The National tribune., 1903-05-21
( WASHING -
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gWA WIZ
| CT Mackenzie. of the Engineer Corps
has hoped that there will be June rise
in the river. and if there is the monitor
can get back to the other warships in
time to be put through the Summer and
| Fall drills.
A~proposition which has the hearty ap-
proval of Rear-Admiral Taylor, Chief of
| the Bureau of Navigation, looks to the re-
vival of the grade of Vice-Admiral in the
Navy. 1t is not known whether Secretary
of the Navy Moody approves this plan OF
not. Secretary Long, when at the head OF
the Navy Department, urged that tour Oh
ficers be promoted to the rank of vice
Admiral Rear-Admiral Taylor bases his
recommendation upon the number OF
ships officers in command of the big
| sauadrons will have under their direction.
Since the organization of the American
Navy there have been but two officers OF
this rank Vice-Admiral Rodgers and
Vice-Admiral Rollins, both of them dis
tinguished civil war officials. Upon the
death of Vice-Admiral Rollins. about 10
years ago. the grade was allowed to lapse.
Several attempts have been made to have
it again created. but without success. The
most strenuous effort in this direction was
made at the time of the Sampson-Schley
controversy, when it was suggested that
a good way to settle the differences would
be to make both of these officers Vice
Admirals. This plan, however, was not
adopted. If Secretary Moody should in
clude such recommendation in his fortn-
coming report to Congress, it is possible
that the grade will be created and the
-, 20
First Serg't John Fogarty, late of the
1st U. S. Cav, has decided to have eN-
tracted part of an arrow which was
fred into his body by an Apache on the
edge of Death Valley. California, in 1861.
The arrow pierced the Sergeant through
the neck and lodged in his shoulder joint.
His companions pulled the shaft of the
arrow out. but part of the head remained
imbedded in the bone. He has had num-
erOus surgeons trying to excayate 1T dur
ing these years. but unavailingly. He is
now attached to the Army Medical Mu-
semum, and recently the wound began to
pain and burn. Someone suggested the
N-ray, and Fogarty submitted to it. AS
the flint has been located, it is thought
that an operation for its removal will not
cause great deal of trouble.
Historic Georgetown has a curious old
fence about one of her ancient homes.
When the English troops looted the city
in 1872, they burned, in addition to the
Capitol. great quantity of arms and
ammunition at the Navy Yard. Stocks
of rifles were destroyed by the fire. but
the barrels were uninjured. The thrifty
citizens of Georgetown sunk these bar
rels in cement. joined them together, and
small spike was placed in each muzzle.
An ornamental fence of considerable pre-
a. cfI
stands in an excellent state of preserva-
ton in front of three houses in George
town. - ~ - saxl&
There is a regular upheaval in the ar
tillery arm of the service. For some
time advertisements of the following char
aeter have been appearing !II%aig in number ;be
tenant of Artillery desires to exchange
with a Lieutenant of Cavalry or In
fantry. Will pay $500 bonus. Address,
etc" The cause of this advertisement is
the disposition on the part of Gen. Ran
dolph, Chief of the Artillery Corps, to in
crease the efficiency of the grade by weed
ing out all officers not well up to the
standard.
This advertisement has aroused con-
siderable comment. as the artillery arm of
the service is considered the very finest
in it and q great honor. Gen. Randolph
has concluded. however, to order rigid
examination of every man holding COM
mission in that branch, especially Lieu
tenants. A large number of civilians.
caught by the red-striped exclusiveness of
the Corps, had themselves appointed to it
under the reorganization act They were
absolutely unable to perform their duties.
Schools of instruction were organized for
their benefit. West Pointers were even
lf fIx,
drill, but these civilian appointees
''funked" horribly.
Since the fact has become known that
reorganization and wedding out is the or
der of the day, these civilian luIkheads,
knowing that they can't possibly pass the
rigid examination, are making frantic ef-
plebian, arms of the service. 1t is ex-
pected that the roster of artillery officers
will be considerably shortened, since
pull" whether social or political, has
been found unavailing with the Chief Of
the Artillery Corps.
DR.. s. n. D. North, recently appointed
Director of the Census, has taken the oath
of office and assumed charge of the Bu-
reau. succeeding former Gov. VIM. B.
Merriam. of Minnesota. There is weep
ing and wailing in the Census Depart
ment, as it is said that another hundred
clerks of the already small force must be
discharged. This comes particularly hard
during the recess of Congress, as before
those who receive their dismissal can pos
sibly reach their Influence" the dismissal
is an accomplished fact, everything is set
tied. and Congressional interference viii
avail nothing.
Word has come to Washington of the
proposed establishment in Manila of the
philippine National Guard" composed of
veterans who took part in the Volunteer
army during the Philippine insurrection,
and who have since made their homes in
the Archipelago. Col. Mccoy, leader of
the gallant troops from Colorado, and
present head of the Veteran Army of the
Philippines, is the leading spirit of the
movement. The plan is to form a regi-
ment along the lines Of the Regular Army
organization, composed of men who served
in the Army of the Philippines, now liv-
ing in the Islands in several capacities.
1t is the belief that there are sufficient
number of veterans in Manila to form
full regiment.
The kick that the anti-imperialists have
made over the alleged abridged" report of
Gen. Miles amounts to nothing. The War
Department announces that the report was
given out in full. That it was not pub
lished in full, seems to have been the fault
of the press associations and newspapers