New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-10
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
ppopOsED CHANGES FOR LETTERING
THE CONDITION OF ENLISTED MEN.

m
FI1LED-PRoMoTIoNs FROM THE RANKS IN
THE ARMY TO BE MORE NUMEROUS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.)
Washington Sept. 9-The military authorities have
4, contemplation severa changes of Jaw and regu-
l,,ion affecting the enlisted men Of the Army. Some
A. the propositions important. All have in view
,be bstierment OF the mems condition. Pracca. ex-
nsrence has shown that much of the recent .es!s
iation Of Congress has failed OF It's object. and in
few instances. at least he reverse OF the expected
,s,ults has followed. This also be said OF many
regulations issued from the War Department in pur-
.aance Of law. Besides the contemplated changes
crsyiousiy outlined in these dispatches. the repeal
a the Retanel-pay law and modification Of or
hrs concerning ,he purchase of discharges. delb-
ration the part OF the authorities at present re-
htes TO the abolition of post schools and general
messes Post schools have never been satisfactory,
.rher 10 commanding officers or the men, generally
making. Under the law they were established 50
that the soldiers nigh, be laugh, the rudmentary
hrsnches In a.. the schools English was taught
The men resented the idea Of attending. Those who
couM not read and write sensitive about their
deficiency, while the officers were arrayed against a
sv.,em which made 1t necessary for soldiers 10 un-
dergo any such preliminary instruction The new
enlistment Jaw provides that all recruits shall read.
write and speak English and the feeling In the Army
seems 10 be tina; the necessity Of the present Jaw
a passed. Secretary Lamont is expected 10 ask
congress 10 repeal the Post Schools Jaw. or make
less rigorous the regulations relating 10 attendance
by soldiers
contention In military crc.cs. Commanding ofncers
anpear 10 fayor the system. while captains AMI sub
alterns want the company messes 10 De re-estapshed
throughout the service. II is urged against general
messes that they organized for peace condi-
lions whereas system which would meet az the
emergencies should be In force.
oft Donnr
shortly 10 be filled. and there Is much speculation
among naval officers who will be selected for
the duties AS stated In these dispatches. the Min
neapols olympia. Boston and Marion Will be ready
10 be put into commission by November J. II Is
concerning the selection of captains of these vessels
that speculation is going An officer OF the grade
NJ captain will be assigned 10 the Minneapolis. and
fot the position there are number OF available
officers Those most prominently named Tor the
duty are Captain F.. NJ. Shepard. commanding the
receving-shp Minnesota: Captain H. c. Tay.or
presdent Of the Naval War College. and Captain
G. II Wadleigh. inspector OF ordnance at the Hos
.on Navy Yard. Captain Shepard Is the senior Of
the three He has had no sea service in his
present grade. having completed his last cruise as
commander IN 1891. His Of three years on the
Minnesota vii! not expire for some time. Neither
Captains Taylor nor Wadeigh mas had any service
afoat since promotion
In view OF the nature OF their present duties. the
probabilities seem point TO Captain Wadeigh as
the officer to be selected for the swift cruiser. He
is regarded as a thoroughly efficient officer In
,erest in the selection OF the Oympa's captain is
OF special nature. Next TO the New-fork that
vessel will be the most important command Of the
completed vessels afioat. She Is fast: carries a
heavy battery, and in service Is expected 10 make
good showing Captain Read. commanding the re-
ceivng ship Independence. Is supposed TO be her
first commander lie has recently been promoted
His presence on the Pacific Coast Is in his favor.
ypl attaching
selection For the Boston Captain Crowinshied'
who has applied for the sea service. is mentonen
most prominently. His last sea service was on the
Kearsarge. shortly before that vessel was wrecked
As captain OF the Marion Commander lde VINO COM
pleted his last cruise in 1882 and Commander Stock
ton who was last afoat in 1884, are spoken Of
This weeks Army and Navy Register" publishes
some interesting information relating 20 promotion
from the ranks in the army Under the law nom
Commissioned officers and prvates may become
Commissioned officers upon passing prescribed ex-
aminatons. Recently large number OF intehiseh'
young Americans. OF high social standing. have en-
tered the ranks with the hope OF becoming second
leutenants. The sons OF number OF ofrcers OF the
army have, also enlisted with the same object IN
view Reports are in circulation that many OF these
asprans are 10 be disappointed. and that hereafter
there Will be very few advancements from the
ranks Concerning these reports THE Register
says in part:
An examination of the records relating to the re-
consjdera,ion the casualties which will occur from
other that TINS TEN yeW o, tn is from
September. 1894 10 September lW4-there VII! De an
n uissoned grades Of the Army The number win ex.
coed 800 This means an average 81 my 'rob.bs
that the West Point graduates Of each year VII ex-
eeed Nifty From casualties suSh as 1ea mber ' Of
vacancies Will be twenty I'VE: OF these twenty,hys
sseen or twenty will be illed by commissioning en-
listed men. This would stl leave fve or zen vaca n
f from civil lie Altogether: therefore. we should
cay there good reason for discoutagng tne EN-
the hope o OF getting commissions. OF course. some
Of this Sass Will meet with apnpmay get their
shoulder straps In few years when the ret .i
s ne o very large number OF oficers who now
nearing the age OF sxty-four the vacancies IN G,e
merous' and during that period an unusually large
plumber Of appointments from the rahAS c"' I've
counted upon.
Reports 10 the Navy Department show that prog
ress in the way Of naval construction has reached
the point where monitors are nearly read! LOT
service. The Terror. OF $500 tons oisp'aceme''
mounting four I0-inch breechoadng rines. Is e*-
pec,ed TO be completed within month or SIX weeks
According TO reports received at the Naval bureau
Of Ordnance all Of the vessels armor has been oe-
lvered at the New-York Navy Yard except the
sighting hood Tor the coming tower Inc p's guns
and mounts are In place. The secondary oat'erS'
which can be fitted In short order. 10 READY ~ oe
put on board The machinery is ready TOT uial
and good results are expected from the engines and and
boilers Construction work IL somewhat peninu Uut
Commodore Hjchborn who has great faith IN the
monitor type as defence vessels VIII max ~, an
speed in his department as circumstances VIII VA
rant Some slight DELAY may follow the lnstalla,on
Of the ae system on ihe Tsrr SorfoR ought
TO be ready soon after the Terror. She Will prove
a valuable adjunct the shore defences OF the
country She is of 1920 tons Displacement wiz"
speed OF about twelve knots. Her turrets are ~
inches thick. and her barbettes IA incnes IA ,n
inch raRidre guns besides heavy sespmaSfy unSe
lyered the coming tower plates. which are 70 De
Harveyzed being the principal exceptions; me
ug guns in place. and the siiAheI 'i"e' NV
ready 10 be mounted