New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-27
IN THE ARMY AND NAVY.
TO MODIFY THE MAGAZINE GUN BOARb.
CANDIDATES FOR PROMOTION IN THE ARMY
REPORT ON THE MoNTEREYs BOILERS
INCREASE OLE TIE RETI FED LIST:
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

INCREASE OF THE RETI FED LIST.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
| Washington, March cot Is learned at the War
Department that request has been filed with Sec
rotary Lamont that orders be issued modifying lie
Magazine Gun Board that majority of It's men,
bers will be officers who did not serve on the board
which recommended the adoption OF the krag-Jor-
gensen DANISH rifle. Such a step the part OF
persons interested in the American gun which Will
be presented to- the beard for tests was predicted In
| these dis patches a few days ago. Up to yesterday
afternoon Secretary Lamont had taken no action In
the matter. however. The secretary has been as
sured by several members OF the senate Committee
OH Appropriations that the committee was particu-
larry earnest in the wish that an American gun should
TO adopted. provided could be found which met
service requirements. secretary Lamont manifested
much interest In the subject, and promised 10 give
early consideration to It, II Is stated by officers OF
the Army that there is no opposition TO an American
gun, but that the impression prevails that no gun
now ready for trial is equal TO the Krag-JorSenscn
In many practical particulars. Few OF these officers
have seen the Lee, White burst gun. however, ana
II is believed that surprise Is In store for them.
The that steps to manufacture the krag Jorgcn
gun have been taken is also urged by certain
officers as reason why no other gun should now he
adopted. This is not sound ono, 1t Is claimed
by American inventors, who assert that the sole OBJ
jcct Is to the best arm regardless OF the few
preparat tons already made 10 put In the lands OF
troops the Danish rifle Whatever gun Is finally
adopted BE- OF 30 calibre, which has bcch found
TO BE- the most desirable. Ill conditions considered
There vacancies In the grades OF brgidier-
general payrnaster and assistant luarcrmistcr IN
the Army and it is understood that Secretary Lamont
will shortly recommend the President three officers
TO fill these places. II Is generally believed that
President Cleveland will not act favoraby upon the
application OF General Carr 10 be restored 10 the active
list. Nearly all OF the senior colonies Of the Army
that CARR
finally settled, and have entered the contest to
succeed him. President Cleveland Is fortunate In
having a large list Of cligibcs from which 10 make
selection. The senior asprant l. Colonel w. X
CHATTER LIST Infantry, who rctircs In 1si9. Next IN
rank and second in order OF seniority Is Colonel r..
s. Otis, 10Th Infantry, whose nomination for the
present vacancy ~ President Harrison failed OF
confirmation by the Senate. Colonel Otis does not
retire until 1907 Third In rank and seniority Il
Colonel W. T. Carln. who rctir's in 1o93. ms
officer entered the Army several years before those
mentioned The neat hv, colonies In order OF rank
are NJ " Blunt. =. r. Swainc, II. e. Merriman T..
II. Bliss and J. W. Forsyth Colonel Forsyth appears
at present 10 be the iavoriie In the race ana Is
strongly urged BY political friends Of the President
and Secretary Lamont. II the selection were made
n, once there Is little doubt that this officer wonu be
chosen Colone, Forsyth Is gallant ohcer WITH
brilliant record. and ST Colonel Otis. President i"rri-
sons credable selection, i not named again. no
filter or more popular appointment coma pc "ihuc'
Colonel j. NJ. wilson. OF the Engineer Corps. VINO
was recently transferred from West Point TO WASH
ng,on at the request Of the President Is thought py
many 10 be a dark horse In the race. Colonel
Wilson Is an able and popular officer No oncer oi
the Engineer Corps has been made general o'h'er III
the line since the Colonel Cecil cay ea'ii"'
ex.onicer who lost arm in the Rebeiioh Is prom
nently mentioned for the vacant paymas''Sh'P' ~
&c at present chief clerk Of the Attorney Generals
Department.
inquiry at the Navy Department ELECTS the ihl'r-
nation that published reports that the boilers OF the
Monterey were damaged Oh her recent triai ,rip
as 10 make them dangerous for future Use are WIN
out any foundation In fact. The ohcal report Vi "c
hoard of officers the Monterey during her acoep
lance trials enectuay dsposes OF any such erroneous
statements This report is signed by Chei Eng heetS
Eutz Trlley and Burnap. three experts III "e''
necaltv The further report that Ward boilers were
naced In the Monterey against the advice OF Engineer
In. Chief Melville is also Incorrect oommouo'c NV,
Vile particularly desired coil boilers put In the vessel
his chief reason being 10 economic IN weight u pr
init an Increase b. made in the ships arHior A"u
armament The revenue cutter Manhattan mas "s'i
coiled boilers with much success Tor hVc ye"r'' am
two more arc I'm 81 construction for the cutters
Calumet and Hudson Commodore Melville mas recon-
mcndcd TO the secretary Of the Navy that IN" monterey
lie sent on n cruise to Honolulu OK some other Distant
mort. in order that her boilers may be thoroughly
tested.
The Army and Navy Register" In Its current is
s,,e publishes an Interesting table showing the CROWN
~ the Army retired list since 1850. and The results
NJ the recent laws relating TO retirement In lS7'
fere we're on the retired lst general. I'VE major
G, ncrals twenty brigader generals FL 9hy s'e"
colones twenty-five lieutenant colonies, MY I'VE "a
iors $50 captains. eighty one hrstcutennns' thirteen
second. Ieutenants. and sixteen chapainS III AL ''o
officers. From Iss0 to tn. present time the number
hae f.adU
In 1880 the number JOi. In 1891, 5i5, III loo-'
IA on January ] OF the present yenr There were
COZ officers on the retired list-tlrce major e'hrihS'
thirty brgadier generals. ninetyionr c"iopeN' '
~ three lieutenant colones. sixty eight majors 90
cauips ninety one Hrstlicutenanis. seventeen s'fo"
lieutenants, and twenty-five chaplains. The number
of retired officers will increase from now on ana
uttbin the next eight or ten years many officers who
entered the Army during the Rebellion from CIVIL
life will be forced of the active list on accouh, oi
age OF the GO7 officers now on the retired hSt Oh
the Army, only seventy saw service III the hepeho"
The new drill regulations Of the Army have been In
force one year. II was the Intention oi III" WAT
Department these regulations should be- revised ~
the end OF the first years ttnl. II has been impos-
sible I'm this short period, however, To make 'he
thorough practical test thought necessary to determine
their merits and dement's for actual services Further
and fuller experiments In field work are desirable ana
the War Department has issued an order oir'c'l"e
that trials OF regulations DE extended through an
nj her din seoson nj the end Of which period expires
sions OF opinion from officers on the advantages ana
disadvantages OF the system will be- considered me
reports Of companies ana toSt conhue,a "iv !" ,r
submitted to department commanders WHO VIII ~
ward tbrm with observations, to General ,choh'in'
II l. expected that many practical Suggestions IN 10
needed changes In the regulations VIII br maze Ny
Numbers OF the National Guard. who now use the new
system prescribed for the Army; , h ,,n
The attention Of the Navy Department mas again
bcen called TO the necessity and means oil DESTROYING
derects near the Atlantic coast Inc recon. w,rr .n
chart issued shows that In the LAST i've years 'ere
have been about 80 wrecks and IN equal NUMBER Oh
derelcts From other information II l. learned tnnt
the average number OF dcrclcts which cons,nmt!
menace shipping the Atlantic Is sixteen ana una,
experience shows that half Of them actually cnusr
disaster Before the loss Of the Despatch the navy
thai Ne,sI 10 10 DIOW