New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-22
ARMY NOTES OF INTEREST.

1.-THE Army and Navy Register gives an inter-
es.ng bit OF information for those VINO nave on
hand stock OF old undergarments which shows
how they may dispose of them to pecunary advan-
tage without selling them TO those perampuiatlhs
merchants who are recognized by the cry, odd
| rags any oud rags" 1t is said that the basis OF
one of the smokeless powders OF which Huch
has been written recently, and with which many
experiments have been made, Is gun cotton ana
that old undershirts play important part In the
making of gun cotton. 1t Is testified that the best
alncotton is made from old cotton undershirts and
other undergarments. Gun cotton Is made ny utat
ing cotton fibre with cold nitric and su.phuric acds
The compound Is then treated with an alka, SO that
its explosive power may be controlled, ana the gun
cotton thus prepared is then used In making smoke
less powder In other words. old undergarments are
treated with the acids and then the pulp IS treated
der fnst there be a tendency of owners of these
'old clio " to experiment in making smokeless pow
process Of manufacture is secret known only
to the maker If the new process Is successful men
explosion due TO their cas-oh garments ana TO be
K XIII IN taxes axe away the glory Of battle Then what
shall be said of the Peace Society members VINO
NAV through their undercothes, contribute TO the
dnath Of fellow -Inan? But this is speculation, and
the time may be far distant when opposing armies
will be found firing Old undershrts at each other
Mention was made in this column last week of
the recommendation to be made by the Board of
Visitors of the Military Academy relative 10 increas-
ing the number of cadets at West Point The report
Is that the President be allowed to appoint twenty
cadets at large annually and that each Senator, In
addition 10 the Representatives. be allowed TO name
one candidate yearly. This would increase the num-
Der to be appointed from 81 to 46s An additional
recommendation is that the standard OF admission be
raised and the Board sustains this recommendation
by describing m!nutely the quancatons ioI auinis-
sion the military schools OF France, Italy Aus.
tra. England and Germany The eVil. that grow OUT
of the maintenance of low standard OF admission.
the Board thinks. are perpeiuated throughout the
dency TO foster and continue the examining system.
The Board also suggests ha the VIVA 70 eSrk Sol b
Army to control and protect the water supply OF
proval OF all the cadets well very many of the
officers. is that which recommends that the game OF
football be continued under the present regulations
that is that the annual contests for the champion
ship between the Army ana Navy cadets shall not
be resumed.
1.-The Army and Navy Journal" sustans the posi-
ton taken'by The Tribune a few weeks ago against
the proposition of the Secretary OF the Navy to
have Congress pass law to compel civilians to
testify in cases OF court martial OF officers and
listed men OF the service 1t says with regard to
bin prepared by Judge Advocate General Leber. OF
the Army. TO compel civilian witnesses 10 appear
and testify before courts martial that II doubts the
better to suffer the nconvenience OF losing an oc-
casional witness rather than subject the Army to
81 n 10 the
sty OF subjectng him TO punishment II he will not
that results from the inability to compel civilian
testimony that justifies increase OF the hostile
criticism to which the services constantly sub
1ected for their supposed arbitrary methods"
The annual message OF the President seems to
have given opportunity for both Army and Navy
officers to comment upon IT, not for what 1t con-
tanned. but for what It did have 1t was con-
spcuous because IT failed to refer either service
or its needs. II natural that officers OF the
Army should watch for the coming of the message
with great interest because they expected that the
President would elaborate upon his recommenda-
lions Of last year In their interest. but not n word,
not even a renewal Of last years concentrations