New-York tribune., 1905-12-18
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau.I

washington. DECEMBER Ii.
GREELY's FIRST WORK-The War Depart
ulent will demolish about three hundred miles OF
telegraph erected in 1856 in Texas, afd use most
of the material. including about S25.GO worth OF
ron poles In the construction Of telegraPh IN me
IN the Philippines. This was about the nrSt Wotk
OF the kind done by the present chief sgnal ON.
cavalry and Il has served a valuable purpose in
ali these years At one time the line was removed,
It was promptly replaced, as the country was tMIi M
white settlers found II dfiicuif 10 protect their
stock The telegraph line proved of great as
rebuilt Lieutenant Greeiy erected IRON Instead q
wooden. poles. They have been most enduring. ahd
are noe 10 be transferred to the Philippines.
MANILA WALL DooMED-The historic city
wall Manila, which has been used for storage
purposes by the. army. is marked for abandon
ment At one time it was proposed to demolish
the wall. but antiquarians in this country raised
such rumpus that it allowed to remain 1t
is found, however. that the wall is insecure be-
ne ano destruction of property. result from
the attempt to store powder and other artillery
InateLial nat IN the place. Ohicers on duty al Manila
nary destruction to material kept IN such a place.
1t will be necessary. therefore TO build powder
War Department viii consent to spending any
of its CONSTRUCTION fund in restoring the city wall
merely Tor the sake OF preserving useless relic.
NEED WIRELESS LEGISLATION.-The Navy
Department contempates interesting wire
less telegraphic experiments on the Pacific Coast
present there are two naval stations in operation.
one at the Mare Island Navy Yaro and the other at
Point Arguello. There are some intervening hills
which appear seriously to affect wireless commun-
cation: and it is desired know just what
of r,essaeae f tb ere YIN Se
ment has been grati1ed with the continued favor
able reports from the wireless stations on the At
lanuc Coast The stationos at Key West and
Colon. distance of than thousand miles.
have been exchanging messages. which has
sages by one the other station Those who are
interested IN the governmental control Of the wire
present session of Congress to obtain legislation
department representatives. The naval and mill
tary officers particularly concerned in bringing
+ Is said becsps Of the adverse niuences BROUGHT
along the coast, Secretary Bonaparte has the sub
that somethng be done toward regua ing the use
of wireless telegraphy in a period OF war.
BADGES STILL DELAYED-Much interest is
taken by several thousand officers and men OF the
army. including some not now in service, who are
entitled to wear the campaign badges authorized
Of the Issue OF these 6sdgs mo- months sr sg0 20
receive these eriberns and expected that the
badges would be ready for issue shortly. The long
corTespondeHce The nostponement of the issue is
que to the deslre 2f tns H'arE fe tb 70 there
need be special haste in q matter of this sort,
was. submitted from the various designers invited
to make suggestions design which met the ap-
proval of the War Department as something worthy
OF the object In the mean time the evident I'M
patience of the persons who are entitled to wear
the badges is viewed with some composure by the
military officials here, for the reason partly. that
there is in the General STAFF an impression that
the army already possesses too many emolems, and
that the tendency to authorize additional badges
should be discourage. An effort TO OBTAIN author-
itv TO the emblem Of the Society Of Foreign
Wars was recently frustrated by the General Staff,
and that action promptly ndoTsed by General
Chaffee. OF course attempt will be made 10
take awav such badges as now exist or are already
authorlzed op NOT yet issneq sTcn @ aS ne cam I'M
partment people may regard with complacency the
present delay. as 1t is due to desire 10 get the
best possible design.