New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-06
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
SECRETARY WHITNEY'S SAD BLUNDER RE-
CALLED.

SECRETARY ELKINS's FAMILIARITY WITH ARM
LIFE-CApTAIN IoRUP'S RECALL ANTICIPATED
iBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TxrBuSE'
Washington, July 4.-The launching OF the JAZZ
ship Texas at the Norfolk Navy Yard on Iuesd'. 49,
recalls ono OF the most lamentabe bunders oI NV
Cleveland Administration In Its management " -,
affairs Of the Navy Department. one WIN" "
gave offence to the naval authorities j" Ui' ,oS
but brought the Department into disrepute ao'o ,
After the law authorizing the construction OF the p'o
ships Texas and Maine was passed by ConBrc,S' ~,
rotary Whitney. with an apparent contempt W
mil OF American naval constructors advertise"
through the medium OF circulars and Engish "e
papers for plans and specifications lor WV ~,
ships Offering $4,000 rs prize for the pes' p
furnished. Naturally American designers gr.c'o'
offended ut the slight, failed to compete lor tne p"
and II was awarded TO an Englishman, william John,
IN whom there was subsequently paid an hoo"i"'."'
amount of s22 500 for the working drawings oi VIC
two ships. 49, ,,,,s
Previous to the acceptance OF the John oes's's'
sir f. J. Reed, prominent English naval cohsouo''
was prevailed upon by secretary Wmuey III Pi'a
communications through the Naval atache vi "0
United states Legation Mt London. to prepare anu o
NIT plans and specifications, the nducement Doing
money consideration After learning that certain
feotures of his designs had been Incorporated III '
plans finally adopted for tho ships, SIR f.. D. hecu
demanded n reward for his labor. In the h'ed'""'
sretarv Whitney had retired TO private life, ana As
thore were no official records, but only the P'i'
letters of Secretary whitney ms evidence OF any "s'c
mcnt with Sir f. J. Reed, and as there was 10 a'a'i
able appropriation with which TO compensate that co
truc,or secretary Trncy had to express his regret
and noItcy decline to consider the question, ana Sr
T. J. Reeds account with Mr.. whitney, not the Navy
Department, remains unpaid to TINS day.
10 exaccerate the blunder 1t was found. after inc
John designs were formally accepted that 'heS "o'0
defective in weights and dimensions and a iur'her
sum of $500 had to be paid TO a'o'her H"sno"
designer 10 revise and correct the work done by 'o
a,Iny tho mans and working drawings Of the Texas
and Maine cost the Government $4,000. Beforo the
construction OF the Texas far advanced, tnerc
were no less than two boards OF United Sta'cS NaNH
officers employed calculations con'ermns "of
weights and measurements to determine her osPiace-
mcnt and buoyancy
For years while living in New-Mexico, secretary
Flklns lived adjacent to an army post ana coui'
observe the practical details OF the daily life OF olcers
and men. stationed there, and during that periol
tho conditions and needs of these officers and men
excited his interest and sympathy. 1t IS not sur
prl,ing now be Is in position to remove the Dad ana
increase the good circumstances ana Shrrouhu"'sS Va
members OF the military service, that MS ehersi'
should be bent In that direction. Perhaps no heai Vi
the War Department In recent years began MS ocl''
duties with thorough familiarity with ana Heeh
interest in the requirements Of the Army as secre-
tary Ekins, and rs a result OF his knowledge ana
energy many acts bcncftng both officers ana men
novn ha.n carried INTO successful execution score
ary F;kins is fortunate In having rs aaViSerS t"f
clcvcrcst available staff officers Of the Army ana
through their assistance the progress already begun
will doubtless be- continued with view to n further
Increase In all that encourages contentment ana Sc
cures efficiency in the personnel OF the Army.
Mr. Herbert, chairman OF the House Naval Coin
mttec has assured officers Of the Engineer CorPi OF
the Navy that II /, his intention only to endeavor
IA secure the sage OF the bill terminating the re
ductlon Of officers in that corp but he hopes 10 be
able TO have the bill. increasing the number OF En-
ginccr officers favor,bly reported The former Dill
would repeal the present law. which practically r.
qurcs that there shall BE- only one promol'h LOT
every two vacancies occurring In the Engineer ''r~
In connection with the bill To Increase the nnmOcr
of Engineer officers Mr. Herbert stated that ~ there
vos ouposition I'm the committee MT only % large
Increase I'm the number OF officers. but to that feature
OF the bill which provided actual Innk ana hn"tc,
command for officers 81 the Engineer corps II "o"'u
probably be fou1d expcdcnt add but few Officers
to the present force. and 10 omit altogether inc pr
visions relating 10 mnk and command
rnouiry at the Navy Department brings ont inc
fact th the published statement that neither Fight.
ING Rob- Evans commanding the United states ves"
scls I'm Behrtng sea- nor any OF the officers under him.
were compelled to fire upon the three shps recently
captured poachng seals inside the limit agreed upon
he,wecn the United states and Great Britain, put
That tho ships wer. captured In pcaeeable manner
,rd uoon demand Of Commander Johnson. command
ing officer Of tho Marion. 1t l. tre that the insiruc-
tlons given to Commander Evans by the secretary
Of the Navy would the former In Tesortihg 10
force 10 execute his orders. but II Is aD>hu 10 sup
poe that the commanding officer OF any poaching YES
i vould be foolish enough to disobey resist de-
,n,rd rom , United states vessel whose guns, with
a, effective range Of from two 10 -Four miles were
frowuiug upon him. Nor j. II complhen'arN W
Commander Evans 10 suppose tiiat. WIN az MS "
grcS SivrnesS Of nature Ii" would 90 anNius si.'
would Involve his Government In lnernn'l"hal vim
Guilty. Those who know Commando Evans regard MIN
as "A cautious ~ well ~ courageous ofh,rr. ..,.
II is stated at the War Department that tapiair.
! p,rnD military attachc AZ the United states lcgitpl
i'm Paris was not detached because Minister 'N)Iusc
"lcgrrlphc,i that the French Republic was greatly m
crn.,d N the conduct Of Captain BoG1p ana tnat MS
recall was imperative, but that II had been dc'n'u 10
recall Cuutalu Borp before thu telegram from Mr.
C,odcr was received In Washington, Tor the reason
n,t n was apparent that captain llorupS usefulness
A. "A nm. ltary attlchc WAS gone ana tht II ""N lnpo
,ant tina, an officer whose usefulness was not impaired
shOud hc sent 10 Paris.
That Captain Iiorup was persona non Erh,'' 70 tn
French Government would have been SUFFICIENT ggouhl
for his rtrnll. and II his detachment hah no, peh
lion that his presence In France wa, not desired by
the authorities ~ that country. he w'id or cuTS" nav
been promptly recalled upon tho arrival Ot >uch II
formation In Washington as friendly r'htiphN WIN
Franco would permit other course 70 b" pursu'l
hnt the f,ct remains that the request for Captain
l,rup', rcrtl had been anticipated am ordered bY
SECRETARY Ellln> before il was known In Washington
| that France had expressed a wish In the matter