New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-27
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
Az ARMoR-PIATE INoUIRY-sIGNAL CODES
NAY BE IMPROVED-LIT'TLE ROOM FOR
WEST POINT GRADUATES.
~ TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

rny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
....,noton June 2s-Secretary Herbert has APP
- a speclal Board to inquire into the cost of
- Mate The Board is to be composed OF Leu
a'.", commander y. E. Niles and Lieutenant A.
.ckernlan. These officers have been summoned
=. telegraph to proceed TO Washington. On their
s,r,l they will have a conference with Captain
nnson chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. The step
- bought 10 be evidence of a determination on the
70. If Secretary Herbert TO prepare comprehen-
, report TO Congress on the armor question, CIV
;g the cost per ton Of paes in the s'veral thick
esses in which they used for Naval purposes
Far the new battleships about 5000 tons Of arinor
l be necessary. and it is said that it is the inten
,ion of the Secretary to compile table showing The
several thcknesses OF arnor required the cost, and
n make a comparison. item for item, OF the prices
here and ABROAD.
II IS confidently believed that the investigation viii
.n,v that American armor is superior in all re-
meets to that produced 10y foreign countries, and
that this fact must be taken into account in con-
nection with the matter of cost Pursuant TO pro-
vision in this years Naval Appropriation bill con-
tracts for for the three newly authorized bat
,Ie-ships be made until after the Secretary OF
the Navy has made report 10 Congress The Sen
ate. It will be remembered attempted 10 make the
limitation of of plates. Finally the COM
promise agreed to that no plates should be
contracted sor until Congress was further enlight-
ene1 especially in the matter of cost.
A Joint Army and Navy Board to investigate the
subec, Of signal codes has been organized The
BOARD is to met in Washington. Inc question of
signals for the Army and Navy is one of much i'm
portance 70 both branches OF the service as Is by
ths system that communications from one distant
pojnt TO another are received and sent For some
time the Army has followed one system. The Navy
another, and more or less confusion has resulted II
is now proposed TO bring about greater harmony
and if practicable. 10 have both services use the
The new join, Board is TO have as president Cen
eral A. w. Greedy. chief signal officer of the Army
ton Schroeder. Of The Navy and First Laeusnamt a.
vii. act as recorder Of the Board.
Ii is understood that the appointment OF the Board
is largely due to the suggestion of Captain James
Allen OF the Signal Corps, now on duty at Governor ;
Island. \ short time Captain Allen proposed 10
the War Department that some steps be taken 70 In
sure greater uniformity in the signal codes of the
two services For long time Naval Officers have be
tenn There has been no particular objection 70 this
plan by Army officers. but there has been feeling
that the military system was the better; Now; nov
ever the question is be formally considered by ne
prominent experts named. and code, uniform In de-
s sas h Is to be- looked for rt''' 0' N
The present Navy system is the modified Meyer
code which. in essentials. was formerly the Army
system. The naval method has three eleinents-Ino-
employed in transmitting messages; also different
eoored lights and whistle blasts The Army method
IS the Morse system. 1t is understood that Gencai
Greedy is favoaby disposed TO change
number OF important questions relating TO, the
Army await the action OF the secretary o; war
signments, the filling OF number of college details
the consideration OF the cases of Army officers
recommended for retirement and the appointment
of TWO captains be in the subsistence department
For this years graduating class at West Point
there but sixteen vacancies. There are seventy
three members of the class. The discrepancy Is
unusually large. Not in recent years have there
been so many graduates and so few vacancies. II
the Secretary of War acts favorably upon the rec
now before him there will be from twenty
10 thirty vacancies in the line. The addluonai
vacancies would he created by the retirement OF
officers OF various grades, who have been reported
70 the War Department being physically d.s-
qualified for all calls of duty. one OF the military
ject. Recently the Secretary OF war called upon
all department commanders for reports as 70 the
physical fitness OF their subordinates All depart
inen;s have replied except this one Il Is thought
possible THAI five officers in that depart mont VIII
be reported as defective physically. This would in
Thus under the most favorable conditions twenty
two of this years class would have 10 be appointed
additional second heutenants.
II is runored at the Navy Department that the
Minneapolis Will shortly be ordered home. Accord
ing TO the story. which is thought TO he worthy OF
credit the ship will leave the European station
soon after Admiral Selfr1dge falls In with the San
are current that the bottom of the Minneapoas
is slightly pitted. Whether not the talk Of
bringing her home is due TO this Is not known.
The ship aaS ordered TO Europe account OF the
ugly condition OF affairs in Turkey. As matters In
that quarter have quoted down, II Is likely that
the authorities of the opinion that the presence
of the fast cruiser is no longer necessary on the
European station.
Lieutenant Macklin Of the Marine Corp has ten
derei his resignation. and il has been accepted.
He VIII engage in important private enterprises IN
Philadelphia.