New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-14
NEWS OF THE NAVY.
THE ERICSSON EXPECTED TO BE FASTER
THAN THE CUSHING.
SECRETARY HEREERTs PLAN FOR REoRGANiZ-
ING THE PERSONNEL OF THE NAVY
THE MARINE CORPS.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBr SE.'

!yy TELEGRAPH THE TRIBrSE
Washington Nav l3-The Ericsson. launched
yesterday at the Iowa Iron Works at Dubuque, II
she comes I'D TO contract requirements VIII be
valuable and speedy addition TO the Navy. Her
principal dimensions Length. l5O feet; breadtn
extreme, 1862 feet; draught amidships, 40 rect;
normal displacement, 12O tons, and Indicated horse
power, 1900. Her contract calls Tor speed OF
twenty-four knots This rate she is expected to
exceed very considerably. II the excess Is pro-
portionete TO that reached by the Gushing, when
was designed for 22.5 knots. and has made about
twenty-six knots, the Ericsson's speed would De
about 27.5 knots. The transverse system has been
generally followed in the construction OF the boat.
Special attention has been given TO the longitudnai
strength and stiffness by the OF intercostal
vertical keel and broad heavy stringer plates 10
reduce the vibrations caused by the rapid "orhns
of the engines the intercosta keel Is used to
connect the outer keel plate to the inner nat Keel
son. Heavy stringers. together with the coal
bunker bulkheads and the three-slxteenthsnch side
plating, forming large box strders on each side.
which are unbroken throughout the machinery
space and give the vessel extraordinary stiffness.
The armament Of the boat consists of one fixed
bow torpedo-tube, two diverging tubes on tram
ing circles aft. and four one-pounder machine
guns The tubes fitted to use the eighteen
inch Whitehead torpedoes. At the bow turtle
back deck Is worked in to cover the torpedo-tube
and loading gear This deck extends aft about
fifty feet and terminates In the coming tower.
The motive power Is derived from coil boilers. and
IS transmitted through two screws placed one
slightly in advance of the other. There are two
vertical inverted four-cylnder, quadrupe-expan-
sion direct acting engines. The vessel is far
behind the contract time for delivery She Is ex-
peced be ready to leave the contractors yard In
about three months. Lieutenant n. r. Usher will
command the Ericsson.
An interesting statement to accompany Secretary
Herbers proposition to relieve stagnation in
promotion among line officers of the Navy has been
prepared. 1t appears from the statement that of
the officers who entered the Navy between 1850 ana
1863 and who to be affected by the measure $50
are TO remain in active service and 100 are 10 De
placed the reserve list The probable future num-
Der OF officers under the reorganization scheme ior
the years named are: 1885, &c. 1896, go; 1897 6D;
1898 Gi2; 1899. GIG. and for 1900 G53. Thereafter
slight Increase in the number In the several grades
will result until 1903. when the normal number !Oi,
Is reached The showing as to the ages al wnicn
satisfactory except in OF flag officers. Cap
tans will not become rear-admIrals until they are
trement Captains will reach that grade when from
fifty to hfty-six years Of age; commanders, between
forty-three and forty-seven, and lieutenant-com-
manders when from thrty-nine TO forty-two years
old Ileutenants VIII reach their rank al me age
grade when about twenty six years oid Ensgns
VII pe at inc asg ~ uner he Sec
retarys proposition would be $1,000 This is chiefly
the bill becomes a law. and the increase in the
number by fifteen each OF the captains and com
the expense viii continue until 1915, when 1t viii
begin to fall In 1860 the increase will be s35 Oo and
In 1895 $685. 100 In 1910 II will be only $S2S00 and In
1915 1t will fall TO s53.Go0
Representative Meyer. a member Of the Joint Com
mittee the Naval Personnel has submitted an
important. and in many respects radical proposi-
ton TO the committee looking TO the reorganization
and increased efficiency of the enlisted force Of
the Navy 1t is proposed that the term OF enlist
instead OF three years. Sailors are to have all the
retirement now denied them but given by law to
men In the Army The advancement from certain
grades OF the worthy and efficient TO commissioned
rank is provided for.
The proposition submitted by Colonel Haywood.
commandant OF the Marine Corps, 10 the JOINT COM
efficiency Of the officers and men OF that corps
has been made public. Colonel Haywood recon-
mends that the active list OF line officers In MS
branch OF the service shall consist OF one com
mandant with the rank OF bryadergeneral. two
coiones two observation-disclosures. six majors. twenty
four captains twenty-rour first leutenants and
twenty-four second lieutenants. Promotion TO all
grades OF the line except that OF commandant.
which IS 10 be filled by selection. is to be by
lieutenant and second lieutenant are TO be pro-
NOTED TO the next higher rank arter twelve ten
but no Increase In the total number or officers IN
the corps Is 10 follow. Original vacancies created
by the proposition 10 increase from twe.ve 10 t"en-
y-fOur the number OF the second neutenanls are
TO be filed in the manner now required by law from
graduates OF the Naval Academy, who may com
plee their full OF instruction during the nrSt,
second and third years after the measure becomes a
law The number OF staff officers Is to remain the
same as now authorized. The adjutant and in
sn"c,or the auartermaster and paymaster are.
after thirty years service. 10 be promoted 70 the
rank OF lleuenant-co,one. To put the Marine corps
portance an increase 10 siXty-two In It's member
ship is recommended. II Is also proposed 10 Increase
shall receive the emoluments OF a second lieutenant
the second leader SO a month. musicians OF me
first class $50 a month. and those OF the second
class $50 monthly.