New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-24
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
IRON THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
MTnnhlnnAnn Ian

]
the end Of the wholesale programme OF retire
ments and promotions incident TO a reorganization
of the army Three general officers retired TO-DAY,
namely, Generals Wallace F. Randolph chet OF
artillery: c. ]. Allen and T. 4. True BrigaoleF
General George L. Gillespie who has been for
several years chief Of engineers, became a major
general. and chief assistant to Lieutenant Generh
ChafIee. chief Of STAFF. Colonel Alexander Mac
kenzie became brigadier general, and also assumed
the duty OF chief OF engineers. General Francis D
Dodge became paymaster general vice Bates re-
tired. but being in New-York he cannot assume
his duties until Monday. Colonel william Il.
Dougherty became brigadier general, and reures
Sunday, giving place to Colonel William s. Nc
Caskey. Colonel John P. Story assumed the duties
or CHIEF or artillery, with the rank Oh Oilsau'0i
general.
NAVAL SUPPLY sCANDAL.-The House Naval
Committee is disposed to investigate the entire sys-
of naval supplies and the method OF accumula-
ton Of stores, especially at the New-York Navy
Yard Rear Admiral II. T. 3. Harris, Paymaster
General Of the Navy, has been called upon for an
explanation OF the practice OF his bureau, which
has to do with naval supplies and accounts. with
the idea Of showing whether the business methods
Of the Navy Department may be simplihed and the
expenses OF the government in the purchase OF
stores decreased. The Naval Committee has eVinced
much curiosity in respect to the naval supply fund.-
which is described by Paymaster General Harris as
a loan, advance Of capital. which is ultimately
returned to the Treasury although it Is admitted
that there is less loss by the deterioration
of supplies The naval supply fund was established
in 1888 with 100000 and it has been increased by
transfers of surplus from unexpended balances Of
appropriations in the Treasury. The sum now
amounts TO S2.700O0. and Paymaster General Harris
has recommended that It be increased TO 100000
Some impressive disclosures were made by Pay
master General Harris respecting the condition OF
accumulated stores at various navy yards. There
has been suspicion that the naval supply fund
has been employed in purchasing stores in such
quantities to lead to their deterioration, and so
constitute an extravaganza. Rear Admiral Harris
says that such criticism attach to stores
bought out Of the fund. but he admits that some
such charge may be against stock acquired out
OF other funds. He said there accumula ton
OF some classes OF stores in general stock which
would last for fifty years and would be worthless
by the time they wanted. He cited as an IN
stance the purchase OF a large quantity Of deck
plank. made at the suggestion OF the Bureau of
Construction and Repair on the representation that
this material would be scarce In few years, and
enough deck plank purchased 10 last the gov
eminent half century. He said that before the
deck plank used fully one-half OF IL would have
decayed and be unfit for He said the same
criticism might be made OF pipe and iron fittings OF
which immense supply Of Anticipated pattern
hand. and II sufficient to last fifty years
also. Another disclosure by the Naval Committee is
that no inventories have been taken OF these &C,
Harris estimated that II would take three years to
raSiSTor I o1 n ysTs inknoVEn nj the
Brooklyn yard. and Rear Admiral Harris admitted
that deficits IN these stores could occur with small
chance that the eoyernment would he able to NIX
the responsibility. Paymaster General Harris mas
made 10 cover all purchases He told the committee
present methods and enormous loss; that sup
plies when they come 70 be surveyed and sold DO
made by his bureau to improve methods or control
stores eKcites the opposition or other bureaus in tho
Navy Department
ARMY OFFICERS IN TRoURLE-A Nev-York
man. First Lieutenant George s. Richards. jr.. OF
the I'D Infantry is threatened with court martial
trial on hts arrival in San Francisco from the
Philippines. lie is passenger ou tho army trans
port due IN a few weeks from Manila and will be
obliged to answer the charge OF duplication Of pay
accounts Lieutenant Richards In the with
Spain was "A private in Company r or the 81 New
York Infantry and later first lieutenant in
the lolst New York Infantry After he Was mus,
a second lieutenant in the 6th Infantry and became
Ger 70 be confronted with like charge IIeuten-
on the same transport aud who il a brother OF
Christine Nilsson. the famous singer
THE CHARLESTON LAUNCHED The pro
tected cruiser Charleston successfully launched
at the yard OF the Newport News Shpbuilding and
Drydock Company to-day. heavy fog hung over
the river. and almost the ship struck the
water she lost 20 the view OF the several thou
sand spectators Miss Helen w. Rhett. daughter OF
Mayor r. q. Rhett OF Charleston, named the YES
Navy Department. After the launching the New
port News company gave a luncheon
MONEY FOR ARMY MANOUvREs A request
FOR an appropriation OF sl253s6 for field manpuvrss
for 1905 and Of 81 .255 i46 for the purpose
the year 1906 transmitted the House to-
day from the War Department. A communication
from General Chaffee accompanies the request in
(which he declares field manoeuvres OF great pro-
fessonal value. II IS the general scheme ne says.
to hold the manmuvres IN two OF the four military
divisions OF the country each year The present
year they to be held in the Atlantic and Pacific
divisions and In 1906 in the Northern and Southern
divisions 1t is also proposed TO increase the num-
of taxi from aFtN
the time is likewise TO be heightened
ORDERS IssUED.-The following army and navy
orders have been issued:
ARMY
Retirement Of M,ior General ALFRED r BATES and
q BUTLER announced.
Colonel RAMSAY y POTTS artillery corps.
artillery school and artillery district OF the Chesa-
Deake
Brlgadier General CHAMBERS MKIBBEN retired re
port to GoyernoT q PsTpsyiyania at Harrisburg for
Major BENJAMIN =. RUNKLE. retired. relieved from
Nev-Jersey Military Academy. Freehold
Second Lieutenant PRINCE a. OLIVER 5th Cavalry. 70
NAVY.
Paymaster P. Y. MoHUN sick leave extended three
months
Assistant civil Engineer F. II. COOKE, to navy yard
Mare Island
Assistant Ciyn Engineer c D THURBER to navy yard.
Norfolk.
MOVEMENTS OF NAVAL. VESSEI.S.-The fol-
lowing movements Of vessels have been reported
10 the Navy Department:
ARRIVED
January % Maynower. at Colon: the Raleigh. the
New-oreans the Cincinnati and the Albany. at subg
January 2s.-The Yankee. Kingston; Dolphin at
us6 M Manila NH Don I Sep a aus sa "a Aden the