The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-23
NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES.

The prize-fring returns OF the British Navy
for last year have been issued recently. The
first part OF the report deals with the battle
ships carrying the largest Caliber guns ahoat
those of from 10 5-inch TO 10 2j-inch. Thirteen
such ships took part IN the ilriug which was ut
ranges varying from / .tOO to 300 yards, pass
ing the targets at the uniform rate Of speed
Of eight knots. The average Of hits was 50 per
cent. OF battleships carrying Pinch guns
eleven took part i'll the practice. The results
were identical with the firing from the larger
caliber guns. 80 per cent. Tho best firing was
done by one OF the battleships on the China
station and the worst by ships In the Channel
Squadron. Five battIeships armed with 10
inch guns made a record Of IS per cent. OF hits.
OF cruisers and battleNhlL~ armed with a,2-inch
and s-luch guns. fourteen competed, with ala
average result OF 81 Per cent. lnc~c results
are conf Tered Disappointing, as IL was hoped
the newer and quicker firing guns would have
shown better firing than the older and larger
caliber guns. The firing with the Ginch quick
firing guns at a limit OF 800 yards in n run OF
knots, wdS rs pcr, cent, which agaln was not
considered entirely satisfactory. The firing
on gunboats and sloops. armed with the quick
firing 5-inch and +-tnch guns worked out at
eight shots a gun in six minutes and the num-
Der Of hits for the 100 guns fired was 20 a gun.
The trials OF the +7-inch and t?-inch quick
tiTers at between 400 and 800 yards at twelve
knots speed gave l0.s5 shots a gun In six min
utes and 3.G n gun Of hits; an Improvement
on lnc previous year,
The two British cruisers Isis and Dido that
were suddenly ordered TO China from the Medi-
terranean In June last made the Journey out
In % days. 7 hours from Malta. including tho
time going through the Suez Canal. and three
stoppases for coaling, They loft Malta to-
gether and reached Hong Kong within six
hours Of each other, the Isis arriving first.
Their actual sea speed during the voyage Of
800 miles was 1913 knots per hour.
The details OF the reorganization OF the
French Superior Council Of the Navy have jus,
been made public. The members are ap-
pointed for two years. but may be continued.
They may. under instruction of the Minister of
Marine, make inspections at the ports and
other naval establishments, as also OF tho
squadrons and divisions at homo and abroad.
They will possess the widest powers and be
the delegates Of the Minister. and within the
limits Of their duties will have equal rank among
themselves, with authority over all other of1-
GERS, In case Of "A concentration OF squadrons.
any member Of the Council may he appointed
to supreme command, Every law. decree
order or regulation upon which the advice
Of the Council has been taken will be preceded
by a new formula, The Superior Council OF
the Navy having been heard but the Minister,
who will alone be responsible, will not be bound
by the advice Of the Council.
The British Government has decided on the
addition OF two British officers 10 the estab-
llshment Of each Of the native regiments Of
the Indian army The difficulty. however.
II to find a sufficient number Of properly quaIi-
fed candidates. besides the eXtra eyneusc
entailed, which will have to be borne hy the
already .Overbnrdened Indian Treasury As
this addition will lessen tho number of COM
missions available for native officers. il il
unfavorably commented on in native papers
The post OF COMMANDMENT in Chief OF the
British Indian army Is still vacant. the present
incumbent having only acting rank Tho re-
port that Lord Kitchener is TO be appointed 10
the coveted place has caused great excitement
in Indian military circles, and a movement hUs
begun in favor OF the retention in his place of
the acting Commander-in-Chief, Sir Power
Palmer, who's recent circular on the lessons
OF the Boer war has excited much interest on
the continent Of Europe as we'll as in England.
as he holds that they are not necessarily an
pllcable TO India and the possible wars that
may be waxed along its frontisra