The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-04
ARMY AND NAVY.

| Capt Charles A. Johnson. U. S. A.. retired
! died at his residence, 1924 @ street north west
| after brief illness from grip aud pneumonia
| Comrade johnson was popular in Army circles,
| having been in the service since 1861, when he
| enlisted in the LIST Wis He was promoted to a
Lieutenancy late in the war; aud at the close
of 1t he joined the Regular Army, in which be
served until Jan. 8, 1892 when he was retired
as Captain.
Consideration has been given lately to the
advsability of adopting the bicycle as means
of facilitating travel in the Army. The District
of Columbia has now an organized bicycle
battalion. WHICH is capable of efficient work.
The principal objection raised against the use of
the bicycle is that it would pot prove practical
in general service inasinuch as no wheel had
yet been invented which possesses all the re-
quisites to ford streams, climb mountain roads.
carry camp equipments and the like. Bicycles
are now used to limited extent in the British
army, but chiefly by non-c6mmissioned officers
on recruiting service.
The new tactics adopted for the Army con-
template the giving of commands ty whistles
under certain circumstances, Instead of by word
Of mouth. Consequently Infantry officers have
received a Christmas iBtin,ation from the Act
ing Chief of Ordnance that they are expected
to provide themselves with whistles at their
own cost The whistle will be placed in the
crosspiece of the sword guards.
The arrival of the cruiser Baltimore last week
at Yokohama gives to the Asiatic station the
finest flagship the United States has ever sent
to China The Baltimore will relieve the Lam
easter us Admiral Skerrett's flagship. the latter
returning to New York by the Cape of Good
Hope. With the Baltimore will be two other
ships of the new Navy. the gunboat Concord
and the little Petrol, built at Baltimore. The
withdrawal of the Lancaster will leave the
Marion and Monecacy the only wooden ships
attached to the station, and rs the Marion is
to be ordered home, and the Monocacy sold
for Junk it is probable that none of the old
ships of the Navy will ever be assigned TO that
station again. Two other new vessels will be
ordered to the station when they are ready for
comm iSsiou.
The New York's arrival at Rio will increase
the force of United States vessels there to five,
ali modern cruisers, the greatest number of
United States vessels assembled at one point to
protect American interests since the civil war.
The Charleston. the Newark, the Detroit and
tho San Francisco are ROW there. 1t will take
the New York about II days to reach Rio Ja-
metro. Rear-Admiral Benbam, who will as
sumo command of the United States naval
forces at Rio on his arrival, will retain his flag
on the San Francisco, but it is likely that on
the arrival of the New York she will become
the flagship of the South Atlantic station.
1t seems hardly probable that much general
legislation for the Army. on tside of the rontine
supply bills will he accomplished at the pres
emit session of Congress. although several in
teresting measures have been introduced. One
bill has already been knocked On the head by
an adverse report, namely. the bill for the
creation of a reserve list, composed of officers
who have resigned from the service. The re-
pert on il was rather novel in terms, but really
very sound: No specific objection has been
urged against the proposed legislation. but no
reason Is sufficient in tho opinion of this COM
mittee to justify such innovation"