New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-29
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
IrRoN rHE rRrrusr Brrr.r.l

Washington. November IS
ARMY STAFF DETAILs.-There is dif-
ference OF opinion in the General staG OF the Army
concerning Jne efficiency CT the system OF detail
inr line oficels for duty IN the star corps. The
third division of the General stan. which has 10
do with technical matters. recently sent 10 Lieu
tenant General Young. Chief o. stan. memo
-an6um in favor % a return 10 the system or
pernaneut personnel for those branches OF the
STAT CORPS IL which the vacancies are now allied
~ detsi.s from the lire. while this recommenoa-
,ton related specifically to the ordnance Depart
-neut where uiere are now nineteen vacancies.
and 70 The sigual corps. where ten % the twelve
sacSaoies we're Allied ~ arbitrary detail. il was
-callze5 that he document was a plea for return
- he old methods. General Young was expected
- give has approval TO the project and pass IL on
20 the Secretary OF war In the hope that legisia-
non might be secured 20 accomplish the desired
o-5er Of things. General Young has disappointed
;he advocates o. the scheme and has failed 70 add
;he weight Of his influence 70 the plan 10 furnish
"a permanent personnel for the STAFF corps again
The situation is serious say the older oiicers
az the star General G-eeiy chief signal officer Tor
instance lnds that OF the ten Ultcers recently de-
tailed for GuJy 81 his corps. only one has had any
signal corps experience. ana that as an enlisted
MAI some years ago. The others q thls years
class OF the General Service AID StaE Colege. and
while they ane officers. they CO not possess me
technical Qualifications necessary in signal corps
cflcers. They must continue 10 depend on the En-
lsieG men anoer them VINO come 20 Know more
q the technical duties of the corps than tae Of
OF duty with the CORPS II the nav Department the
detailed officers fnC themselves handicapped by a
ual" containing the numerous and varied ratings
q The Controller and the courts. az bearing vitality
OF the worE OF army payDasters. departure from
j las been found resesssr5 10 nl.T-afr force OF
zion a. Washington. with view to helping out
u.ar paymaster was able Z giye his clerk point
- ~" ele ciefk Goes NE "ctA lal6e-., Mi-lle
rDenI is most UrEallsfacror in all respects save
Tor short perio6 n 5eer Iae - dee.Te 10 &C.
vote his tine 70 studying regulations which con-
SOLAR ECLIPSE EEPEDITION.-The Naval
Observatory is planning 10 observe the total solar
eclipse OF August 30 OF next year. and Il has been
recommended that $500 De appropriated by Cor
Eress 70 equip one Of the vessels OF the European
station for THIS purpose. This plan is believed 70
be more economical than one for fitting out \
special expedition. The best place 70 make the
observations Is in the Spanish peninsula. and the
astronomers OF Spain have extended 70 those Of this
country 9 cordial in7itatica 10 establish oosery-
s-.o-.es Ior b24t ~. pose sLe oosetN4to peoL-e
ship chosen for the expedition employed on the
scrurnents 10 replace obsolete and worthless ma
teriai. which wGs Constructed Tor the transit OF
Venus expeditions IN lS,s and lSS2
NAVAL HTDROGRAPHy N NEWBORN
Lieutenant Ridgley Hunt. retired. in charge OF the
branch autographs Office IN New-york has con
tributed the official literature gathered by Com
-ander SouIherland chief photographer. in sup
po-r OF the system OF maintaining hydrograp hlc
Offices under the command o. naval officers Lieu
tenant Hunt says:
There can be no doubt that che fact that the
ofice naval institution. under the command q
naval officer Is The underlying reason for lis pop
Cl1-l-y aLc ESetulE ass SoaIler. ship chaTtcrers,
insurance men. steamship managers and agents,
and al sorts and conditions Of men connected. even
remotely. with the business or pleasure Of The
consult this off, &c. wei assured that they VIII re
given fCl free and iltel sent morn alton stripped
- any Interior or pclt cal OF personal motive The
mailing and OVERLAPPING OF meteorological data Is
tHe least important duty this Office is called upon
perform. Il is the representative of the
navy that the opinions q the ONCE have weight
ana therefore men are Induced 70 come here il
search % advice. assistance and Information. There
Jealousy Of or knowledge. no alLagolIsIIl o.
or methods. 10 apprehension q Our advice
Nothing further has been heard OF Secretary
MooGy's plan 10 transfer the TIyd-oE-aphic Once
10 civilian control l. is understood that he cher
ishas The i6ea OF taking that Office and the Naval
Observatory from the Bureau O. Equipment and
placing them under his Own of7-e. IN anticipation
~ legislation which shall also transfer the Coast
AID GeOcetlc Survey 70 the Navy Department. L
seems LAe-- LlEt naval O-lCers Wal remain IN
charge u TIE branch % c-ls-4ptlc Offices, so lar
as Tie services % such officers can De obtained
TIE demand on the commissioned personnel The
active list is too greet. however. 20 spare for this
C-tF 1l-y clIccr Who is abe 70 20 70 sen. Ind the
services q ree1 Ca1tTs axe not always available.