New-York tribune., 1896-07-26
ARMY NOTES OF INTEREST,

ARMY NO1ES OF IN IENESI
While enthusiasts on the subject OF aerial navsa-
ton are trying to solve the many and diifcut
problems that beset the construction of success
full airship, some Of the great Powers have been
quietly experimenting with the balloon as 1t now
exists in order 10 find whether even In Its crude
state It cannot be made an important implement In
modern warfare. Carefully conducted experiments
have proved that modern rifle balls have little
effect balloon. and that 1t could be practically
used at such height and could be 40 manipulated
that even with shrapnel shells II would be almost
impossible disable it. And now. not to be lack
Ing in modern developments. tho United states
Army is TO have two balloons One OF these was
purchased abroad. and the other was manufactured
in this country by Captain W. A. Glassford, OF the
Signal Corps. This balloon has a capacity OF 1900
cubic feet. and building is to be erected at Fort
ye ogn az a. mich ' as poesbe the Leakage Of gas from
the bag. That 1t is important to guard against
cost Of filing the balloon a single time is $500. To
provide for the filling of 1t two plans are sus,
the other is to carry the gas in a condensed form
nndeT nnS 9ef the wSIpsr HR of dree
Of important experiments is to be made, and IL Is
thought that this will be begun this fan.
The Army is not content. however. to increase Its
efficiency with balloons alone, but Is also expert
mentng with another modern machine-the bicycle.
The latest IN this field of experiment Is the
organization Of bicycle corps Of eight or ten men
at Fort Missou,a, Mont. to make thorough test
Of the bicycle as practical instrument FOR mill
tary purposes IN a mountainous country The
corps is under the command OF Lieutenant James
A. Moss, of the 9th Infantry, and the experiments
are TO be the most thorough and extensive ever
made on this subject In this country. These ex-
periments Will include the rapid conveying OF mes
sages to pests several hundred miles distant. both
with and without relays. and along the main road
and on mountain trails. the rapid establishment Of
olxA IND
trolling and reconnaissance and practice rides with
rifles blankets raions and shelter % nadng enis he rbe be-
experiments are 10 begin next month ana 10 con
Worthy feature Of the enterprise is that bicyc:e
repair shop is to be maintained where the soldiers
one Of their number who has worked for Ave years
In the repair shops Of bicycle mandatory.
The Subsistence Department has received from
the War Department permission to issue Its new
cookbook. 1t is interesting to note that appro-
praton has been made for printing several thou
sand Of these books for the use Of the m,ia. nj
tributing them 10 the militia
The names Of the non-commissioned officers and
corporals who wish to try the examinations for
commissions have now been published. There were
thirty-one in all who passed the rigid preliminary
examinations. but Of these afterward dropped
out Of the competition. So there are thirty eager
young aspirants left, who have been ordered up
for the final examination for shoulder straps.
When however one calls mind the nearly
sixty West Point graduates OF the class OF 50 who
are now serving additional second lieutenants.
the outlook for these thirty young men Is DARK;
straps.
The Army is now about COO men short OF It's maxi
mum Of 5000 but the enlistment returns for Juno
show a slight increase In numbers over preceding
months; 77e men were enlisted in June. as against
74s in May. COZ in April. 59s IN March. 431 in Febru-
nhar Ac an
interesting fact in connection with these figures 1t
has been pointed out that in most Of the months
the greatest number OF ennstments were at the
system OF recruiting Is working satisfactorily, and
the character of the men Is improving 1t 10 said
Some interest has been aroused in the coming ox
penditure Of money for the Improvement OF coast
defences The United States has three long lines
OF coast. much exposed but nsuffcienly pro-
tected. the money is o be divided between
these The Atlantic coast Is 10 have the largest
share Of the appropriation. the Gulf coast comes
next and the Pacific coast comes third. The work
will centre about the principal cities on the various
coasts, although Secretary Lamont declines to pub
lish list Of the places where fortications will be
constructed. Secretary Lamont himself has in
spected York % marbors military dsfsnccs ana
Craiehin. Chief Of Engineers. Among the i'm
bor is the building Of barracks and quarters to ac-
cornmodate fo IT batteries Of artillery Plans for
hsse nqdsS o fr 90 be evo.d s to "nd h n
work
board OF officers has just been appointed to
anime for retirement certain officers who have been
reported TO the War Department as physically un-
At for further active service. The board s 70
meet TO organize on August 10. Its president Is
Ma,or-Gencral Wesley Merritt. the ofncor In com
nand Of the Department Of the Missouri. Up TO
the present time ten officers have been ordered be-
fore the Retiring Board. Colonel Il. r. a. Crofton.
lieutenant Colonel j. II. Rradiord. Major y > u
Il. Maio lon Darling, j
and three captains and two first heutenants, IL T.
thought probable however. that NUMBER or othtr
officers VIII be ordered for examination before the
boards work Is finished.