New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-14
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
IRON THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.

Washington. November g.
NAVY GENERAL sTAFF.-NavaI officers who
have been watching closely the development of the
plans for a general staff for their service are rot
surprised TO learn that it has been found necessary
to amend fl some material direction the project
which originated with Rear Admiral II. C Taylor
and Lieutenant Commander J. 3. Barnett, both
members Of the general board. ofhcers away from
Washington are described entertaining some ap-
pTehension lest the general staff Idea OF naval in
hHence and authority shall prevail 10 their detri-
ment- There is wholesome fear that the civilian
power viii be minmized. that the officers OF the
STAN viii be subordinated and that bureau indie
pendence VIII be jeopardized. This has led to i'm
ISIta3t amendment II the original Plan to alay
e--iS aIarm and as wei to anticipate the ob)ecuons
scheme is presented to Congress Secretary Moody
rs so fer succeeded in maintaining a uon-com-
bo+b L5uas a clsCreLon Whlcn mas gtfeu 70
-, I11 me advocates and the opponents OF the sys-
Daring. the Assistant Secretary OF the Navy, is
more Odtspoken He is regarded as the most in
~ go lng recently that this IS the day OF laeoF|,
change n methods and organization If for no other
tIi i taan that there may be change one VS.
stan as emnently necessary in the navy is the i'm
Mental Tee t0F SECRECY r TesaTfds as d3 70
pE5hcity Nothing so startles the Bureau Of Havi-
touched at bv cruising yessels everything has as
disclosed about target practice. it is only after
much deliheration as to the effect such publicity
VIII have on the plans OF foreign governments
SECRECY IN THE ARMY-The question Of
publicity is also attracting the attention Of the
General STAFF Of the army. and a plan has been
prepared which contemplates the designation Of an
army officer whose principal duty it shall be TO
prepare and give out such news to the press as
may be regarded a harmless announcement Of
the Transactions Of the General Staff The plan
has not set gone into effect. beyond the designa-
ton OF Lieutenant Colonel II. A Greene. the mill
tary secretary Of Lieutenant General Young. who
Is supposed TO give out information regarding the
General STAFF. hut who is invariably too busy 70
70 esta hehfrg aiv great system OF publicity comes
Sta1 who fear that any such plan would eXclte
the charge of an attempt to esIaO!lsh press cen
sorship.
NAVAL ORDNANCE OFFICER.-In the discus
sions OF changes in naval organization there Is
much talk Of the statement made in his annual re-
port by Rear Admiral Charles ONei chief Of ord
nance Of the navy. That officer said he had found
was difficult TO find officers trained in ordnance
duty, and an officer became quaIihed Tor
this work it was time TO send him back 10 sea.
Sometimes the officer OF special qualification was
ultimately available for ordnance duty and some
times it never seemed possible obtain his services
again Admiral O'Neil suggested no remedy. and in
personally explaining his remark he said TO The
Tribune representative that it was far from his
idea establish q separate ordnance corps for the
navy He favored rather some such plan was
entertained by the chief Of ordnance of the army
Known and Tried Gualidcation who had served say,
four years on the work, and then nave a snort
period OF about q year of duty on sEipboard. with
return at once the longer tour OF ordnance duty
ows through t6e Tarou5 s Grades including nat Of
captain. ~ present captains and commanders are
o. ls sd a. he o5riar ~ fPe CHEZ % ord
nance is echoed by the engineer IN chief and the
chief constructor
no MORE TEMPORARY SURGEONs-There will
be no more contract surgeons appointed in the army,
and no more acting assistant surgeons appointed in
the navy. There are $50 OF the former and about
twenty-five of the letter. Those at present in the
service viii continue until the expiration Of their
periods Of service, which are three years in the
navy and indefinite in the army Vacancies as
they occur will not be filed This is for the reason
that there Is no increasing demand on the surgeons
Of the services. In the army the withdrawal OF
troops from the PhIllPpnes ana lne a0anaonILeIe
Il unnecessary add 10 the list Of temporary sur
the regular commissioned personnel Of the medical
CORPS VIII provlqe me medical assistance neceS-
AN APPEAL IN FAVOR OF HAzING-The eff
fort to restore to the Naval Academy midship-
men Of three young men who were recently dis
missed from that institution for hazing is not con-
hned TO the Senators who have appealed 70 the
President in their behalf. This week the President
received the following letter on this subject:
New-York. November = 1906
Dear Sir: I trust you will modify 70 leave OF
absence-say. three mon,ns with pay--Secretaty
the navy OF three midshipuen Tor alleged tazng
In the name OF heaven. Is the punishment Of hazne
10 be equal that 0t treason IN time OF Nlf-lO
that Of Hale's Man Without Country FRESH
men, as q rule, ought 70 be hazed. same as was;
and some others. who would never have amounted
". II. BALLOC.
The President is inclined to regard the offence OF
hazins at West Point and Annapolis most serious
and as calm gfor severe punishment When the
1lueri-teudent Of the Naval Academy was IN
WarEf-g-on recently he talked with Mr. Roosevelt
and the secretary CT the Navy IN regard 10 the
rolirv 10 he pursued the academy, and Il was
agreed that L the general methods or discipline
wee uavailing the haZers should be dismissed, not
SO much as q punishment for those who violated
The academic regulation, but as warning 20
others who were inclined TO indulge n this prac-
tiCe.
A RELIC FROM NEW-YORK.-The War De
partuaent has received from William Clausen, or
No 81 Fifth-ave.. New-York City, the old flag OF
the LIST New-York Fire Zouaves- This was the nag
carried by the command in the Civil War, and is
the emblem which the gallant Colonel Ellsworth
replaced on the staff Of the Mansion House. at
Alexandria. Va. when he removed the Confederate
flag for which act ne sacrificed his life MI
Ciausen says he came into possession Of the flag
as 4 gift from Andrew Govan. who was treasurer
Of Ellsworth Post G. A. r. and the custodian OF
the rag Mr.. CiaUsen has documents 10 prove that
the nag is an authentic relic. and ne mas sen. IL
10 the War Department with the undefslaI4dlhs
that II shall be added the war collection II CLI-
Ium Memorial Hail. at West Point