The National tribune., 1893-12-21
ARMY AND NAVY.

1t is not likely that there will be q second
trial of the new cruiser Marbehead, az re-
qnested by her builders, who dissatisfied
with: the speed show ng, and desire another test
in tho hope OF securing larger premium.
Secretary Herbert has not taken action the
application. but even if he grants the request
it is believed that the cont racIors will decide
TO let the result of the recent trial stand, be-
cause of the heavy expense TO which they will
be put. The Navy Department pays the cost
of official trials on tho bias of which vessels
are accepted, hut when new trial is allowed
the contractor is obliged to foot the bills Of tbs
first test. The expenses of the trial of the
Mar olehead were enormously heavy. Half a
d"zeu Naval vessels took part. and coal bills
alone make good sized item.
In Col. HGghes's Department Inspectors re-
port he says of Fort Myer: The command
there is the best-instructed cavalry battalion /
have yet seen in our army. There is prompt
ness aud alacrity, an exactBess aud simuta-
neousness of movement throughout the whole
that lhave never seeh1rqaacd III our service"
With the departure OF the trainiHg-ship Mo-
noug aheIa from Newport last week for Norfolk,
en- route to Annapolis, change in the stations
and duties of several of the old time war-vesseis
was inaugurated by the Navy Department The
Mopongahcla goes to the Naval Academy 10
take tho place of the Constellation as u prac-
tice-ship for the Cadets. IL has been ascertained
that Inc cannot TIC EspalTeu Win"
in the 10 per ccnt. limit of her cost. required
by law aud her days Of usefulness at have
ended accordingly, but she will be fitted out
and sent to Newport recei vim g-ship for Naval
apprentices. The Richmond at Newport is to
20 to League Island as a receiving-ship in place
of the st. Louis. recently condemned. The
Essex, now a: Newport, will take the place of
the Monongahela as a practice-ship for Naval
apprentices.
report sent by Secretary Herbert to Repre-
sentative Sayres Chairman Of the House Com
mittee on Appropriations, shows the actual
cost of the new Navy 10 he as follows: Amount
appropriated since and including the 2 lay of
March, 1883 to the 31st day OF October. 1898:
Amount appropriated. ST.. lS4. 1880; amount
expended S65 2SS. 739. Is: balance ia treasury
Nov. 1, 1898, 81. S95 424.62.
Average amounts appropriated and expended
for construction and machinery plants at the
several Navy-yards from Sept. Z. 1885, to Oct.
81, 1893. were: Navy-yard Portsmouth, ap.
propriated. $4,000; expended, $72760.
Navy yard. Norfolk, appropriated, 100000;
expended. $9997I.90.
The question of coast defenscs is one that
is giving the House Appropriations Committee
no little trouble. There three consdera-
tions involved: First, the scarcity of money
in the National Treasury; SECOND, the Diff
Guilty of procuring sites for the empiacemeuts,
except by paying extortionate rates; and third,
the number Of largc-raiihor guns already on
hand. The Committee find that syndIcatrs
control all TIE available land along the Atlantic
Coast from Portland TO New Orleans that is
desirable for sites There has been n loud call.
both from the Engineers Department of the
Army and from the Atlantic Coast cities for
16 inch guns. The Committee believe that the
American coast can be properly defended with
g. 10 and 12-inch guns and mortars.