Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-10
ARMY AND NAVY.
New Uniforms HeId-DoIphin's Record
Proving Ground Notes.

/ y.
| issue the new uniforms to the enlisted
men of the army has been suspended
owing to the discovery that the contin-
| uance Of that policy would mean the
| loss to the government of something
| like 100000. That is the estimated
value of the stock of clothing and
| equipment now on hand in the quarter
master depots, and all of it is in good
| condition and fit for wear. 1t could not
be sold for anything like its cost to the
government. One item alone is repre-
| scented by the supply of brass buttons
| valued at $4,000. The only difference
| between the old and the new buttons
! is in the design on the top the old hav-
| ing the eagle and the new one the coat
| of-arms of the nation. 1t has been de-
| cided to bronze the buttons and issue
| them to troops, the conversion cost
ing $4,000. The helmets with the
SNOWY spikes cannot be made over, and
they are good for nothing else but mill
tary dress. The militia organizations
have filed acquisitions for the new
| clothing and equipment, while the COM
| mandS of the regular army are equally
| anxious to have the new uniforms.
Some weeks ago the General Staff de-
cided to issue the new clothing to troops
stationed at the principal garrisons of
the country, mainly those near the
| large cities. 1t has been found now
that this would defeat the plan of eX
hausting the supply of old uniforms
| and involve the loss of large sum of
| money. Just what will be the outcome
of the situation no one can predict, but
the latest decision is to suspend indefi-
nitely all issues Of the new uniform.
The Dolphin has been making
| record for herself. On her recent trip
| from New Orleans to Washington she
made the voyage of 1864 miles in
| HE hours or ut the rate of 14.9 knots
an hour, average speed. When it is
| considered that the ship was first COM
missioncd in December, 1885, and that
she is equipped with her original en-
gines, naval officers say there is moth
| ing to be ashamed of in the perform
ance of the old Dolphin. The incident
is the more striking on account of the
! periodical criticism visited upon the
Dolphin. which was at one time virtu-
1
SO many words, as an unmiltary craft.
| 1t is hardly likely that many retired
officers of the army will be ordered to
active duty other than in connection
with the militia, at least for the present.
| Many applications have been received
by the military secretary, expressing
preference for recruiting duty at or
| near the cities where the applicants
live. Not many changes in the recruit
ing details are likely to be made until
the regular time of making these de-
| tails-that is, in the autumn. In the
| mean time, the department will pre-
pare list of the officers who are anX-
| iOus to go on active duty at full pay
| and allowances, as authorized by the
latest army act. Only one officer has
sgnfied his willingness to be ordered
to duty as a military attache. Most of
the high ranking officers desire to be
| recruiting officers but General Chaffee.
chief of staff, believes that brigadier
| general is too big an officer for such
| class of duty.
Rear Admiral G. A. Converse, Chief
of Ordnance of the Navy, has recon-
mended, and the Secretary of the Navy,
has approved, scheme for employing
| sub-inspcctors Of ordnance The en-
ployes will receive "a a day, and the
| examinations of candidates will be held
at the Washington Navy Yard and at
| Philadelphia at date to be announced
hereafter. 1t is Rear Admiral Con-
verses idea that there should be more
thorough and more expert inspection Of
guns mounts and ammunition under
construction for the service, and that
the sub-inspectors shall assist the COM
missioned officers of the navy who are
detailed for duty in that capacity. The
lack Of officers requires that the new
places be created. Ten Of the sub-in-
spectors will devote themselves to the
subject of guns and mounts and six]
will be employed on the powder. Most
of the candidates are expected to come
from among the employees Of the gun
factory at Washington.
Army officers here are impressed with