The National tribune., 1893-11-16
ARMY AND NAVY,

RRMt SEb FfVIs
The President will send to Congress soon after
it assemblies ia December message requesting
legislation cxemptinR Col. Arson Mills. u. !. A.,
fr"m the provisions of a law which causes an
Array officer to lose his position in the military
service upon accepting civil Office under tho
Government. Col. Mills was appointed the
Commissioners on tho part OF the United States
20 settle the Boundary disputes arising over
changes in tho Rio Grande. lie accepted the
position couditionally on the retention of his
Coloneiey in the Army. and the suggestion Of
this condition eau%ed examination of the
laws the subject. Meanwhile Col. Mils's
appointment has heen con firmed by the Senate
and he will be obliged 10 await Congressional
action 10 ascertain his status.
After two months Of the most critical work
the heaviest nickel steel arm0r ever fitted in
the world has been successfully rounded into
the after barbct OF the battie-ship Indiana,
which is new nearing completion at Cramps
ship yard. The thickness IF the barbet will be
exceeded in this country only by the thickness
Of the side armor of the ship. The barbet is 80
feet in diameter. - feet high and II inches
thick. It's total weight is 406 tons, something
less than million pounds.
All work on the old Springfield rifles at the
Army arsenais has been stopped, aud every
effort is being made To complete as rapidly as
possible the new small calIber magazine rife to
replace the old pattern in the Army. It is
now expected that the plant will be in shape
TO turn out the new within month or
two. Meanwhile the Ordnance Bureau has
turned it5 attention TO the procurement Of
powder for the new rife. This must 10 of the
smokeiess variety. The Bureau officers hope
10 secure the necessary supply of this smokeless
powder in three or four months after the pro-
possis are opened, which wall be on Dec. q
The Bosrd appointed to witness the trials Of
the different makes of rapid fire guns. which
occurred ut Indian Head last week. have SUBJ
mitted their report 10 the Secretary of the
Navy. Three types Of guns were tried-the
Hetchkiss, briggs Schroeder and new gun
Invented by a Mr Sponsel. formerly an ON
poye OF the HotchkI.s works. The Board
finds that the Hotchkiss gun is slightly the
better OF the three. the Drggs-Sch roeder CON-
ina second aud the Sponsci well in the rear.
The difference in excellence between the
ii0iehkiss and the briggs guns, the report will
say, is so slight g to really amount to little at
all. Tie report urges strongly that for the
interest OF the service one style of rapid FIRE
gun DO adopted rather than two, which are
now in use on many Of the ships Tho more
types OF rapid-hre guns IN the service the
greater The necessity for improved appliances
on board 10 remedy any slight defec: which
may occur and 10 replace pieces Of the delicate
mechanism when they become injured.
That there will be no more appointments
from civil life to the line of the Army is the
decision which the President aud Secretary of
War said 10 have reached. There were "A
half dozen vacancies left over after last years
class from the Military Acadeniy was provided
for, and under the law The President has the
power 10 mi them by appointments of additional
Second Lieatenants from 2il lie.
That they much sought for is evidenced
by the fact that there more than 800 appii-
cations OH file in tbs War Department.. These
young men are doomed to disappointment, how
ever, for il is reported that the vacancies will
not be filed.