New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-24
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
IRON THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

IA washington are greatly interested IN the result
OF the inquiry beng made into the project of power
plant consolidation at the leading navy yards. 1t
was expected that the department would by this
time have received the reports on the subject from
the commandments of the navy yards, to whom was
referred the opinion OF the civilian experts who
visited the yards and advised the Secretary Of the
Navy that it would be advantageous to the govern
nent If the power plants could be consolidated
There is great opposition to such a project, espe
caIIy on the part OF the chief constructor OF the
navy. The bureau chiefs in Washington have sub
mitted their opinions, and all but of them, the
chief Of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, are
of departments At nav ards for comment and
this will delay the reports from that quarter for
some weeks 1t is intended, however that the
ent session, and effort will be made to have
provision IN the annual appropriation bill for car
ment now has an appropriation of SS0oO0 for this
the government to do part of the work and confne
the project TO some of the smaller navy yards. 1t
is probable that the consolidation idea will be put
IN operation first at some such yard Portsmouth.
end is regarded by its advocates as an economical
measure. is placed at $l25G,000
POPULARIZING ARMY COMFORTS-The Sec
re%ary of War has approved the recommendation Of
the quartermaster general of the army in favor
of selling surplus ice made by the ice plants at
garrison posts Of doing laundry work for other
branches of the government at such places as
Manila, and Of selling electric power and light to
villages ana small Towns WuST5 Ihers are no Sucl
plants from the electric plants at artillery posts
along the coast There Will be some objection TO
this it is realized in the War Department, on the
ground that there is possibility that such dis
posal OF governmental facilities will interfere with
private enterprise, and before the military com
mlttees provide for carrying out the idea there
VIII be a thorough investigation into the subject.
1t is held by the quartermaster general that there
rounding neighborhood and wheTS it will be profit
able 10 the EoVerIneIt to sell zee Inade oE me
government ma mines, the ftnd so ueilEed 70 60 10
the credit of the appropriation out Of which TIE
work done by the army laundries might just as
well be extended to the transport service There
is not much objection to this project in the
Philippines, but it is realized that at home there
Germs if the artiileTy plants sold light power
10 adjacent towns
NAVAL BULLS-EYE PRACTICE Arrangements
are being made for the record target practice Of
ships of the combined fleet in Southern waters
Target gear to be used in the firing or heavy guns
on the range has been shipped from NewYork TO
Pensacola. The heavier vessels of the command will
do this work in Pensacola Bay and the ships draw
ing eighteen feet or less will conduct their practice
in ST. Joseph's Bay. where the favorable conditions
of sea and weather Will permit more uninterrupted
practice Of the ships Of the Pacing S4padIp6n WIZ
the Asiatic fleet viii have their target practice in
Manila 6ey or c Ss 5 a E az S 6epsTmen is also
awaiting reports from the boards which have been
f5rget PrsciSs With small arms It is necessary to
obtain places remote from the thckly settled por
ships one of the most available sites is that on
the Patuxent River. in Maryland.
ARMY BIRDS EYE SCHEAIES.-It has been de-
cded the army balloon IN the joint
army and navy manruvrez on the Chesapeake
These balloons have been shipped 70 Omaha where
il is intended establish big signal corps train
ing post There will be two three balloon trains
Where they may he needed either in time of
ranCeuvres or in the event Of actual hosuHtes;
There is difference Of military opinion IN regard
10 the value OF the balloon u : realz IaL LIfe
are yan9s OF s from gTsaf 6e E
nut there Is more or ess eosJ If en-
reason and for want of regular funds for expert
dezotea pitsef to more Drohsbie facilities for
servation and communication
FOR THE GOOD OF THE SERVICE judge
advocate Of tie army is engaged in the preparation
of charges to he brought against three army
officers one is Captain a. Il. Martin who will be
e9 a 18th q infantry. who is Charged With dupca
ton Of pay accounts ana VINO VIII pc tTed at ne
Preside Of san Francisco; the third Is captain
George W 5rkman 9Th dFfa1tgy who is Is G g
be tried at Fort Jay, on Governors Island.
DISMISSED FROM THE ARMY.-On the recon-
mendation Of Secretary TAFT, the President to-day
approved the sentence Of dismissal imposed by
court martial in the case Of Captain John w. l..
Rhps c OF HS Of Hpcaton Of pay accounts
financial irregularities and other NioiaH9ns OF Inc
charges. containing seventy-siX specifications
A PAYMAsTER CONVICTED.-Major Harry
7. Rees. paymaster has been sentenced to dis
Tnissal from the service as result OF charges
brought against him Portland. Ore. his home
and station. Major Reese. II is said. drew checks
on banks where he had no funds, contracted bills
which he failed TO pay, "doctored' his official &C.
55 II into the treasury and had other habits
complaints with the authorities, Major Rees was
I The paymaster general Of the army. found guilty
and sentenced TO dismissal
ARMY OFFICERS DEBTs.-An opinion by the
Judge advocate general IN regard TO claims against
army officers given out at the War Depart
nent to-day. with the statement that the views
expressed may be expected to govern the atti-
tude Of the department. The judge advocate points
nut that the department IS not collection agency,
and that in matters of private debt army officer
stands different plane from any other person.
agents to determine If an Indebtedness exists: ana
0hijqa+ion bv an officer threatens scandal to the
service does It become proper for the military
authorities TO consider the case.
ORDERS IssUED-The following naval orders
have been issued:
Commander " L. coTTAiAN. detached the Wyoming;
home and await orders.
Commander J. E ROLLER. detached navy yard Norfolk,
January 10. 10 command the Wyoming
Payuaster 7 J. ARMS detached the southern to Csvi'e
ra,Inastsr r & JEwETr detached naval station.
Cavite March 10 to Manila. charge navy pay office
Gable from commander in chief Asiatic feet,
Cavite December %:
Lieutenant Commander " W %eoas detached naval
Lieutenant Commando H PHELPS. detached the Helena;
/ to the New-Orleans.
Lieutenant Commander II. RODMAN, detached the New
Orleans, to the Cincinnati.
Mdshipuan c. a RICHTER. detached the Helena; to the
Cincinnati
.--.-- -, $3.50, 1~rccuT The fol-