The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-02-22
ARMY AND NAVY,

Mr.. Holland, the Inventor OF the submarine
boat bearing bis name, has been collecting data
at the Navy Depnrt Hent, based on the plaus of
the torpedo boat Gushing, with giew To its ap-
plication 10 the mechanism of his peculiar
craft. 1t is probable that strong effort will
be made to have Congress provide again for the
construction of one of these submarine beats,
notwithstanding the Department 8 dccl iDaten
to avail itself of the appropriation made III the
last Naval bill for that purpose. After care
fully inquiriDg into the plans for a submarine
boat which were submitted to the Department
last Summer. Secretary Herbert decided that
this type of boat was not yet sufficiently per-
fected to warrant the expenditure o! the APP
preparation.
The friends OF the Navy among tho Senators
and Representatives insist that appropria-
ton shall be made at this Congress for u slight
increase in the number Of now ships 1t is not
likely however. that the House will take tho
initiative in the matter. The House Naval
Committee believe that il would be injudicious
their part TO make an appropriation for this
purpose in the ANIMAL appropriation bill, but
that this will be done by the Senate Committee
when the House bill Is sent to that side of the
Capitol. 1t is expected that the Senate will
provide for one armored cruiser and several
torpedo beats.
In a little over one year tho Navy will have
purchased and received over $ll COG. 600 worth
barhets, turrets, side armor and plate arnor,
coming towers and, N fact, everything for
which armor was necessary in constructing
the new ships of the Navy and those under
way. Two firms in the country have furnished
the entire lot-the Carnegie Company, at Pitts
burg, and the Bethlehem Company.
Capt. Alex. McDougail, of West Superior,
Wis, recently caused plans and specifications
of a whaleback warship to be secretly sent to
his address at Washington. Since the designs
have reached him he has had frequent meet
irgs with Secretary Herbert, Of the Navy, and
the result is that a commission has been ap-
pointed to examine aud report upon the ad-
visibility OF constructing man-o war on the
whalcback principle, or remOdeling one of the
old ships. for use on the great lakes. Capt.
McDougalls plan is to construct one or more
merchant vessels of the whaieback design and
equip them with armor and guns, the vessels
to ply upon the lakes as common freighters
under subsidy of the United States Govern
ment.
An 1i!-inch steel plate, representing the
barbet armor of the monitor Monadnock, was
tested at the Indian Head proying-grounds the
other afternoon, and withsto0d the standard
attacks of two 250-pound prOjectiles from an
eight-inch rife, thereby insuring the accept
ance of about 300 tons of armOr, valued at
SlS0000 The plate was made OF nickel steel,
and was not Harveyized. IL WAS made by the
Carnegie Company The first sample plate
submitted by This company did not stand the
test.
Lieut. Col Geo. B. Dandy, Deputy Quarter
master General of the Army, was placed on
tire Retired List Of the Army on account of
age. His retirement will result in the pro-
motion of Maj. james ellis to the grade of
Lieutenant colonel. and of Capt Charles r.
Barnett to the grade Of Major. and will leave
a very desirable vacancy in the list of Captains
and Assistant Quaifermasters Tor the President
to fill from the outside,