New-York tribune., 1905-04-10
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
rEEosi THE TRIBUNE BuREAu.I

here to furnish some information in regard to the
effects Of bayonet attacks in the present war, tha
material being Of value to the experts in connec-
ton with their discussion OF the question OF the
design Of a bayonet for the new model OF small
arm The General staff was obliged to proceed with
the investigation such information as had been
obtained BY officers in 0lanchuria, the
representative Of Japan refusing to give any ad-
vices. He politely informed the Secretary Of War
that his government would be obliged 70 adhere
strictly to the policy Of retaining all information
Of whatever sort until after the war. when this
government would pc placed in possession OF full
facts and figures. There much interest taken
BY our officers in the results OF bayonet attack,
there being suspicion that there was not as much
fatality from that cause as has been represented
Dy tne Correspondents II there mas 9een meolcai
new phase of the value OF the bayonet. the moral
ment The General stan COMMITTEES wSie6 as
proceed TO its conclusions without the aid OF the
Japanese advices. but the incident was another
the foreign observers OF the situation
development.
NAVY ORDNANCE CORPS-There Will be some
delay in selecting junior naval officers for special
and exclusive service in connection with naval
ordnance. The officers at present engaged on this
work occupied in a period % instruction
which includes a tour OF duty at the lead
ing steel works. the works OF the maker Of the
torpedo used in the service. the torpedo station
at Newport and at the proving ground Indian
Head. II was intended that additional officers
should be selected to continue this work OF
instruction upon TIE completion OF that work BY
is desired iSs that R 6 TIE 9ee SERVING On the % S5T 5
1or as 20 - .,-
two or three months me appications az s prsss5S &
choice Of personnel desired IL is believed that the
new system WI nave VeIy sgoslaa{l1t sgtf t-+
/ TO the organization at no distant day OF SPECIAL
4 the arnly- In that event there VIII be a perTa-
heiI "a rISy Horin aft some InBTotbls ex
pertinent with the method Of detailing officers 70
periods of ordnance duty
GLOVES VERSUS GAUNTLETs- - The army
quarterInasters. who have TO do with wearing ap-
pareI of the soldiers finding that the gauntlet
furnished the mounted troops are meeting with
| criticism It Is OF mUskrat fur and the fingers Of
the glove are too stiff tc make the article OF the
required convenience to the cavalrynan, who finds
| it difficult TO handle the small and 70 manage
| the bride rens OF his horse Several samples of
horsehide diffetentiy lined for warmth It is
that these gloves ht better and are more PAa9.o
question is whether the horsehde gauntlet viii os
warm enough ioT % erooP5 r PlafrsbIrg Bar
racks. New-York. are among those who are I uslng
s ocers are in favor Of glove as dstingushed
from the gauntlct and military opinion appears
advantage Of the gauntlet is that IL keeps le eol
it accumuiates snow. and this suggests the glove a.
a substitute There is not likely 70 oe a chanso 5
in anything but the material OF the arucle' now
PHILIPPINE PENAL. CODE-The military au-
thorities ir the Philippines have been consulting
with the representatives of the civil governments IA
regard to codidcation Of laws The task possesses
many difficult features General Leonard WOOD mas
? / advised the War Department in regard to tnS
matter in his capacity as Governor OF the Niofe
Province. He says:
awarding punishment e ssysgs a 9T people 2ber 1aS eo
dition OF intelligence and tribal customs, F 5ses c-
6eeyed 70 be H fRg no 9e boghS adTsab to aIIept
! to codify and put in force CndSr Ine +ai ~ ~ ~
the customs which have hitherto .ooIelTQ a-1o.1
these people. as many OF them are IeVI505 t ~. -
but few enbqdy pTlRcIIes ~1 oJifraton would 6e q
farce 1t would amount to the w@Elln5 @ or & = ~ ~
laws and practices with which we are fannllIar-
nog IN Of exsfine tribal customs and sO-caIIed
laws. Such being The case It Is 9etter % a. 9I e
portons Of the Philippines and bring an The people
of these Islands under common system ol Jus'i01
E1-ROPEA- CRUISE PLANNED.-Considera-
ton IS being given by the Navy Department 70
sending division the North Atlantic Meet across
! the Atlantic later in the season Tor cruise -
F,,ropean waters. In reOrsanzing the heet II was
contemplated that while it primarily was TO De q
home fleet yet it was 50 constituted @ lhft any S
: desired des 5sd-'''''D . w
/, GUANTANAMO GROWING I11PORTANT.-See-
retary Morton on his return from the Wes' Inole7
= announced his approval OF the plan 10 eseaO-.Sn
with small arms. The great difficulty mas been %
find suitable localities in this country for the pr-
nose and the sites which are available VIII not
accommodate more than q few men. which means
that il would take long time 70 have target prac-
tice for a number of ships. and probably there
would have TO be several OF such ranges DISTRIBUTED
along the Atlantic Coast in addition to WAlch con-
dition Of delay there would be considerable ex-
psnse in acquiring by lease OF purchase outright
land sufficient for the purpose. At the naval sta
ton at Guantanamo. however. there is enough land
TO establish ranges. so that che crews OF hfty
ships could compete ms WIZ u -ss;fSs -
with small arms Wlthin a weSh = 5jsS~sv,T
have many as one hundred targets OF SlI4SIsle
ranges. from the shortest distance HP % ''ls t1S &
est This work could De done IS oetleveu ~ SSl-o %
time while the vessels are IN southern waters G1s-
ing the winter m9neeuvres' EItor % me M oiS
OF the ships for pensacola Wi.eIe ny LIS
their record target practice WITH NE ael$ ~
3 Secretary Morton vas 5 made az Cf1lantanaTo
where work had begun on me d5yooGh IOsluS ~ ~
: most Important dOckyards and war bases OF thiS
country.
SMOKY WARSHIPS.-The smoke problem in the
navy has not been settled. by any although
favorable reports have been received at the Navy
: Department from the engineer officers attached to
the United States steamship Maine. The greatest
trouble has been on board that ship. as q was
found that the smoke from her stacks enveloped
the vessel and those which followed her that s
was impossible to discern the signals displayed It
became necessary. therefore. IN column formation
!, to place the Maine the end With that vessel
serving as flagship Of the North Atlantic heets
with Rear Admiral Evans on board IL has become q
: question Of some moment Just what would
be the result OF the recent atrempt 10 correct thd
defect OF the ship in that particular II im-
portant dispose OF the smoke that the signals
from the fagship could be readily seen by the yes
sells OF the fleet in ner company. The reports.
therefore OF less smoke which was observed on
the trip between Guantanamo ana FenSacoia are
very gratifying and this Is attributed 20 the chnea