Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-03
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Board of Consulting Engi-
neerS
TO MEET NEXT FRIDAY
TO FURTHER CONSIDER SIZE OF
CANAL LOCKS.
End of the Owen Case--Against Mill
tary Training Schools-Retire-
ment of Admiral Barclay.
TO MEET NEXT FRIDAY

of the chairman probably next Friday. In
the meantime the members will study the
various documents and plans which had
been prepared beforehand, and to facilitate
that work they will have at their disposal
several rooms in the Mills building. which
will be fixed up for their accommodation.
At yesterdays meeting Mr.. Hunter. the
Err glsh delegate, appointed on the ex-
ecutive committee in place of Mr.. Burr, who
is likely to be absent sometimes. 1t was
further decided that Friday discussion
would be held about the size of the locks,
which is very important question now
that larger ships are being built every year.
When that point is decided it will be posi-
BILE to figure out the cost of lock canal
ano TO compare 1t with the cost of a sea
level canal.
End of the Owen Case.
The War Department has advised the
Secretary of the Navy that there remains
nothing to be done in the case of Lieut.
Clarence S. Owen of the Marine Corps. now
on duty at the marine barracks at the Mare
Island Cal. navy yard. Lieut. Owen is the
officer of the marines who landed from an
army transport In San Francisco, and who
on account of a similarity of uniform was
mistaken by an army officer for an enlisted
mar of the army. who had deserted and
placed under arrest. AS soon as the error
was discovered Lieut. Owen was released
with due apologies. The case was reported
to the Washington authorities and the Sec
rotary of the Navy passed 1t along to the
cen n andant of Marine Corps. Lieut.. Owen,
however. insisted that there was additional
Information which he would like to have
considered. and about a month ago orders
were given General S. S. Sumner, U. S. A.
in command of the Pacific division. to con-
duct a further investigation. His report
was received here last week and 1t was de-
cided that the case should be regarded
closed and a statement to that effect has
ma IN nv 10 t1yC
eral Bates. acting secretary of war.
To Protect tho Birds.
A cablegram has been received at the
Navy Department stating that the sea-go-
ing tug Iroqucis. stationed at Honolulu
had sailed for a visit to the Laysan Islands,
one Of the create sea bird rookeries in the
world. The Navy Department maintains
supervision over this little group for the
purpose of preventing far possible
the ruthless slaughter of the myriads of
sea birds which gather there for nesting
purposes. The Iroquois pays an occasional
visit to Laysan, remaining there but few
days at a time.
Restricting Travel of Midshipmen.
Orders have been sent by the Navy De-
partment to the superintendent Of the. Ma
val Academy directing him to instruct
midshipmen whose homes are in Louisi-
ana Mississippi and Florida not to proceed
home during their annual leave. That ac-
tion was taken not because of fear that
they might contract yellow fever. but be-
cause they might have some difficulty in
returning to the academy on expiration of
leave on account of the strict quarantine
regulations of some of the states through
which they would have to travel.
Gone to the Pacific Coast
Admiral w. L. Caps. chief constructor
of the navy. has gone to the Pacific coast
on an inspection tour He will visit the
Union iron works in San Francisco. the
Mare Island navy yard, the Puget sound
navy yard and the works of Moran Bros.
at Seattle, Wash. He VIII also make a
visit to San Diego. Cal.
Silver for the New Jersey.
The state of New Jersey has placed an
order for $4,000 silver service. which
will be presented to the battleship New
Jersey when that vessel is placed in COM
mission. about April 1,next.
Coal for the Philippines.
Rear Admiral Manney. chief of the bureau
of equipment of the Navy Department, has
arranged by contract with nine sailing YES
sells and three steamers for the transporta-
tion of $4,000 tons of coal to the naval sta
ton at Cavite. p. l. These vessels will
leave American ports laden with naval fuel
beginning this week and extending to De-
cember 81. There Is hand at the
Cavite station about 100000 tons of coal.
Military Training Schools.
The suggestion of Colonel George Leroy
Brown. Goth Infantry. that the government
establish special training schools for boys
desiring to enter the military service Of the
country is not viewed favorably at the
War Department. The question has been
before the general stan, and II was decided
that work Of this kind belonged more prop
erly to the state and municipal govern
ments and Is not within the legitimate
scope Of the federal authority.
To Commission the Charleston.
The Navy Department will place the cruis-
er Charleston in commission about Septem-
Der Is. Capt. Herbert Winslow will have
command of the vessel. and the crew of OFT
men is now being assembled aboard the re-
ceiving ship Franklin at Norfolk The ma
rne guard will be in command OF First
Lieut.. William r. Coyle. United States Ma
rine Corps and win consist of sixty men.
Issue of Sabers
II is said at the War Department that the
proposed change in the type OF the army
saber will not interfere with the execution
of the contract with the Ames Sword Com
pany for a supply OF 10000 light cavalry
sabers of the old model
Not Entitled to Pay.
Col. Porter acting judge advocate gem
eral of the army. recently gave an opinion
TO the effect that officer of the militia
on duty at an encampment is not entitled
TO pay while on leave OF absence during a
portion OF the period while such encamp-
ment Is in progress.
Appointed Assistant Surgeons.
The surgeon general of the army has
been notified that the following named cam
didates have successfully qualified for APP
pointment as assistant surgeons in the
army with the rank OF first ieutenants. and
have been ordered TO take a course of In
structon at the Army Medical College in
this city beginning October 1 next: Albert
@. Love, Charles E. Freeman. Henry J.