The record-union., 1899-12-04

partment in furtherance OIL TINS OpJecl'
has recently had survey made OF
cable route from Honolulu to the Phil
ippine Islands, the route from San
Francisco to Honolulu having been sur
veyed some years ago. The Nero
which had been used as collier during
the late war, was thoroughly fitted out
and equipped for deep sea work at the
Mare Island navy yard in the early
part of the present year, and sailed
from Honolulu on the 9TH of May, via
the Midway Islands and Guam, to a
point on the east coast of the island OF
Luzon, where she arrived on August
LIST. having made S53 soundings. The
length of the route is Asp knots. The
reports received from the preliminary
line of soundings indicate that the route
will prove entirely practicable.
ORDNANCE.
The principal duties of the Bureau of
Ordnance have been the current work
of preparing the armament, ammun1-
ton and ordnance outfits for vessels
now under construction, supplying the
batteries to newly acquired vessels,
keeping the fleets and stations supplied
with ammunition, and in adding to the
reserve supply. The number of guns
authorized for the main batteries of
vessels has increased since the last re-
port by 2S1, the total now being l,O71.
Work on gun construction, gun
mounts, turret fittings and ordnance
supplies has progressed favorably, and
the armament for all vessels authorized
will be ready by the time it is required.
The general performance of guns,
mounts and munitions of war through
out the naval service has been excel
lent.
UNIFORM CALDER FOR SMALL
ARMS AND MACHINE GUNS.
Steps were taken in December last,
by the appointment of joint board OF
army, navy and marine officers to Sc
cure the adoption of uniform caliber
for small arms and machine guns, and
of a standard and uniform small arm
cartridge for the use of the army, navy
and marine corps. This board, after
very careful consideration of all the in
terests involved, recommended the
adoption of caliber 80, which is now
used by the army; and in furtherance
of this recommendation. which is be-
lieved to be in the general interests of
in securing additional small arms and
machine guns for the navy and marine
corps, will specify those of caliber 30,
and to use the same cartridge as the
army.
HEALTH.
The annual report of the Surgeon
General of the navy shows that the
health of the navy for the year has
been excellent. In the Philippine ISL
ands, where it has been necessary to
maintain a large naval force, every pre-
caution was taken to prevent the bad
effects likely to result from the climatic
conditions, and as a result high
standard of physical efficiency has been
maintained in the vessels in those wa
tiers. A naval hospital was establish
ed at Cavite, Manila, in a suitable
buildings, and was thoroughly equipped.
Suitable provision has also been made
for the care of the sick at the naval
stations at Havana, Cuba, and San
Juan, Porto Rico, where small build
ings have been procured for hospital
purposes and properly fitted up for the
reception of patients. Provision has
also been made for establishing a small
hospital at Guam Ladrone Islands, and
medical supplies were sent out on the
u. S. S. Yosemite.
The naval hospital corps authorized
at the last session of Congress has been
organized. and all naval hospitals are
now supplied with trained nurses, and
hospital apprentices are trained in the