Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-31
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
The Torpedo Practice Ship
Vesutius Coming Here.

The torpedo practice ship vesuvius,
recently stationed at Newport, r. l.. will
come to this city In the near future to be
fitted with submerged torpedo tubes at the
navy yard here. She is at present at the navy
yard. Boston. Mass, having the sluice
valves for these tubes installed and some
slight repair work DONE After she has
been completely fitted up she will return to
Newport for duty at the training station
there.
The Vesuvius was built in 1887 IS as a
dynamite gunboat, and at the time she was
commissioned high hopes were entertained
by some officials of her great destructive
power. 1t was gradually developed, how
ever. that she was a failure as an engine
of destruction. and a few years ago 1t was
decided to convert her into practice ship
Tor torpedo crews The original Vesuvius
cost the government in the ueighborhood
of $400. 1000
Tightening the Soldiers Burden.
Army officers are now predicting the pass
Ing of the historic haversack Some Of
them have declared that important article
or the soldiers equipment a great impede
ment on the march, especially when the
soldiers are conducted through a country
of thick growth or when streams are to be
crossed. 1t is desired to minimize the ex
ira weight which the soldier must carry
when away from the garrison or a base of
supplies. The soldier, too often at immi-
nent risk of his own interests, applies the
remedy by the simple process of throwing
away most of the things which theorists
have declared must be carried by him as
necessities of the fighting man In the field
The latest estimate of minmlzed burden
does not extend beyond one suit of under
clothing, a pair of socks tooth brush,
towel and soap, shelter half of tentage
a blanket the lISIIal ratioDc nd eytr
munition. These articles, with possibly the
poncho, are deemed sufficient as soldiers
burden on the march, and any increase,
most officers think, should be authorized
only in dire extremity, as. for instance,
when the soldier is in a cold climate and
would need an overcoat and an extra blan-
>ket or sleeping bag. Even then he will
have all he wants to carry and will prob
ably throw away something when he finds
that the individual mobility is seriously i'm
peded Personal comfort is found to be
consideration against which even the re-
tention of the ration becomes Of small mo-
ment.
Trials at Washington Barracks.
Gen. Grant, commanding the Department
Of the East, has ordered a general court
martial to meet at Washington barracks
next Friday for the trial of such prisoners
as may be brought before it. The detail
of the court is:
Col Charles A. P. Hatfield, 18th Cavalry;
Maj. Edward Burr. Corps of Engineers;
Capt. Edward A. Millar, Artillery Corps;
Capt. Thomas M. Corcoran. 18th Cavalry;
Capt. Erwin L. Phillips, 18th Cavalry: Capt.
Walter NJ. Whitman, 18th Cavalry: Capt.
Frank c. Boggs. Corps of Engineers; Capt.
Earl l. Brown, Corps of Engineers; Capt.
Edward M. Markham. Corps of Engineers;
Capt. P. d. Lochridge, 18th Cavalry, judge
advocate.
Courts-Martial at Fort Myer
Gen. Grant, commanding the Department
of the East, has acted on the cases of five
soldiers stationed at Fort Myer, Va, tried
by court-martial for various offenses.
Private Norman Cross, Troop H, 18th
Cavalry was convicted of being absent
ing considered) and sentenced to dishonora-
BILE discharge, forfeiture of pay and allow
ances and one years Imprisonment at hard
la Dor.
Private Samuel w Border, 4th Battery
Field Artillery, was found guilty of sleep
ing on post and sentenced to four months
confinement at hard labor and to forfeit $40
of his pay.
Private Robert La Plant, Troop II, 18th
Cavalry, was convicted of violating the G2d
article of war Give previous convictions be-
ing conSidered) and sentenced to dishon-
orable discharge, forfeiture of pay and al
lowances and to three months confinement
at hard labor.
Private Frank c. Swndell. Troop F, 18th
Cavalry was found guilty of larceny 1.-TWO
previous convictions being considered) and
sentenced TO dishonorable discharge. for
feiture of pay and allowances and six
months confinement ct hard labor.
The sentence In each case was approved
by the reviewing authority.