The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
E1Y1L NEWS AND NOTES.
A Code OF Penalties Progress IN Ordnance
Matters and in Repairs OF ships.

WAsHISGToS, May 3O.-The army made
n great gain In its judicial system a few years
ago, when it established a code OF uniform
penalties for the same offences. Up to that
time the punishment a soldier might receive
depended largely on the temperament of the
court or commanding officer, and hence a
sense of grievance was often aroused among
those who thought they were dealt with more
severely than others. The navy will now en-
joy the same privilege of n fixed code. as one
has been drawn up and approved for its use.
Next Monday the placing Of the electrical
turret-turning apparatus aboard tho Brook
Ign will begin. 1t is judged from expert
ments made hitherto that it will work well,
but more will he known about 1T when tried
afOat. Next will come a competitive trial
between the hydraulic and electrical methods.
The electrical apparatus is to be applied to
the S-inch guns.
The first OF the fifty new Colt machine
guns ordered some time ago for the chips is
now nearly or quite ready, and will be thor
oughly tested at Indian Head. II it does
well a contract for eighty more is probable.
1t il thought that an effort may DO made to
test practically the relative merits OF conical
and cylindrical turrets for the hattie ships.
The former have been considered BY their advo-
Gates, among whom IL Chief Constructor lfich-
born. TO have a great advantage in their abil-
ty to defect hostile shots. A drawback al
legged by their opponents is that they do not
nllow sufficient space for properly working
the guns, and accordingly hitherto they have
not been adopted. Tie natter caused much
discussion under Secretary Tracy. who favored
the present system. The experimental turret
al Indian Head is TO undergo, tests In order to
snow nov. much the Impact OF u shell turns II
on It's rollers. -
Another, matter of soms dissens,on is in re:
gard TO the repairs for the Atlanta. Chief
Engineer Melville YVES strongly in favor OF
giving, her twin, screws In place of her single
jected to thS cost, as a great part OF The hull
aft would have to be practically rebuilt. 1t
Is understood that tho Construction Board
favored the Chief Engineers plan, but that
the Secretary is still considering the subject.
The alterations OF the Hanger have already
terry and repairs TO her hull and machinery,
sne Tiii have an eddit!onal deck, THIS craft,
old timers thai Is Likely to remain some tame
yet on the serviceab.o list.
Among noteworthy naval bills is that OF
quarters" on shlp6oard and the bay of SIS per
month for the first three years OF sea service,
total .er'.ce. Mr, Wellinut9n's bill makes the
lnsIrnctor OF workmanship q tho N"yal
gives the rank Of second lieutenant in the
army and OF Ensign In the navy 10 banumasters
In mo two services respectively, with that of
reglintntal sergeant and sergeant TO others in
The band, and corresponding ranks for marine
corps bands, But higher nay is given than
'"sN VI Wv OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OIlNfTb.
some d~ificulty has Eeen experienced In
SettlnR crews for the Massachusetts and Texas,
ms this is the season when good scamrn are
In demand for yachting. The same thing was
acted last year IN enlistmonts. The Mas
sarltusetts could go 10 sea at any time that
her men and stores were aboard. The official
report on her gives the highest hopes of her
usefulness, The lnsrectlon board found her
ssaworthiness and general efficiency excellent.
iier steering qualities IN smooth waters were
tested, and leave nothing 10 be desired, ex-
Gept as 70 the time OF putting the helm over"
When the Massachusetts has been In service
Tor a time, the Indiana, which will then
nave been thoroughly tested, may perhaps be
lad W, In ordinary. The system Of reserve
chips will undoubtedly he set in operation he
fore long. The places for LAYING up vessels
In reserve will be Brooklyn and League Island.