New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-29
BATTLESHIP TURRETS.
THOSE OF THE NETWORK AND MONTEREY
TO BE OF THE OLD MONITOR TYPE.

PEcTs FOR EYLARGING TIE NAVY
PLANNING A REORGANIZATION
OF TIE SERVICE.
tBY TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRIBUNE!
Washington, Feb 2s.--The discussion regarding the
relative merits OF vertical and detected arnior pa'es
for the turrets OF ships OF mention OF which 'as
been made In these dispatches has about ended Tho
old style trrret was the conventional "cheeseboA
affair a smile Familiarity applied TO the Original hoh-
tor; and when tie American Naval coiS'r"c"rs
proposed TO increase the thickness OF the trets ana
render them more nearly invulnembc 10 shot ana
she'll the foreign experts looked on curiously Inc
latter had proclaimed that battleshps With four 'ur
rcts could never float tbs surface and they were
willing to commend the Ingenuity of American con
sructors when the Detected plates for the uirrc'
tops were announced. They had the adNahhSc VI
presenting loss area t. the enemy and target less
liable 10 be penetrated than upright OF even greater
thickness The inverted dish arrangement Insured Il
saving OF fifty in each Instance, feature tha'
was OF paramount importance. objections nave oeeii
raised mainly by tho Ordnance experts. 10 The de
Elected plate nrrets on account OF the lack OF room
and the decreased facility for the operation OF ordnance
I'm tbc interior The subject, like all matters OF
technical nature connected with the Navy. was open
70 discussion: and the proposed re'u'"
70 the vertical or "chcHseboN' turre' "I''r
the new type Ena been Incorporated into inc
Of profes onnl controversy, which has ended IN the
authorization by the Navy Department of The con
,tructon Of vertical turTets on the baitlcSls mo
New York and Monterey. The Maine, however VIII
have detected plato turTetS originally Nconnehuco
Nv the bureau OF Ordnance TIE return 10 the Ola N"
mn,t mean II 4, said 10y experts decreasing ct the
thickness OF the sides Of turres by two Inches Of
arnor ia order 10 preserve the weight upon "'" c''
vessel planned.
The President got ont Of the town. making only
three appointments To vacancies existing IN the Nlns
and Navy These d>poed Of Tie long vacant assistant
guartermastcishp In the Marine Corps ana TWO OF inc
six assistant Nav paymastcr.hlps. The former mp
pontment settled animated contest, IN when Leu
tenant Denny tho sdccessfu candidate. was supported
by Indiana influence but the chief recommendation was
his fitness for the place and unusually good record
for a young man. His performances at Alexandra IN
1892. during the bomhardmcnt Of the dty. WHEN he
commanded the marines, earned for him complimentary
references by European authorities Another paShhs
tershp Is made vacant BY the retirement Of iHymasfer
G. p Thompson who has been attached at vaSoas
times TO the New York and for long period has been
on sick leave.
Everybody in tho Navy Department Is Mxiousy
awaiting the action OF Congress the Naval Appro
pration bill, which, in view NJ public sentiment Is ev-
pected 10 fare better 10 tho House than the Military
Academy I'LL Jared. No really looks for any such
uberalty rs will lead to the adoption OF the Secrc,arys
recommendation made his latest annunl report, for
two lntteships OF tie Indiana type. Oh" arInorrd
cruiser ke the NewYOrk, tho tavorte vessel OF tho
Department I2O0ton cruiser for liver work, and
a number OF torpedo boats torpedo cruises it Is
impossible 10 forctcll the disposition 81 congress,
which this session credited with the purpose OF dis
cOuragng any cOnstructiOn-but those who have
tie matter in charge have promised to urge reason
able increase Of the Navy and If the intention Of the
committee and the friends OF the Navy on the noOr
generally prevails the service will be enlarged by four
new ships. II has been decided 20 havo one OF these
four batteslhp such a. secretary Tracy depicts as
cite most powerful element Of protection that this
country can posses" Another will be n large
armOrcd like the New York. combining the clc
ments OF ample coal capacity. great speed and good
arnOr protection type In the opinion OF the present
Administration ranking next TO the Indiana class In
naval defensive strength The third vessel will be a
Hight draught ship. such t.,e Department suggests
for the Asatic station: and the fourth will bc
a torpedo boat. The two latter the Department has
urged might Ire left open for the bidding Of slip
builders on the Mississippi and Il the useless ancient
treaty with England withdrawn, on the Great
Lakes.
1t has been Mr. Tracy's idea in tbs building up Of
the new Navy TO distribute equally, far may be-
the benefits Of Government construction, and % en-
courage manufacture In the inland much ms on the
coasts where the actual work OF building ships had
been confined up 10 tho time OF awarding the contract
TO the Iowa Iron Works for Torpedo Boat No. =.
An increase of the Navy such here outlined
would cost about $40 l05 900. according 10 the est
mates OF the constructors, who base their calculations
current expenditures for vessels similar " thOs3
proposed. 1t IS generally felt at the Navy Depart
mcnt that Congress viii authorize the construction Of
this number OF vessels, which would be and
vt the time necessary Increase.
Akin to the subject Of charging the Navy is that
OF increasing the efficiency OF the personnel, a
topic with which Congress will have to do this
session. The department has formulated u rough
draft Of reorganization OF the service, which com
bncs the best features and discars the com
peA detail, Of the scheme prepared by the Phythial
Board sagnaton in the line The cngiuecrs al
ready have bills before Congress, The mates have
their annual measure pending In committee and
various grades OF oilcers-such az those acting ~
rear admirals and those who served chiefs
OF bureausare represented in one form and another
in bills looking their financial betterment. 1t has
been decided too TO ask for authority TO increase
the enlisted strength OF the Navy 50 as TO bring
the maximum up to 1000 from the present 5000
which Is hardly adequate for properly manning the
ships This increase will probably be brought
| about, NOT by any actual extension Of the limits
OF tbs grade OF ordinary seaineh but by the incor
poraton into the service OF apprentices who shall
haye served specified term on shpe1ad and at
grade proposed 10 be established with View To-
saving TO the service valuable material
As things go now, boy. after serving his time, and
sometimes before the expiration of the term Of enlist
ment. leaves the Navy to take better place than the
service hold out to him. the knowledge he has
gained while the practice ships. Edison has taken
a large number OF these boys whom be finds useful In
his laboratories from their experience with electricity
They valuable TO the Navy. the capacities OF which
are under existing conditions used TO train the boys
for other following. with n corps OF seamen
gunncrS H. Is expected 10 provide for boys who shall
| be specially trained In the manipulation OF ordnance
system 81 promotion and retirement has been de
vised and the project will be brought TO the attention
| OF Congress at early date
A test OF nm IL I-2ncl nickel steel plate held
Yesterday at Indian Head proving ground The plate
was sample OF the material produced ut the Betle
hem Iron Works for the construction OF the barbettc
OF the Monterey and the firing was what Is known as
a reception test. The former test was unsuccessful ;
but thc firing yesterday with satisfactory results
and the order has been given I" proceed with the
Iieerina', Copeuhn gen cherry Cordial.
The latest European fashion az clubs. teas, a..
Al Leading Groces.