New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-19
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
[FRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington, December IL
NETWORK MILITIA INsPECT1oH.-The an
nual inspection of the militia commands In New
York will take place between January and May l.
and the adjutant general of the State at Albany
has been informed by General H c. Coroin that
he will hear further in reference to the matter
General Corbin has been instructed to detail or
fcers to conduct the examination, which will be
arranged at dates to interfere little as possible
with the militamen, and viii be held at the time
the state authorities make their insPeeoqS the me
tneF rounds, providing the New-1ork authorities
year BiaHk FORMS a md other Information viii be
sent to commanders in advance so that they may
know Just what Is expected or them
TROUBLE WITH cONTRACToRs.-The Navy
Department is having great deal OF trouble with
Its contractors. The builder OF the big drydock
at the Mare Island Navy Yard has submitted &
plan which completely changes the method Of con-
structing the dock at that place. The work is
more than year behind time. 1t has been found
necessary TO revoke the contract with P J. Carlin
OF New-York City, for the construction OF the sea
wall and power house at the new Naval Academy
at Annapolis. and to-day board OF officers. OF
which the president is Rear Admiral Fields, visited
the Naval Academy for the purpose OF appraising
the work done and that which remains to be &C
eomplished. The Navy Department has also re-
voked the contract with the Penn Erecting Com
at the IeasrI1a Island NavV Yard TRe value of
these contracts was nearly 100000 Arrangements
ties to build the work without going to the trouble
and expense Of readvertisins.
NETWORK DOCK-The experience the Navy
Department has had with drydock contractors and
the numerous delays the work OF constructing
ships and buildings at various points is somewhat
discOuraging It will probably lead TO greater care
in securing bids hereafter submitted and an at
tempt to conne awards of contracts to firms which
may be trusted to carry out the contracts faith
fully. It has been decided to open bids on January
20 for big drydock at the Brooklyn Navy YARD.
SO far only two bidders have expressed q
desire to see the specifications. which were drawn
by the Bureau Of Yards and Docks.
NEWCOMERS IN PAY CoRPs-Among the
young men who are designated for examination
with a view to their appointment to vacancies in
the Navy Pay Corps are two New-Yorkers One
is Robert P. Lupton who is credited to New-Jersey,
and who is employed in the Hanover National
sir66iere Who now lives at Ponce Porto Rico
and who belongs to NeW-YoTk family. HIS pro-
PROTEST FROM ANNAPOLIS-The Naval
Academy authorities have filed emphatic pro-
test against the restoration to the institution
midshipnen OF ]. F. Lofiand. OF Iowa; Joseph Z.
Little Of Ohio, and e. W. ChaFee. Of Wisconsin
These young suInmarily dismissed by
order Of the President from the Naval Academy
for hazing. This action was taken on the recon-
mendation Of Captain Brownson the superintend-
ent of the academy, who Influenced by the
determination OF the President to stop the practice
OF hazing. which had reached serious proportions.
The support of the President and the Navy De-
partment was promised to him. and when the
leaders were identified they sent home. An
appeal to have them restored was promptly and
emphaticaIly rejected by the President Now the
friends Of the young men at the Capitol have de-
termined replace them by means Of legislation.
and Captain Brownson has promptly forestaIed
such authority by letter to the Navy Department
which will be prepared and communicated to the
naval committees Of the House and Senate advis-
ing that the restoration be disapproved
and if possible pigeonholed- Captain BroWnson
says the return Of these young men to the academy
would be q great blow to discipline and that he
might well give up the attempt to control the
conduct Of midshpmen if Congress is to interfere
in administrative matters in this way 1t Is inter-
estng to know that the officials at Annapolis have
called attention TO the employment of influence IN
behalf Of the appointment to the academy of can
stand no chance Of becoming midsnipmen- The
have been reported as not up to the physical stand
ard have been admitted in the face OF that protest
mental instructions plainly the result OF in
members Of the House and Senate military COM
rnittees. The point made by the surgeons Is that
the physical standard should be ma IN as
the ae9 sbd oa Of thee Sd
SECRET MAPS.-The War Department is making
arrangement with the Geological Survey by which
the excellent maps made by the former branch
will include certain information OF advantage TO
the army. The details Of the plan have not been
perfected, but it is deemed an easy matter to OBJ
tain this information and place It on the prelTni-
nary maps published for the private use of the
survey 4he completed map issued TO the PUBIC
will not embrace the military information which
is regarded as confidential and which would be OF
especial value to foreigners.
ENGINEERS TO ELECT oF'FICERs,-Much in
terest is taken in the election which will be held
on December &c in the Bureau Of Steam Engineer
ing Navy Department. for officers and council Of
the American Society OF Naval Engineers. There
are three candidates for president, Rear Admiral
J. D. Ford retired: Commander W. B. Bayley and
Commander John K. Barton. The selection Of the
secretary treasurer rests between Lieutenant NJ l.
Reed, on duty in the bureau, ana Assistant Engls
neer r. E. Carney. retired on duty IN the once OF
Intelligence This office carries salary, the
Incumbent being also the editor OF the quarterly
publication Of the society.
DRUNK" DEFINED.-General II. c. Corbin has
contributed to official literature military defni-
ton of drunkenness in a rebuke administered to
court convened by his order as commander of the
Department of the East. corporal Of artillery
imbibed too copiously of ardent spirits. and was
brought before the court. which dismissed the
charge of drunkenness and found the accused
guilty. Of being slightly under the influence Of
Iiouor" and sentenced him reduction TO the
ranks three months confinement at hard labor and
sso forfeiture Of pay General Corbin in remitting
the confinement makes this interesting comment in
his Endorsement:
..s1iebtIV under the influence of liquor for the
Uord drunk in the specification laid under the
XXXVIIIth Article of War, and not guilty of the
barpe hut guilty of conduct to the prejudice of
good order and military discipline This is dis
elimination that cannot be saIely encourage IN me
Article OF The effect OF this article is TO en-
force that measure OF soorlety when IS essentIal 10