New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-06
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
IFRoN THE TRIBUNE puREAU.l

Washington, April 5.
NAVY PAY CORPS PLACES.-The Navy De-
partment is receiving many applications from civil
ians who are anxious to compete for the thirty va
cancies in the pay corps. Secretary Morton has
decided that these places shall be open to certain
candidates who fulfil the requirements, which are
made general In addition to the age limit placed
on the candidacy, IL is stipulated that the appH-
cant shall be in good physical condition, and no.
tice is served those who wish to take the exam
ination, which will be held in May that it is not
worth their while to apply if they are not in prime
condition 1t is proposed that no defects shall 1e
candidates to I'LL the places for the next year Inc
conditions of the examination are increased IN Sc
verify. also. and composition and spelling are MAGE
tanned before the candidate can he reporteG erISI
bic to appointment. The examination VIII prop
be held in New-York also Those on the Pacific
Coast viii appear before a board to meet at mare
Island Navy Yard the time as the eastern
boards convene. The examinations will be identl-
by one board.
DEsERTERs FROM wARsHIPs-The Navy
Department officials are engaged in solving several
problems in connection with desertion. 1t will be
necessary. it is apparent, to furnish more attrac-
tOns for the enlisted force engaged coal paSsers
1t is found that the largest percentage of deser-
tions is among that class of the next largest
being among the mess attendants. The latter stu
alton does not bother the authorities much. as
the servant question" is a problem for everybody
on land, of the naval officers expressed 1t
to-day. The mess attendants are ahenS, TOT Ihe
most part and it is not expected that such a class
will be trustworthy. The fact of such large de-
sertions among the mess attendants shows that
desertion is not due insufficient food or to food
of inferior quality, has Deen alleged in some
quarters. The mess attendants, by the nature OF
their occupation have access to the same food as
is served to the officers yet they found to de-
sert in numbers which are exceeded slightly only by
the coal passers, who the hardest worked Of all
the enlisted force. The mes7 attendant prob
lem will be allowed to take of itself,
but some special provision must he made for coal
passers. One proposition is to ask for volunteers
from among other branches of the force for ser
vice in the fire rooms to the end that there may be
foundation for permanent force Of coal passers
who likely to remain at their work. The ex-
PLANTATION Of desertion among the class is that
many of those who enlist coal passers have
never had any experience in that work. and soon
become tired of il. The naval officials say also,
that the assertions from the navy more
than in any line of industry elsewhere The
difference is that in the service the departure of
man means the breaking of obligation of which
direct notice must be taken. If records could be
kept naval officers say it would be found that
there are no more assertions from the navy, even
in the branches which show the heaviest deser-
lions, thar is the with any trade or occupa-
ton on land. At the time there per-
| centages of desertion which it is proposed to keep
down. and to this end the Bureau of Navigation
will apply itself shortly