New-York tribune., 1905-01-16
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
LFRoN THE TRIBUNE BuREAU.l

chasing from the Ordnance Department OF army
the magazine rifles of 1903 and the new model army
cartridge belt with ali attachments. In order 10
properly equip the corps. II is estimated that TINS
will cost $4,000. The army has recently been
equipped with these model rifles, which were
adopted after exhaustive trials subsequent TO the
report of a board Of officers which recommended
the adoption of universal cartridge for tire entire
service: Under recent act Of C9nsress the ear or
Tie navy has also asked for an appropriation to
and in order therefore that the marine corps may
be on an equality in this respect with al other
TO discard the now obsolete Krag for these new
for the procurement OF several thousand rifles for
issue 10 the service at this time and it is deemed
when new one must in any event in a short time
entire corps with the new sun rather than to coae
tinue with the old one These rifles are 70 be pro-
which can deliver them by July !. 1905.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS sAvINGS-Arrange-
ments are being made to extend to the enlisted
OF the marine corps. well those of the army
and navy the privilege OF depositing their sayieSS
each month with the paymaster. The plan has
worked very well in the army. where the amount OF
zoney left in the hands Of the government has
steadily Increased in amount, although II IS much
smaller than in the days when the canteen existed.
It is explained that the soldiers find way to spend
their money IN the places of Ill repue in the neigh
borhood Of every army post. whereas previous
such a condition they had money to lay
aside. 1t is proposed to give the marines chance
to place their surplus cash deposit and receive
interest at the rate of per cent. The amount on
deposit cannot be drawn until the marine is dis
charged and is not subject TO draft on account of
court martial sentence. for the offence of
is forfeited This has been found 20 or On E 1eosl pest
there was a recent where it supposed to
soldier at a post in New-York. who went on % a5 n
excursion and failed to in time. He INDUCED
100 strongly in drink. but as soon as he was sober
ne reported for duty was tried and acknowledged
posit 10 his credit and the question came up wheth-
er the government could appropriate the fund which
that II was to be used to purchase the discharge Of
the man must lose I his epos OF bn 5ne f ay 6ea that
veloped the fact that the soldier was a deEerter
take in admitting the allegation Steps s have I5S now
been & taken to change the record in his Behalf and
money enormously taken from him.
TORPEDO TUBES FOR wARsHIPs-It is est,
mated It will take 100000 TO make the changes in
the war vessels under construction SO as to provide
them with submerged torpedo tubes. There is now
disposition on the part of the experts question
the wisdom Of this provision OF hat armament
despite the fact that prejudice been so much in
favor of the torpedo. Originally the vessels were
planned without regard to the submerged tubes and
this was followed by agitation the question
construction. Various estimates have been made of
the cost OF TINS second thought and 1t is dis
covered that the expense incurred in direction
would be at least 100000 The impression now
of reports from the 4sato station that the tor
pedoes have played very little part in the naval
conflicts between the Japanese and Russians The
ranges OF lighting have been too great TO make tor
HARD STUDY AFFECTS PHYSIQUE-In the
eXanina ton just completed Annapolis of mid
shpmen who are to be graduated on January 81
preliminary TO their two years cruise there were
five young who were reported by the surgeons
as not quite up to the requirements. If these
deficiencies had existed at the entrance exanlina-
tons early in the midshipnan career the young
men would have been discharged under the rule
raising the standard of physical condition of mid
shPInen: Great is2ity had existed IN that respect
fects removed and graduates We're commits
should not have been admitted to the service There
was some curiosity to what would be done in the
cases OF the nVe midshlpmen, who the recon-
mendation of the Naval Academy will be permitted
they viii be re-examined The physical defects are
slight and as they have gone through the four
10 take the two years at sea-
BROOKLYN YARD TO BUILD CoLLIER.-It
IS possible that one of the naval coIiers which It
planned should be built at the Mare Island
Navy Yard Will be built under contract. after all
It has been found that it would require considera-
bic money TO fit out navy yard for this purpose
and that it would be advantageous to the govern
to invite bids for the construction Of the ves-
sells; inasmuch as there is great demand for such
MoA al ptHaCe Si SS!ipya.os tobaD!y pressure from
have golfers built under contract instead of
at the government plants. The other collier will
have to be built at the New-York yard. where
facilities ample for such work and where the
prelimnaries have already been done. Considerable
money II believed by the naval officials can be
saved by doing this work under contract.
NAVY's BARREL LACCUNIULATION.-Th Navy
Department IS offering for sale at public auction
thousand empty alcohol barrels. This is an un-
accumulation at the powder depots and is the
result of the immense purchase OF alcohol in the
last six months. That article is used in the
manufacture Of smokeless powder. These barrels
command a price OF 81 each. The best of them
used again by the alcohol companies, and the others
bought at the cider mills
RIP VAN WRINKLE IN NAVY.-IAeutenant
Yates Stirling jr, of Rear Admiral Stirling and
flag lieutenant and aid on the staff of the latter.
who is commander in chief of the Aslatic feet has
come in for some criticism He recently took part