New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26
NAVAL AND ARMY NOTES.

THE MARIETTA FINE SEA BOAT.-Com
mander +. NJ. symonds OF the gunboat Marietta
has sent the following report to the secretary OF
the Navy regarding the creditabc performance OF
that vessel under severe stress OF weather: 'Coh-
siderng this vessels cruise to Sitka, Alaska, ana
return TO San Francsco-a distance of about thirty
three hundred miles-as In the nature OF trial
trip. and It has proved n most thorough ana
severe test OF her seagoing qualities deem IL my
duty to make this special report. II refers more
especially to the behavior Of the vessel in two
cyclones ono Of which was unusually heavy and
both Of which experienced on this trip from
Sitka to San Francisco. Departure was taken
from Sitka on the forenoon OF the 9Th inst ana
that afternoon. and during the 10Th and llth insts.
the first cyclone. with Ave shifts OF wind passed
to the northward and westward Of us. In ms
cyclone / obliged to Jay to sixteen hours, and
did under storm main trysail and staysal.
assisted by eighty revolutions OF the engines With
In fifteen hours after the first storm had passed In
dicat!ons apparent OF the approach OF an
other and OF more serious character. II not being
safe to longer. laid the vessel TO. with the
same disposition Of sail and engine power as be-
fore. but on the por; tack. The wind backed about.
Increasing in force, with heavy. confused sea-
tending to subject the vessel to a severe test as
After laying TO eighteen hours dee med 1t advis-
able. In order relieve the engines to stop them.
for a further period OF twenty-one hours. Under
these conditions received the main broad Oh
the deck. The ship proved 10 be a most admirable
seaboat in every respect. Although few Of The
extreme rolls to leeward much ~ de-
grees, they were easy not unduly to strain the
vessel. which was exemphcd by the fact that not
or .osses were the wrecklng OF the brass awning
and rail- stanehI s on The bow The loss Of one
guys, necessitatng rcptifs or replacing. Inc en-
NAVAL ORDERS. Secretary Long has de-
c!ded TO send Commander A. Ross from the Naval
Academy 10 command the Alliance January {. when
tina, vessel reaches Portsmouth. relieving Com
mander Nancy. who will receive leave At the
same time Lieutenant T. r. Greene. rom the
Washington Navy Yard. will relieve Lieutenant y.
J. X Patch as executive officer the latter going TO
examination for pr9motion
Naval station. Newport. X. l.. December q. his
chief Engineer H. :. Ross VIII be detached from
the Massachusetts January 20. ana is ordered to
JOIN ne san Francisco by steamer Of January T.
from the San Francisco on relief and return TO the
United States on TWO months leave
Lieutenant Rylsnd ID. Ttsdac. detached from the
Alliance on Two months, leave.
Lieutenant William -. Fletcher. from the All
Cadet. Thomas {. Hart. from the Alliance to the
Cadets II. Williams and o. G. Murphy. from the
Alliance to The iowa.
Cadet s stickney from the Massachusetts to the
Lieutenant William J. Maxwell. from the Column
bia 10 the Saratoga as executive.
Constructor r. r. Zahm. from the Navy Depart
ment to Port Royal. TO install new machine plant
Constructor J. j. Woodward. to Schenectady. y.
T.. 20 Inspect dynamo for ba,,le-ship. -, 49,
Ensigns De WIZ Bnmer and q. g. Mitchell from
the Puritan to the Alliance.
Paymaster II. o. Colby, detached from the In
diana. January p. home settle accounts ana walt
Lieutenant, J. H. Rohrbncher ordered a. inspector
OF ordnance Carnegie works; un"xpred leave re-
Paymas,cr r. Frazer detached from the Puritan
December 81 homo. settle accounts. ana ordered TO
Lieutenant IS. ". elmer. ordered to the Sara
lieutenant y J. x. Patch. detached from the Al
lance January I. examination for promotion Jan
Lieutenant Commander J. D. Adams relieved
from duty Nashville and Omaha expeditions Jan
Lieutenant r. +. Greene detached Navy Yard.
Washington. January 3 ana ordered TO the All
Commander II. y. Manney. detached from COM
mand Of the Alliance. home and leave Of two
Commpnaer A. Ross. detached from the Naval
Academy Ianunry and ordered TO command the
Alliance January {.
TURRETS OPERATED BY ELECTRTCTTY.-Scc-
rotary Long has accepted the proposition Of the
Union Iron Works San Francisco. to install cen
tral electrical plant on the baite-shp Wisconsin.
now building there OF the same character and ut
practically the same terms as those recently au-
,hor!zcd on the Alabama ana the Illinois This
viii cost flliDO. which includes an extra 3'o for
freight to the Pacific Coast. In addition to the
amount allowed to the Cramps and Newport News
The electrical installation will operate the tur-
rets and ammunition HOSTS Of these ships. doing
away with steamp!pes, with their attendant null
sanccs.
FLYING MACHINES FOR THE ARMY.-Two
novel propositions submitted for consideration
to the Signal Corps OF the Army this week for
the purpose OF facilitating overhead reclnnoitring
Both Tying machines In the most literal sense
OF the term FOR each suggestion involved the uin-
zatlon Of birds instead Of mechanical propulsion.
One provided for n team Of twelve storks. harncsscd
six abreast to "A small balloon. upon which the Of
ncer comfortably sts with his whip and relns In
one hand and his spyglass In the other. The sec
ond scheme provides patent chair equipped WITH
atiarhed 10 various parts OF the apparatus
third genius. who has apparently been at large Tor
some months has proposed TO the Ordnance bureau
a monster armorcd wagon with BODY about the
size OF tho White House. and broad-tired Wheels.
Ike n road roller. and of prepostcrous diameter.
This device Is aptly called an annlhlla5'r Machne
vcnient portfolios all over the structure. nozzles
kerosene point In all directions and the inventor
expresses confidence that one OF his machines IN
ether scatter It forever or mash officers, men.
cannon and all into the earth with It's terrific
wheels. This. he adds naiveIy' would save the OK
pense OF burial
TROUBLE AT SPRINGFIELD ARMORY.-
Colonel Mordccal the superintendent Of the Spring
aeld Armory has arrived In Washington. and has
been in consultation with the officials OF the War
Department respecting his conduct Of the affairs
OF the big Government arms factory. a strong
efYort IL being made In behalf of certain OF the
nloyes and former employees 10 secure the transfer
OF Colonel Mordcca to another post. but II can be
aaid authorltntIvely that such change viii be
made in the absence OF full inquiry. which must
satisfy the War Department that the officer Is
Justly subject to criticism.
BOOKS AND PAPERS FOR HOSPITALS.
The Hospital Book and Newspaper Society which
for over twenty years has distributed reading mat
ter I'm hospitals prisons and charitable institutions
of all sorts obliged for the rrst time TO ask
the public for money to carry on Its work. The
exnenses of the society have Increased as It's work