New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-16
NEWS OF ARMY AND NAVY.
IMPORTANT BILLS INTRODUCED IN CON.
GRESS AFFECTING THE SERVICE.

GRESS AFFECTING THE SERVICE.
THE RETIREMENT OF OFFICERS AND MEN IN
THE NAvY-GREAT SUCCESS OF TIE TRIAL
OF THE NAMES ARMoR PLATES.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE]
| Washington, oct l5-There is no abatement to
! the number Of bills introduced in Congress which
| affect the Army and Navy This is particularly
| true Of the House where the friends Of officers
| and enlisted men display much interest in the
| two branches Of the service. For many reasons
| the most important bill far introduced this
session is that OF Representative Curtis, OF New
York. repeating the provisions of the current Army
Appropriation act which prohibit the re-enistment
| Of prvates who have served in the ranks for ten
| years more. who over thirty 1--we years
| Of age. The provisions affected by the bill are
known in the Army the obnoxious Proctor
| law" The bill contains a section which says In
effect that hereafter the term Of enlistment in the
Army shall be three years and that no soldier
| shall be re-enlsted for the second term who is
not specially well qualified for the military SER
| vice. whose service has not been honest and
| faithful This section is looked upon with much
| favor by the military authorities. as In their
opinion it rightfully leaves to them determination
as TO the number and character Of men to be re-
| tanned in the service. The proposed change of the
| term of mans enlistment from five years, as
at present. to three years is new departure which
Is advocated by many officers advisable. every
thing considered. 1t is said that both Secretary
Lamont and General Schofeld will give their APP
proval to the provision Of the bill In that event
| 1t will be passed by Congress Two private bills.
one giving relief to General John r. Brooke for
moneys paid to certain civilians in accordance
| with judgments Of the Courts OF New-Mexico, and
| another authorizing the restoration to the active
| list In the cavalry branch Of Captain Francis VI.
Gibson. retired. have also been introduced in the
House
OF the bills affecting the naval service. the most
important relate TO the retirement OF officers and
| men. That respecting officers provides that one
| who has served through his grade and becomes en-
| titled to promotion. and who is found upon eX-
animation to be mentally and morally but not
| physically qualified to perform the duties or the
next high grade by reason Of wounds or other in
cdents of service occurring In the line OF duty,
shall be placed upon the retired list with the rank
which he would have received but for physical IN
capacity At present officers Of the Navy are forced
| TO retire without advancement when found phys-
| cally unfit upon an examination for promotion
officers of the Army and Marine Corps are re-
| tired under these conditions with the next high
| rank The bill is generally regarded as a just
| measure and one which should be passed 1t VIII
| receive the approval of Secretary Herbert The re-
| tirement bill for men provides that when an en-
| listed man appointed petty officer. pay clerk or
captains clerk has served as such for twenty-five
years continuously otherwise in the Army Navy
| Marine Corps he snail, by MAKING dpplici'io"
| to the President be placed upon the retired list
with the rank or rating held by him at that time
He is to receive IS per cent OF the pay and allow
| ances to which he is then entitled In case the
class of men named served at least one year In the
volunteers or regulars during the War OF the Re
| bellon, and subsequently completed twenty years
of service retirement under the same conditions Is
authorized under the bill. bill authorizing the ad-
| vancement. the retired list. to the grace oil
rear-admiral of Commodore Louis c. Sartori. re-
| tired has also been introduced in the House com
provided for in the bill he would tax pIgCeu,eiiu IN,
resolution introduced in the House several days ago
authorizing Commander Dennis PMS, m emenpo OF
his presence at the battles OF Chorillos anu a i
| flores during the war with Peru, has been INTRO
to-day by naval h.; S Ser;e1 ThS
afternoon at the Indian Head proving grounds snow
h1 %ay Bsn sny wch haSe
place The plate tested was piece OF the -,
Harvey and was hs rt Of ,Rs ehdr
for experimental purposes only Much Interest at,
nss wa sedSred 70 70 the
Sars the high , Earth 6r at Ype
p pTojectiles Weighing pounds behind which weas
p pSsas Of %as SSca ss "fFsy
locity being sufficient to penetrate s,S ncnes b Sa
S pap Th s'ff FIRST oP hSt ha@ a SeoSy
seconds 1t struck about the centre of the pat ,
two inches The projectiie shattered pieces Of
TO sne % Sf G n former rns 1H
a noticeable fringe. discoorat3n and many any mn mn
served the Names plate showed neither fringe nor
cTae k the pae G i ony n OF Of ds
ton A foreign made Hotter projcctc was used
tn sns S SeHe Centre ee Of feGf hc ' end vc
attained by the projectie was 2oi fo9t-secondis
the n first round the proece was completely shat
tered, pieces of 1t Aging in all directions and to
nearly five inches in this The effect on the
pasa was s cr no & as NO
were Observable. The bulge TO the rear was Of
posnded BACKWARD by the impact Of the point Of
projectile showing In this round caTpenerr do
excellent reputation. Referring to the trial Naval
9s v wno bg6v TSd in eyery
being in advance Of any yet held at Indian Head
m mar fact ar,nor Commodore Sampson was
enthusiastic over the results and expressed much
veyizcd plates. The consensus Of opinion as to the
trial was that the tests proved that service plat
plates greater than those developed In purely ex-
detrimental plates
annual report for 1899, showing naval progress It
home and abroad during the last year Although
x on of f"f It's chief purpose is to present
naval rendezvous and review. The account was
prepared by Lieutenant g. II; Peters Peter, j. is com.
of the same officer fell the duty OF compiling notes
on the foreign naval manoeuvrcs Of 1882 The evo-
buttons OF the navies of England France. Ger |
many and Japan together with maps OF the places
where they occurred are given In the article Lieu
tenant j. C. Colwe furnishes paper on admins
traton and personnel: II relates to England
describes the changes which have taken place In
those countries during the last year This sub |
iect is of particular interest this time. In view
Of the contemplated changes in the naval person
mel at home. The fourth article In the annual was
ships, and describes briefly the progress in con
trough's article on gunnery development in coun |
tries which lay claim to originality contains IN
formation which sustains the position taken by the |
Navy Department. 1t shows that the tendency |
abroad is to favor lighter calibre guns for ships
England Is conspicuous in this direction having |
determined to place guns of only twelvench in !
IA.+A IL. tanc