New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-11
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
SUCCESS OF THE HOWELIS TORPEDO.
GOSSIP REGARDING TIE ASSISTANT ADJC tANI
GENERALSIIIp OF TIE ARMY-D\MAGE
At PORT ROYAL.
At PORT ROYAL.
InY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRrBUyE.l

Washington, Sept. 10.-Private advices received at
the Navy Department from the torpedo station at
Newport indicate that the recent remarkable sue
cess achieved in experiments with the Ho"ehS
automobile torpedo has been even greater III iatei
trials few days ago the torpedo. In an uno'icla'
trial developed "A speed OF twcnty-six Knots an
hour So-yard course This speed Is nearly
four knots In excess Of contract requirements Inc
torpedo was discharged from staging when th's
fast record was made The official trials nave
been ended temporarily pending the completion ol
necessary repairs on the Stieto. The severest test
TO which the Howells torpedo Is to be put II It's
discharge from the Stiletto1 launching tubes whiie
the vessel IS under way The torpedo has success
fully the more rigid requirements. The Howells ~
Il Is generally believed that 1t VIII meet success
fully and more rigid requirements. the iio"e'IS II
the only American automobile torpedo when mas
made any particular success in the direction Oh
speed accuracy and general efficiency. Its inventor
is Captain Howels. OF the Navy. AT an expense oi
$4,000 the Government has contracted to purchase
thirty OF the torpedoes and launching tubes
The topic OF chief interest in army circles rs the
present vacancy in the Office OF Assistant AdJutaht
General. Ii is said at the War Department mat
there are about fifty asprants Tor the posiuo''
only five Of this number are thought to have good
chances II success. The more promising candidates
seem to be- Captain James Il. Burbank. 81 Artillery
George s Wilson. 18th Infantry; William T. Hail.
Alexander Rodgers. ith Cavalry. The argument IN
favor OF Captain Burbank's selection by the Pres-
dent Is that besides being an officer OF recognized
efficiency he belongs to the artillery which at pres
ent has only one representative Colonel Ward. in
the lower grades OF the Advertisements De-
Jartment. The social connections of three OF the
candidates named are important factors in the
contest Captain Hall IL the son-in-law OF senator
Blackburn. and Captain Rogers-son OF the late
Rear Admiral g. H. =. Rodgers-married the
daughter OF senator Cameron Captain Schoieid
Is a brother of the present commanding 'eherhi Vi
the Army. The position Of Assistant NuJuUaht-
General is In every way desirable The duties,
while important are not too onerous; the stations
are either at Washington AZ the headquarters
Of III. nine military departments. Upon entering
the corps an officer receives the rank Of major and
annual pay and allowances amounting TO No'6.
~" may ultimately become brigader general ana
get n yearly stipend amounting 10 SEQ.
Captain EearI-lee. commandant Of the naval sta
ton az Port Royal has submitted report To Sec
Rotary Herbert damage done To the station by
the recent hurricane Government buildings escaped
injury with few exceptions. and those when sus-
tanned any damage be repaired promptly ana
~ little expense captain Beardsl"e reports that
there was much loss Of life by drowning. Apothe-
cary Hazel OF the Navy. and the Rev. Dr. Green
and seven members ~ the lattcfs family. whHe on
a raft trying 10 get ashore. lost their lives. The
two steam launches AMI other boats employed M
the station were sunk The drydock. which is still
In the hands 81 the private contractor and not
therefore Government property, sustained serious
injuries which will cause considerable delay in ts
completion The dam practically destroyed.
| and a new one will have to be- built. The quarters
| Of the contractors men were swept away, ana
quantities OF his timber were found scattered five
miles away. He lost 1870 barrels OF Portland
cement and much or MS lumber ana othcr ma
| terlals was destroyed.
Ordnance officers OF the army take more hope
fl view ~ the prospects OF supplying the troops
"A an early day with modern magazine rifles. The
latest reports from Springfield particularly en-
couraging and induce the belief that 10y october
| there will be- ready for delivery number OF the
guns II cannot De- definitely said at this time what
the output OF thu armory VIII be. or how soon the
whole number OF arms required for the army Will
De ready for issue. \ fairly safe estimate Of the
output is thought by ordnance officers To be 1905
guns year. At this rate IL would take about two
| years turn out sufficient number To supply the
| regulars alone. large part OF the militia Of the
| country Is also To- be supplied with the new rifles
Issues TO the militia will not be begun. however
| until the required number OF arms Is put In the
| hands OF the regular troops.