New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-08
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
[rRoM TIE TRIBUNE nuREAu.l

HAZING MUST STOP.-No action is likely to b
taken by the House Naval Committee on the bill
restoring TO the Naval Academy the three MD
shipmen who were dismissed for hazing- one
proposition has been to place them on the register
as ensigns after the members of their class have
been commissioned. Even this plan Is opposed Oy
the academy authorities. mainly on account or the
law which provides that restoration 10 the ser
vice OF midshipmen dismissed for hazlnS shal
not occur until the expiration of two years after
the graduation Of the class OF which the offenders
were members. Any departure from this statute,
which was enacted on the advice Of the naval Of
fcals is likely TO lead TO another general outbreak
at Annapolis Captain Brownson. the superintend-
ent OF the academy. special legislation OF the
sort contemplated for the benefit Of the young men
who broke the well known rules against hazing
will be a serious blow TO the discipline OF the
academy. and will simply invite another out
break OF hazing. which has been stopped at the
academy" He adds that the restoration would
probably necessitate the dismissal of others within
the coming year" The effect OF the special law on
discipline at Annapolis would be bad. says Captain
Brownson. whose views are shared by the head Of
the Navy Department. Secretary Moody, IN bring
ing the subject before Congress. says;
Upon the foregoing statement Of facts II Is be-
lieved that the committee Will be able TO reach
e6Be2 t he qg s IR IN eas Of
kind is to obey the law It stands and that Con-
IN any given cases EXCEPTIONS should be made to the
operation Of the statute.
WAR DEPARTMENT UNCERTAINTY AGAIN.
Secretary Taft has decided TO withdraw his letter
to the House and Senate Military committees
tho subject Of military camp sites. dated March
%, and which submitted for the benefit OF
Senator Quares The Secretary acted the adj
vice OF the General staff where the view was enter
tanned that the money appropriated for camp
sites should not be restricted TO require its
expenditure IN any particular locality It was de-
sired that the fund 100000 be allotted and that
the department be authorized TO purchase with 1t
the land deemed best for military purposes. 1t so
happened that members Of the military committees
had been arranging the provision for camp sites
for come months and Rad decided the localities
after consultation with Mr.. Root. There were
numerous questions OF neighbOrhoOd interests
which were adjusted after considerable trouble,
and to have the whole thing set aside by the rec
Ommendaton OF Mr.. Taft to permit the use OF
lump without restrictions did not please the
military committees. He has decided to allow the
matter 70 stand as provided by Congress. The in
Cdent has led criticism or the General STAR
among members of the military committees, and IN
the debate the Military Academy BIZ the other
day Representative Prince. OF Illinois. predicted
that there would be all sorts OF trouble between the
chief OF STAFF and the Secretary Of War, the lat
ter being described sort OF chief clerk 10 the
General STAFF. Another thing brought out by the
CONGRESSMAN was the disposition OF the War De-
partment, the advice OF the General staff to ask
for general appropriations, instead OF anything for
specific purposes. There is n sentiment in Congress
which Is unfriendly to the General STAFF. and the
news OF this Will he somewhat gratifying to those
army officers who fear that the General STAFF Is des
tined to things with high hand. Nothing so
distresses the average army officer as the pros
pect that the AFFAIRS Of the service Will be conduct
ed By his professional associates