New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-25
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
From The Tribune Bureau.

Washington september -
NAVY HAS CURE FOR LAME DUCKS.-The
performances of the floating drydock in the several
weeks in which that structure has been subjected
to a severe practical trial in Chesapeake Bay have
attracted much attention among the experts, espe-
cialIy those Of the General Board who have come TO
appreciate the strategic value Of the floating dock
as factor in keeping the feet in state OF pre-
paredness for battle A short time ago it was
realized that the floating dock possessed an element
Of permanent value and was really TO be classed
with the implements Of warfare, and not merely as
the tool of the naval constructor The stationary
dock has It's advantages in being at a base where
supplies may be taken and where any sort OF
work may be carried out, but II materially Wea hels
Santiago If any Of them must be withdraw COR the
must he weakened correspondingIy or other ships
must he assigned TO take the place or the lame
duck during its period Of restorat on 1t was found
that in the new floating dock which is destined to
be towed to Olongapo ships could be docked
and unlocked rapidly and with minimum rSk. N
addition which the dock was capable OF self.
which the authorlties are natlIay pIo4l. 49,
performances Of that sort on other docks have
is a floating dock at AIgiers, La, and another al
Pensacola Fla. it is possible there will he another
Norfolk or League Island for transfer thence TO
localities where docking is NECESSARY without Drlng
ing a ship navy yard There may be an eSJi-
mate submitted to the next Congress to this end.
FOOTGEAR FOR LONG "HIKEs'-1Iuch interest
attaches to the marching shoe which is being
made at New England factories under contract
recently awarded by the quartermaster general OF
the army This shoe viii take the place of the loot
gear issued to troops, and of which some crti-
csm has been made by officers who are serving in
the Philippines They say the shoe is too heavy and
not sufficiently piable to sole. in addition to
which it does not always fit the foot In the new
shoe it is intended that the form Of the foot shall
s5 Inc spf Pc OF me st: taat me L|enCy L9a
shaI be made in sizes from . to L inclusive, with
half sizes in the lot; that certain parts shall be
made lighter in weight than the present shoe, while
the sole shall he less rigid It is believed that this
sAoe VIII Ge more cohIortapI 10 the Wearer on duty
in the field, and at the same time possess all the
I,icJ az S =, % ing Ill % Vel ~ III
NIcL are heeqeQ IN such an artlcLe OF loot apparel
No change will be made in what IS known as the
garrison shoe, which is much lighter in weight and
more shapely in appearance.
FAMOUS OREGON ANTIQU will
be great deal Of work required on the United
States ship oregon her return TO these
shores from the Asauc station. Some months ago
the commander in chief of the naval forces in Far
Eastern waters Informed the Navy Department
that all Of the ships would require considerable
overhauIing and that the oregon stood in the
greatest need OF repairs 1t viii large sum
to carry out. the recommendations of the board Of
survey. which show that the Oregon ought 10 be
practically rebuilt and equipped with new bat
terry. To do this q foreign station especially
where the docking facilities limited would
mean to the Navy Department the expenditure Of
a larger sum than appears to be justified L has
been decided, therefore, that the Oregon shall be
Withdrawn from the Asiatic station the next few
months and taken to one Of the Pacific Coast navy
yards placed out of commission and generally over
hauled. 1t will be year more, probably before
the ship is again ready for service The naval
constructors say il is impossible do all the work
on the Asiatic station required by the ships sta
toned in those waters This is partly due to the
lack of navy yard officers, there being, for in
stance, only one naval constructor where there
should at least two; and really three officers of
the corps might be probably employed Again, a
serious defect is the lack Of a big drydock The
floating structure which was recently completed
near Baltimore will not reach Cavite for five or
SIX months yet, In the mean time there must be