New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-20
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
rFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington June "a
COAST DEFENCE MINES.-Coast artillery com.
panes stationed AT important points along the
have been designated as torpedo companies and
will have special charge Of submarine defence such
as the location care and operation OF torpedoes and
mines. The companies in time OF war will also
the batteries Of rapid fire ordnance, which
the submarine works. and will be otherwise
clusivey engaged on this important duty. The CON-
pany assigned to the work in the approaches to
New-York is the 18th Company OF coast artillery
commanded by Captain T. c. Buckley, ard
on duty at Fort Wadsworth There will be a COM
pany at Boston Harbor. one at the entrance Of
Chesapeake Bay and still another in San Francisco
Bay. The idea is a one and was suggested BY
the intricate construction OF the appliances Of sub
marine defence and the consequent necessity OF
employing specialists on the work. The incident
Is regarded as an illustration of the growth OF spe-
cialism in the army 'ArtiIlerists'' rapidly be-
coming arm OF the service which is quite ex-
elusive and the corps itself is now being divided
in branches which require special training
NEW TCRRET.-The model turret built OF wood.
with which to make certain experiments for the
better security OF gunners board American
ships IS about completed. II has been designed
by the naval constructors. and IS being erected at
the Washington Navv Yard in exact reproduction.
to dimensions. OF q Pinch turTet OF a battle
ship II is intended to reproduce the conditions on
board ship 10 ascertain what may be done
to effect a better separation between the turret
chamber and the handling below simpler
framing IN the construction OF the turret and
greater closure Of the fort around the guns. On
this last point the Naval Board OF Cons trcon has
been engaged for some months. il having been
pointed by Of the EXPERTS OF the service that
the guns IN the turrets were not sufficiently pro-
tected against the FIRE OF an enemy. If the plans
many radical changes IN tgTret design and a new
system OF gun mounting. The expense involved in
has stood in the way Of adopttng the propositions
sGomiJLed but siace Ine aecdenL on BOARD I me
toward the subject
ARMY COAL. TESTED-Ths product ct the gov
eminent coal mines in the Philippines has az last
been tested and lot o. one hundred tons has been
shipped 70 Manila give the coal further trial on
one OF the army transports. The mines from which
this coal is taken IS at LSuan. Batan Island and
japanese furnish the labor. The army engineers
are in charge Of the work. The trial o: the coal
made at one OF the ice plants IN the islands
and the instructions were to make a comparison
Of the coal with other material which had pre-
viously been used. The report Of the test says:
The Batan coal gives less and finer ash less and
better fame, reouires less stoSiHg and aIso con.
tains less dirt and less slate.
The report IS considered very favorable.
NO NEW HOSPITAL. CANP.-Thers will be no
tuberculosis camp at Port Royal. 5. c.. at least
until Congress passes on the project This use OF
the abandoned naval station at Port Royal has been
suggested by the surgeon general Of the navy. IN
view OF the which has attended the outdoor
treatment Of cousumptives at Pensacola Fla Ths
naval patients afflicted with the disease are found
to prosper quite as we'll at Pensacola as AZ Fort
Bayard. y. II. where the navy Is permitted 10
send a limited number OF patients for treatment
at the Army General Hospital II was hoped oy
Surgeon General Rixey that the department would
permit him 70 convert some of the substantia!
buildings or Port Royal unused for hOspN44
purposes. The patients would. for the most part
liyp rDfH IL Or IKE gag n
n farm somewhere near the coast 70 which naNA4
patients may be sent but. Of course. this VIII I r.
Quire n special appropriation from Congress. lhs
conversion OF the Port Royal station into tubeTcu
lOsis camp might be done department authorza--
ton. but Mr.. Moody desires await the action q
Congress before expanding any more money IN tltH1
quarter. The surgeon general accordingly WI. 3
do anything further toward the establishment
Of the camp for the present. but he will renew ID
recommendation to Congress IN December