New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-12
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
lFRoM THE TRIBUNE BuKrAu.J

quarters at Governors Island, is determined that
Ae shall not be ignored by subordinate officers
eu at posts In his divisional command, and TO
hdt enQ ne has sent instructions that officers
VINO desire decisions rendered by the authorities
II washington shall send their communications
through the usual and regular military channels
~ Nie military secretary or the chief of staff One
u the paragraphs of the army regulations gives
1uulollty 10 army officers send directly WASH
AlBton communications which relate to a certain
ass oR informal lon described matters in
~" tno oo @ch intermediate commanders can have
pected 10 exercise control" General Grant has
stances and that great care should be exercised in
e BE ing me senior military authority. lie adds
IA ms Ieller OF instructions: Wv neneVer there is
any doubt on this point in the mind of the writer
jon t torinulcaton he WIN send such communlca-
doned at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont. and another
General Grant in this way. and the former was
made the subject of an orcial rebuke from Gov
ernors Island.
NAVAL PROMOTIONS-Some officers OF the
navy expressing themselves as opposed to the
method of introducing in the service the plan of
tirement for age in succeeding grades This
proposed by Rear Admiral Converse. chief of the
Bureau OF Navigation. as a means OF obtaining
younger men for command rank as is the case in
foreign services. The idea has the approval Of the
Secretary Of the Navy and the President, and it
Will be urged upon the naval committees. if the
question of personnel is taken up during the pres
ent session. 1t is likely, however, that the service
opposition to the plan will have much weight al
though the departmental authorities intend that
whatever legislation is enacted harm shall come
to the officers; there will be the usual provision
that no officer shall lose any part of his pay be
injured in his opportunities for promotion. Never
tHeiess ndlxiGEal ptejnoiGef AGAINST me pr9posi
@Iy meth9u USED IN carrying out The IDEA might
There would be too the cnance that sympa Thy for
officer would interfere with the benehcent OPP
side that something should be done to give command
sPk to naval o o al al b9 6a the
hand. it is pointed out that there should be con,
have the greatest possible results from the services
Of individuals educated at gIeat expense, before
fnds the officer in full possession of his abilities to
discharge duty on board ship
FILIPINO COMPLEXIONs-The War Depart
ment officials find it very difficult to keep track of
the Philippine scouts after the manner and by
The same process used in recording the enlisted
difficulties is in the unfamiliar names Of the men
and the ease With which the and rone n
identification Another awkward condition is in
be met by giving the graduatons of shade black,
dark brown brown light brown light or very lignt::
The spelling of names will be uniform in all cases
MILITARY LIGHTS AND sHADEs.-Arny Off
GERS have obtained decision from the War De-
partment to the effect that incandescent lamps
win be furnished officers quarters, just as they
provided for public buildings at all military
posts This IS of importance to the officers who
of equipping their quarters with certain perma-
possibly heavy furrft!re which MIGHT be regarded
OF a permanent character. irasnuch as J., VIII
be left in tire houses and become the Inheritance
questions Of furrshins and moving IT, Provfse
hsIlrscfs aHd rpf~frerators The ouarterrnasters
stsdo nav he aaonted. rsost ~ he officers pre-
ferrirg the ordinary shade while the 7117r g
blind as rrc1v to s,,r,'ve and REQUIRE renle -
on the occasion Of each new enant Of the quartsls
ARMY VACANCIES sCARCE-Considerabl
doubt exists in regard 70 the prospects of enlisted
men, candidates for commissions In the military
service Of obtaining appointments next year. There
likely to be hardly enough places for the grad
yates of West Point The class of o5 will number
ia members. providing there failures. and
there are I present more than one hundred
vacancies anticipated, assuming about fifty casual
ties which less doubtful Each year
the vacancies will be increasingly scarce, due to
the fact that the service is approaching period
Of stagnation calculated to create much discomfort
among the general officers. This is in part due to
re abnormal o WH Hh are comea~
lively young men. and who will probably remain
tel that it is hardly possible that Congress VIII
further increase the army. although the artillery
making promotions plentiful in that branch OF the
service but inasmnch somewhat exaoting con
artillery the situation e not likely to be improved
features OF tho situation is that which next year
rrovides two final examinations for soldier candi-
dates The General Staff of the army has sus-
pended the provision If the regulations which OPP
Grated to the injustice of men who had enlisted
with the proslt Ct OF completing their two years
NAV he done those who enlisted in good faith, there
must be ? final examination Of some candidates on
May and another on september l.
PHILIPPINE FORTS.-The War Department is
advised that work has begun IN the Philippines on
the Notifications in Mani Bay and Subig Bay.
The government is to expend 10000 initial
appropriation for that sort of work in the defensive
project Of tbs Philippines 1t will require consid-
bic time to complee the Notifications the en-
placements of which and the character of the bat
jerjes teinz regarded a confidential subject.
Orders have been issued to allow observation of
the sites and the greatest secrecy viii prevail dur
ing tic period Of construction. IT has been found
that the old Spanish fortifce TORS worthless.
end this government will be obliged to make these
entirely works.
ARMY ELECTRICAL KIT-The War Depart
ment has adopted a tool chest for the of the
men who are engaged in installing fire control sys-
tens and other means of communication at coast
forts. 1t is found that some Of these places are
remote from shops other sources of supply. and
must be brought by the eXrert workmen. The or
binary tool chest is insufficient in capacity and
one has been esoecfalfv designed Ten OF these will
be bought each costing $780,
NAVAL ACADEMY REGISTERING annual
register OF the United States Naval Academy for
the year 1906 has issued. It shows the
number Of mdshpmen in the academy to be $50 |
the largest number ever in the institution at the
end OF scholastic year.
SALVATION ARMY IN ROER WAR.