New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-15
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
sPECULATING ON APPOINTMENTS.
WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THE vEsUvIUs'-
NEW CRUISERS.

NEW CRUISERS.
fpr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
washington. NAV Alt Is expected that the Pres
dent will make known his selections for the Army
vacancies In grades OF brigncicr general apo p"y
master this week 1t is also thought that successor 10
Surgeon General Charles sutherland, VINO VIII re"re
on account Of age the Goth ins VIII De named al
the same time Much significance Is a''ached 10 '"e
Presidents choice OF MEDICAL Inspector Tryon as
surgeon General OF the Navy The hct tia' Dr'
Tryon was promoted over the beans OF Iour,ee"
medical directors and thirteen medical Inspectors ms
caused much djsCOura Replcnt TO the oiocr hPi""
for Army vacancies, while the Juniors nave oee "u
nrcn moro bonefuI II the selection OF Surgeon
General Tryon is indicative OF the Presidents future
course appointments to both line ana stan po,'ions
in the military and naval services will be maze OH
the ground OF fitness practically regardless OF rank Ut
seniority II this policy Is adhered to III the cases
hero referred TO- Colonel James ". Forsyth wou''
onnear 10 have an excellent chance OF securing he
,,,a.,or con.r,lsh,p This officer has speii1
record aid Is In every way qualified Tor the pao''
An element of uncertainty about the Presidents ac'o
In this appointment relates to his reporter uispI.'
ton to restore General Carr TO the active hst Ing
only trustworthy Information about the paymastershp
t. that the President will not appoint cvi'iah u
the Office as he might do Under tho Ew'
n seems probable that the conclusion OF the navai
authorities as TO efficiency OF the Vesuvius Us ny
omita crtIiSp
has been before the Department since the co'np'e
~ the vessels recent trials at Port Royal Commo-
dore Sampson has the report OF The trlas oeore nun
now and I'm a few days will submit 10 secre'ary iei
bert his recommendations. Upon these RECOMMENDS
lions will depend the fate Of the Nesuvius anu "e
future disposition. The apparent objections 10 spy
c,l type of vessel like the Vesuvns, are many when
all conditions Of service are considered. AZ Pe''
tho encencv Of the cuns-really long fixed tuoes-de-
ponds upon the workings the valves connecting WIN
them and regulating the quantity OF air a""''''N "
discharge the prOjectlles Sometimes these WIVES WI"
sasfac torily at other times under apparehuy S'''
conditions they are wholly untrustworthy Inc ma.
ter OF fuses has also given much trouble o"' 'i,'
defect can be remedcd Even II the valves "orN
cven,v the range of the gins-abOut one me-is III
sufficient and the vessels vulnerabty pecluded her
engaging an enemy at close range III the op"ion y.
many ordnance experts the necessity ior VESSEL VI
the Vesuvus type, even II successful no longer eA'
as high explosives can safely be hred irom o.u'',
runs. or from Others which readily be built ana
Installed. .
t,anto,n w r. Bridgman has been detacheo Us
Chief NJ staff 10 the CommanderinChief OF the naval
rcv,ew fleet and ordered to command the Baiu'no'e'
relieving Captain George W. sumner, who Is ordered
IN duty at the Cramps shipyard, Phiade'phi'' DIS
general inspector Of the Columbia.
Lieutenant Commander W. W. Fitzpatrick has been
detached from the Naval Academy and ordered as
Commander c. $. sperry who Is detached and grah'eo
two months leave -,
Ensign w. Il. Fletcher has been detached from
electric light duty and ordered to the Saratoga.
chief Engineer George W. Magee has been detached
from the MantoDomoh and ordered before the recurring
board.
Surgeon william Martin Is ordered TO duty III Tue
Marine Hospital Service.
An order was ISSUED at the Navy Department
veser1av deachng Commodore Gillis from the Light
house Board and placing him on the retired list
CAPTAIN George Dewey, who has been Chief OF the
bureau OF Equipment, will go to the Lighthouse board'
hut no one has been selected to succeed him In the
Bureau.
Secretary Herbert was greeted with pleasant sur
prise on his return to the Navy Department Oh fridiy'
The Bureau OF Construction has made such progress To-
ward the completion Of the plans and drawings OF
the three proposed yunboats that 1t submitted
TO the Secretary general outlines OF the charac'
ter and dimensions Of these vessels Inc nure'"
| presented no less than five different suggestions
to the Secretary TO how these boa's snouio
he constructed. From this number he VIII DO aoie
to select a typo which will meet the requirements
Of the service for which the vessels are INTENDED
Each of the boats will be of about 200 tons dspace-
ment and eleven feet draught
Two sets OF outlines call for forecastle and poop
deck and intervening open space. O'ner pi"h'
provide for light upper deck running lore anu ai''
tins providing large and comfortable quarters unuer
cover for the crews. This proposition meets Win
particular favor among naval officers. who are OF the
opinion that In hot or damp climates or In any
climate In bad weather. a deck covering Is essential.
such deck adds to the weight OF ship considerably
and reduces her coal carrying capacity, but as the
ginboats not intended as cruisers but as iight-
draught vessels for service Oh particular stations,
II Is probable that secretary Herbert will give special
consideration the health and comfort OF the nlen
4 number OF officers who have served In the China
and south American squadrohs. and have learned TO
APPRECIATE the importance Of Il ships drawing htte
water, have suggested that one OF the gunboats be
side wheeler. Tho Bureau OF Construction has
embodied this suggestion I'm one set OF plans.
II Is not believed however that this return
to od-time feature of propulsion will meet
with approval. II be safely said that
the Secretary will be In a position to advertise
for bids for construction OF the boats by July l,
when the appropriation becomes available. 1t is
generally believed that the gnnboas will be armed
with about six or eight fourinch rapid guns and
reasonable number OF and six Founders.