New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-02
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington March 1.
PORT MAKING IN MIDPACIFIc-Ths NAVY
Department has approved plans for making sur
veys and borings the reef which obstructs the
approach 20 the Midway Islands where this gov
eminent maintains garrison Of some thirty ma
rines. the only inhabitants Of the island except ,.le
operators employed by the Commercial Cable Com
pany. which has a station that place. There
Is generally heavy breaking the sur
rounding reefs and shoals, and II is difficult and
dangerous for ships to gain anchorage there.
It Is estimated that it will take s50O to accomplish
this survey, which is preliminary 70 the remOva!
Of the distractions so 10 permit ships 10 enter
for estahisbing ads 70 nayfgaton in the shape OF
lights and buOys The island is destined to be
an important cable station and a point at which
naval ships will call. II has It's advantages.
also. a strategic point but is apt be a place
70 which no one viii relish being sent for duIy;
There are no resources OF food. other than sh ana
sea birds and all supplies must be brought from
reaching the island-and there times when this
would be impossible for two or three weeks To-
Exists The cable company landed It's cable the
island at the request Of the Navy department.
the approach to the place.
PHILIPPINE SCOUTS REORGANIzED.-sec-
rotary Taft yesterday approved the plan for con-
verting the Philippine Scouts into organization
the battalion basis. and orders were promptly
issued designating the four companies composing
each battalion, the officers TO command and the
first Heutenants of the line Of the regular army.
who will command the companies The bat
talon commanders will be captains OF the line who
will have the rank of major during the detail
Naturally there has been great desire to obtain
these assignments. but the selection limited 10
those officers who had been specially recommended
for the duty by department and DIVISION eoIlnanu-
the military advisers of the Secretary OF War as
battalion organization. 1t is believed that under
regular officers the tnsular force will be greatly
improved All Of the captains detailed IoT quy
as battalion commanders are now in the Pnlnp-
on m nfagf mem of Nork graduat of the
Cobleskn Academy and the Albany Business Col
the first Ieuteuants detailed captains IN the new
organizat ton are Lieutenant Rhine!sndeT Maloo;
Louis J. Van Setback 4th Infantry. Of Albany
graduate of the Military Academy.
| NIDsHIPMEN's EXPENSES AT INAUGURA-
| TION-It was not discovered until to-day that the
seven hundred midshipmen who were ordered TO
| Washington to take part in the inaugural parade
would be obliged to pay their expenses and
those Of the band which accompanied them. The
cost of the trip is placed at 1900 and the tax on
/ individual members OF the force from Annapolis
was regarded unjust by Secretary Morton The
| West Pointers come the expense OF the govern
ment It was found at the Navy Department that
/ the midshipmen could be ordered individually 70
TO and SO OBTAIN mease Snlcn b WoH b
/ labor Of issuing separate orders would be consid-
who to serve General Chafees stan should
receive special orders, they must be in Washing
| mileage will help pay their local expenses To-day
Captain Brownson the superintendent OF the Naval
the aid of some ingenious minds It found that
! the midshipmen could come TO Washington at gov
eminent expense. appropriation for pay, miScel-
/ laneous' lending itself to that admirable purpose
ORDERS ISsUED.-The following army and
/ navy orders have been issued:
! ARMY.
| Colonel HENRY H ADAMS. 5th Infantry befor. army
retiring board at Governors Island for examination
| Contract Surgeon FRANCIS NJ MCALLUM. detailed
| member examining Fort Washable. vice Con-
| tract Surgeon Walter H Dade-
Captain FREDERICK W. PHIsTERER. artillery corps.
detailed member eamtning board at Fort Banks, vice
Captain James NJ. Williams artillery corps
| Captain WILLIAM F. CREARY paymaster. from San
! Francisco Philippines
| Captain PIERRE Q STEVENS. paymsstsr from Philip
pines San Francisco
| NAVY.
yard Boston duty assistant inspector IN charge
! Twelfth Lighthouse District
Lieutenant Commander J. c. GILMORE 70 navy yard
| New-York.
| MOVEMENTS OF NAVAL vESS ELS.-The fol-
lowing movements Of vessels have been reported to
| the Navy Depa rtment:
| ARRIVED.
February 2s-The Prairie Alexandria the srosAfyn al
! New-CrIaans the Solace at san Francisco
/ March The Hartford at Nor1olk-
| SAILED.
February 2s-The whpps from Key West FOR Pensacola
DAMAGE OF 100000 ON THE OHIO.