New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-26
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
THE SUPERIORITY OF AMERICAN ARMoR AD-
MIITED by LORD BRA>SkY-PROMO-
TlnNS TNDtR TILE NEW law.


Washington. Aug. "A spcciaD.-An examination
Of TIE records u the tests OF armor plates FOR inc
Navy nj Indian Head shows that the tests have been
te se,arcst and the results the most satisfactory OF
,ho.c obtained in any country. Beginning win the
first important trials Of armor In the 'hifd ''a"''
w'%n The superiority Of the American a.lsteel ana
nickel steel plates, over tTe British compound and the
French Homogeneous plats was proved, aler hrihr
four 100 pound shots from "A Ginch high power
rincd gun and one go pound shot from an olhc"
gum and coming down TO the last highly sncccN'lnl
trial, Of the IIarvcyized nickel steel plates when tc
aggregate energy Of five shots cqua ling 21Olo iVo'
ions, only slightly cracked corner oi The P'd'c' ''
Hotter projectilcS being shattered In the ell ri' tn'
tests have been uniformly successful as well d.
crcditahlc.
In hi, Naval Annual for this year. Lord Erassey
writes that " The Indian Head trial was hluc" '"e
severe than TIE trials conducted Al Portsmouth
,rnrl.ud) The velocity was greater, and the ma
-inch round my be regarded test pushed 1" dc'
trction~ and yet the most successful test oi American
armoi that led at the proving grounds al INC oo'
Bethlchcm works when under Ike CONDITIONS ~
armor guns and velocity five l)Itzcf pfpJ'c'"
f,,l,d oven 10 crack the pate. being thculscVc
smashed by the impact had not been made "h'''
Lord Bra-scy pointed OFT tn superiority o Ameil al
plate.
Generally speaking. American arnor plate ar
uncauallcd as ty tets prove: and 1t was WIN I"'
knowledge 4 this fact. doubt css. that secretary l'"'
recently RENAL kcd that he would be hbIe sal'N -
reduce the thickness Of Oh, armor Tor the Da'A' Sn
antborized bv Congress during it. last session. y"
amount Of cayil or misreprcscniad N can mod'y
rcnovc the fact Of the superiority Ol American nrm'r
ana any and nil eli rtS I'm this direction by news
nnncrs and other, must in!ure those who htthi
ia do 50 adding further publicity 10 the Gci' SUE
re, OF the Navy pcpartmE In reducing tr'i "r'".'
plates whic. are known to be un"aihihd a'' "''
In relation 70 the question as to wheAef s'' =
=, Irlv l-o2 which makes applicable 10 officer %
In, Marine Corp, the law rcaiing to ti' eA'''""
lion If officer, of the Army rs TO their moral p"yA
cal and mental qualification, ioe promou)n, IN c''
,hrec officers Of that COrpS Tor whom vacancies IL
the higher grades existed previously t. the ri"'7
NJ the act referred TO- solicitor General Adl' No'r
Attorney General, has given an opinion II y.
considerable interest to officers al TIA army anu
Marine Corps for II set, al resi- several uouo''"'
oues! )ns concerning the construction oi bo'h "NS
I'm, three officers u the Marine Corps who were
,d,o,elr Affected by ;hc opinion Of the solicitor
General were a captain, a first and second Iieu'ch
mt and tie law In question provides that hcfc''to'
ul officer. Of the Marine Corps below the E'''' VI
commandment .sl1n be examined before promo1'"
I'm the same manner and under the same condh'h
as officers Of the Army.
In his opinion solicitor General Ahfc" N"'
,o, the right b. promotion inhcrins In one who J.
n
right subject only defeat in accordance Win pr
visions Of law that the act Of July rra'lng 10 ON
GERS OF the Marine Corps speaks only from IN" da'
- Tx apprnyal and creates new CONDITIONS ~ Z
promotions thereafter TO be made and that IL "ouo
h going too far TO say that Congress intended 'h"
q right TO prom ton earned by long service ana
,t,aIly accrued. may by force Of the enactment d.
,,ten quay from fine Officer who had performed the
service.
The law relating 10 the Officers Of the Army wa
carefully considered by the solicitor Genera ana III
reoard IA IT, lie said I'm Ids opini0n:
TIE pr,yl,IoIs Of tn" act r"laung to III" Army
ru., ~. ,ou.i, red H. The Hight OF Executive con
ali cases of ambiguity the cOnicmoIH"'iS '"l>'in'
tIn NOT only # courts but Of Departments 3nn even
rcIo. whose duty II l. 10 carry re law lht, 'h''
G. CONTROLLING y the War department. haN hcln III
eevcr,l r;.c. that officers OF the Army, Tor "'h
.rc yer. vacancies brf IRE IN" approval OF ih' h''
- 40 were not r,Qnircd 10 undergo the cxninli1
lions mentioned In the act am OF the opinion
tiIy he promoted without being subjected to suc'
examination
In accordance with this opinion tho President ha'
Issued tmuorary commission, 10 Major w. Il. Brown
captain O. W. Ecrrym man. and First Lieutenant u. >
Newman Major brown has forwar;hd an applci
ZION 10 tle Precedent TO be placed Oh the rctlIcd ISL
upon prcmction. having completed thirty years ser
yicc Major Er)wn'S retirement VIII prphl0''
Contoin H. l. Meade Fist Lieutenant W. !. -Wt,r
"a S.Iond Lieutenant & G.. Long, who VIII be th'
a. Gers ~ the Marine Corps 10 appear before III
Inirds Of examInat under the new law.