Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-01
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Many Applications for the
Bancroft.


trying to obtain her for the revenue cut
ter service for use training ship for
cadets to replace the bark Chase. which
| has outlived her usefulness. The naval
militia of several states are also trying to
obtain the Bancroft, and Secretary Bona
parte has been unable as yet to reach a
decision in the matter A number of naval
officers maintain that she can be made
use of In the service as training ship
for firemen of the engineer department.
Ration Cheaper Here Than Elsewhere.
According to General Grant, commanding
the Department of the East the average
&C st OF the ration of the troops in that de-
partment Is 17.4J85 cents. Owing to the
different prices of fresh beef and vegetables
at the various posts the cost of the ratons
differs at almost every post varying from
the lowest, 15.5c at Fort Myer, to the
highest, 22.Tc. at Henry barracks, P. r.
Rewards for Army Deserters.
After thorough consideration by the au-
thorities generally, the War Department
has decided to adhere to the policy of pay
ing rewards to civilians and civil officers.
such as the local policemen who arrest
deserters from the army For some time
past there has been some doubt as to
whether rewards should be paid in such
cases. Under the departments practice
any citizen who catches a deserter from
the army and turns him over to the police
for detention is entitled to the reward.
Some army officers do not think it good
policy to pay out money in such cases, as
1t sometimes leads to the arrest of soldiers
who intend to return and have merely
overstayed their leave in the large cities
In the neighborhood of an army post. That
claim is invariably made and there is no
way of proving that the man is telling an
untruth. On the other hand, it is claimed
that the arrest is the only thing which
keeps the man from running away for
good. Many army officers think that If a
soldier gets away it is not worth while go
ing to any expense in order to get him for
the purpose of trial. The department holds
otherwise, and the system of rewards will
be continued.
Return of Admiral Watson
Rear Admiral John c. Watson, U. S. N,
retired, has just returned to the United
States from Europe, where he made an
extensive study of the physical condition of
the enlisted men of foreign navies, togeth-
err with the methods employed in their
training and maintenance.
To Make Bread by Machinery.
AS result of favorable tests made on
the U. S. s. Missouri with bread making
machinery 1t is considered likely that the
army will adopt similar system. Army
officers have had several different systems
under consideration for several months, at
Fort Riley and West Point and it is prob
able that a standard machine will be adopt
ed for the use. of the service generally.
Chapels at Military Posts.
Congress will be asked early in the next
session to approve the action of the War
Department in accepting from the citizens
Of San Antonio a $4,000 stone chapel erect
ed on the military reservation at Fort Sam
Houston, Texas. Such questions are usually
they give rise to requests for privileges
from various denominations and sects. 1t
is the policy of the government to show no
81 eater favor to one church than to an
other and in the case OF the San Antonio
chapel 1t was stipulated that the edifce be
devoted to non-sectartan worship and other
means 'for the promotion of the social,
physical, intellectual and moral welfare of
the garrison
Auxiliary Warships.
Two wartime additions to the navy are
being constructed at Philadelphia ship
yard in the shape of two mail steamers
which are to be used on the mail route
between New York and the West Indies.
They are designed SO as to provide for their
armament in time of war, and the Navy
Department has arranged with the COM
pany owning them for their transfer to the
naval register in such emergency. Each
will have battery of eleven fve-inch
guns. The guns will be manufactured and
held in reserve at the navy yard In this
city. Provision has been made for several
other vessels of this type, and Congress will
be asked each year for appropriation
TO provide ordnance for them. This ord
nance will be manufactured at the navy
yard, in this city, and at private gun foun-
dries under contract.
Major Townsend Ordered Here.
Maj. Curtis Med. Townsend, Corps of En-
gineers. who has just completed tour of
service in the Philippines, and who re-
turned to this country with Secretary Taft's
party, has been ordered to this city for
temporary duty in the Office of the chief of
engineers.
Thirteen Marine Graduates.
Thirteen marine officers will graduate
from the Marine Corps School of Applica-
ton at Annapolis, November next They
are Second Lieuts. Frederic Kensel. Ed
ward S. Yates. Gerard NJ. Kincade David
B. Wills. Harry c. Smith. Albert Hamilton,
Fred d. Kilgore. Sidney A. Merriam Jo-
seph A. Rossell, Clayton B. VogeI Edward
III. Conger, ]. r. Horton and Loyick p.
Pinkston.
Marines for the Philippines.
Beginning with November next the NAVY
Department will send 100 marines to the
Philippines every month for at least five
months, for the purpose of relieving an
equal number of marines whose term of
service is expiring. These detachments will
be transported on army transports There
are now 800 marines on duty in the Phil
1pp1nes, and 1t Is the purpose of the Navy
Department to increase the number to
1900 as soon as practicable
Better Prospects in Civil Life.
Capt. L. p Williamson, assistant sur
geon. u S. A., has resigned. his resignation
to take effect December l. The officer gave
as his reason for leaving the army that the
prospects of promotion were poor, and that