The National tribune., 1895-07-25
ARMY AND NAVY.


Lieut.. Col George A. Pennington. of the Sd
Cav, was last week placed on the retired list o.
the Army on account of disability. Col. Pur
rington was born in Ohio. and appointed to
the army as Captain of tho 9th Ohio Cav. He
was in the volunteer service from 1861 to 1864
when he was mustered out rs Lieutenant
Colonel. lie was brevetted three times fol
gallant services in the battles OF the Wilder
ness Winchester, and Cedar Creek. The re-
tiremen: of this officer promotes Maj. S. NJ
Whiteside to be Lieutenant-Colonel,7 9TH Cav
Capt. J. E. Nowlan TO be Major, 9TH Cav. Lieut.
J.. S. Met ormick to be Captain, 18th Cav, and
Second Lieut.. S. p. Vestal. of the 9th Cav to be
First Lieutenant of the 9TH Cav.
The feet Of single turreted monitors that for
decade have been in keeping near Richmond,
will be taken to Philadelphia as soon as they
can be made seaworthy enough to get them
there. and the James River tourists will here
after m ss one of the most unique scenes of the
river trip.
For the last 90 years they have been in soak.
as it were, in the muddy waters OF this historic
stream. They are ali single-turret monitors.
bull on the model of the waspish craft which
fought the memorable duel with the Confed er-
ate ironclad Merrimac, in Hampton Roads, and
set the fashion for the armor-protected navies
of the world. The monitor feet originally
numbering Is vessels were placed in James
River to protect them from the deterjoratDg
effects of salt water.
When Secretary Herbert read the full &C
count OF the battle of tho Yalu River between
fleets OF the Japanese and Chinese he was very
much impressed with the fact that when some
of the Chinese ships caught fire there seemed
to be no way of checking the flames, thus rem
dering them ineffective and causing other
Chinese ships to suspend fighting that they
might 60 to the assistance of the burning
vessels.
Mr.. Herbert made inquiry into the subject
of making freproof the interiors of United
States war ships, and last week he witnessed
an experiment in the engine-room of the State,
War aud Navy Department building. The
representatives of company which freproofs
by electricity placed two pieces OF wood ia n
furnace. One of yellow pine was left in the
FIRE for FIVE minutes. When taken out it was
found to be slightly charred. The other piece
was Of ash, and 1T was left in for 20 minutes.
On being removed aud split. tho wood was
found TO be charred about half an inch. The
wood did not ignite, and the test was apparently
satisfactory in every way.
1t will be impossible this Summer to give
any extended practice cruises for the instruc-
ton OF the various State naval reserves. owing
to the TACT that the ships of the North Atlantic
Station must be at New York soon after Aug.
j, when Admiral Bunce begins his elaborate
program OF fleet eyolutions. Many Of the re-
serves have already had a weeks outing or
their own ships and those which have no
vessels suitable for work on the open sea are to
be taken aboard regular war ships in the next
two weeks.
Al effort will be made in the next Congress
TO secure an appropriation for vessel TO he
ego.ei 10 the use OF the State reserves, in
order to obviate the necessity of using ships
attached - the home station. Experience last
Sumner with the reserves showed that the sea
Il . was Of little benefit to the men, owing to
their being unaccustomed to the hardships of
regular sailors and the short time they had TO
pick up the routine duties.