar with the
have accounted for the slowne,s of appOin, ments.
The Newark will 90 into commission this week.
a aeG nsv 90 S 10 T TS" Ipd Penn Savy Ynn
where a simpson dry dock j, to be opened la hi.
month. Commodore Farquhar, Of The Burcau Of
occaSon ANU II is intended to have the Newark Join the
chicago at Key West, ard take part in the drills in
The Navy Department people are inclined to doubt
whether the Senate will do anything for tn increase
Of he Navy beyond allowing he llonsc provision for
cruiser 70 remain. There was some hope Of the
senate committee adding baIe-ship ana TORPEDO
the scheme being have the bill 90 TO conference and
there have all three vessels agreed upon ,
inquiry at the Indian agencies the results If which are
& to fave the r ah2 % Se baT Ra dee
tailed at as many agencies t. observe the attitude on
to ascertain their strength The nvos legation.
viii include an inquiry into the 9 cha and are eHtcni
| dcienty occupied and properly fed what additional
occupation can be afforded these people on the resci-
means of occupation not be devised and developed
in addition to agricultural and pastoral pursuits IL is
factirc all the clothing leather, agricultural nipple
nd tools 4 mdG fSf e officers S a %e s S
In harmony with the Indian agents, the admnistra-
tiny, Of which the officers are ordered TO give prompt
ga fqil' report The officers delae 49,, for 'Hls s mp9
Infantry. at Standing Rock Agency Dakota; Captain
Ewers 9Th Infantry. at Tongue River Agency Mont;
Dakota Captain Pierce. 1st Infantry, at Pine Ridge
Agency, South Dakota, whore he Is also acting Indian
River Agency, South Dakota. The result Of these In
qures vii be awaited with Interest - Their ;mpor
as basis for future action by the War Department
The monitor MIsntonomah will 60 into commission
sicad will be her commander. His place as head
OF the steel Board will likely be TILED !y CAPTAIN
Howell OF torpedo fame al present member OF tie
| Board The Stool Board will probably remain as at
present constituted will the exception Of this change
| There was talk at tine OF adding con
srlctOr the Board. but none Of those Officers * At
present available. There are complaints regard
ing tla delivery OF steel material formerly, and the
Secrrtary's conference with the steel workers appears
| 10 have had a beneficial effect
The resolution calling for the documents IN The
Refer case will up in the lOnse tomorrow.
Representative Dazell. of IttSbnrg. friend OF Com
mandcr Rctcr. and who has had that officer as his
guest during the past week will attack the secretary
a defence and will show prccedents for Mr.. Tracy's
action.
Since the system Of examination for promotion has
been adopted for the Army. lf3 officers have been
examined. Of which number eleven have been found
physically incapacitatei. The dozen examining boards
In session have each been allowed 20 create standard
of examination, tie plan being 70 draw from those