Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-11-05
NAVAL ITEMS OF INTEREST.
DELAY IN THE HOSPITAL
BUILDING.
New Type of Torpedo Air Com
presser Adopted-Examining
Board Named,

Ensign Byron A. Long of the U. 5,
) Maine is the first of the line oiii-
GERS of the navy TO report to the chief
of ordnance for duty in ordnance
work exclusively Ii has not been de.
cided whether he will be attached to
the bureau and il may be necessary 60
send all of the officers TO the gun fac
tory and 20 Indian Head for prelimi-
nary instruction, provided no place
can be found for them in the bureau.
The naval bureau of ordnance has
adopted new type of torpedo air
compressor, electrically driven, for use
ON the battleships A contract will
be awarded shortly for twelve of these
compressers. 1t is proposed TO have
in the near future competitive test
of air compressers for use on ship
board and several firms interested in
such mechanism have signified a de-
sire TO submit compressers for trial.
There is a delay in the construction
of a new hospital at the Naval Acad-
emy, bids for which building were
opened some weeks ago in Washing.
ton. The proposals were found TO
gretly exceed the estimated cost of
the building and the amount allotted
for that purpose in the general scheme
of improvement. 1t has been decided
to reject the bids and to have the ar
chitect revise his plans SO as TO bring
the cost of the hospital within the
amountsavailable.
The board for the examination of
candidates for appointment as assist
ant paymaster in the navy will meet
in the Washington navy yard on No
vebmer ii and another board will
meet on the same day at Mare Island.
The only change in the list is the
withdrawal of the names of G.. w.
Small and j. K. Julian, who will be
examined on the next occasion when
the board meets, which will be some
time in January.
During the present week a board for
the examination of officers of the ma.
val pay corps preliminary to promo
tion has been in session in the Mills
Building. Those who have finished
the examination are Passed Assistant
Paymaster ID. V. Chadwick, who is
settling his accounts; T.. ID. Harris, OF
the U. S. S. Michigan and J. Il.
Hatch, of the u. S. s. Chattanooga
and Assistant Paymasters II. ID.
Lamar. of the u. s. S. Prairie and Il.
T.. Goodhue, on duty at the Boston
navy yard.
1hG lnNcStBabAbn AnbO hiiS bhs1h
noted with 12-iDch shell has been com
pleted by the naval ordnance bureau.
1t was reported as q result of the OBJ
servations during the target practice
with l2-inch guns, while the vessels
OF the North Atlantic fleet were on
the Martha's Vineyard ranges, that
the shell Of that caliber "tumbled.
There was naturally some apprehen-
sion lest the defect be attributable to
the gun, although there appeared no
likelihood of any such serious discoV-
cry. The subject was promptly refer
red to the board of experts, of which
Commader A. M. knight is senior
member, and it is now reported that
the cause of the difficulty was confined
entirely to the steel bands of the pro-
jectile. This is comparatively minor
defect and is easily remedied. 1t may
be necessary to call in the IL. inch shell
now issued to ships of war, but this
can be done. without mucn trouble and
expense, and certainly the shell here
after issued will not be defective in
this respect.