New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-08
AND NAVY NEWS.
rFnoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
VTo-h{,,rto., n


ORGANIZED MILITIA PRoJEcr.-ohioers OF
the general stan are discussing the project OF esto
fishing national reserves, which scheme VIII make
use Of the plan favored Of locazing the fegl-
ments of the regular army. 1t Is probaoy lhat
were this idea carried out the State of New-Yorx
and a part of New-England would be drawn upon 10
furnish the enlisted force Of two regiments OF in
fantry and one regiment Of cavalry and such arth-
lerymen as could be obtained in that section IN the
same district there would be established list OF
available men who would in time of war serve in
volunteer regiments soldiers; there would be an
other list Of those who are capable of serving as
officers in the volunteer body. This, say the military
experts, would give the force needed to keep the
which is not the situation now by any means The
Ere$ttest - 80 ~ renIare tSnss
whose OF enlistment expired and this does not
keen lp the company troop and battery strength to
tho maximum. This condition is greatly to be de-
sired say the General Staff officers here ana II Is 70
this end they are applying their thought IN the
hope Of getting up plan which win serve the pur-
tary Of War submitting it TO Congress next winter.
1t is realized that something must De cone 70 nh
obtaining volunteer force which VIII angnent
whatever is possible in the form Of the militia body
Of the country.
ToRPEDoEs RETURN TO FAvOR--Prelir-
mary reports are being received at the Navy De-
partment in regard to the torpedo practice by the
ships Of the North Atlantic fleet at Pensacola
Much interest attached to this work this year, be-
cause. although naval officers are not inclined TO
admit II, there mas Deen pTdCllCay no pTdcllCS "a
that kind hitherto board ships Of The tor
pedoes were tried at Newport of course, and there
has always been more or less training in their
handling and control, but there has been nothing
in the way OF firing at targets or keeping Of any
record Of such work as is the with the other
class Of armament OF the ships Of such as the
breech-oading rifles. There was advance
work with the torpedoes before the ships reached
and many defects were discovered in the system of
firing. It found advisable to issue additional
Instructions for the guidance of those officers who
have charge Of the ring Of the torpedoes' II those
claimed for them by the advocates Of the tor
found that the service had much to learn on the
practical side in regard 70 torpedoes and their
foF what was not in the direction Of
hitting the object aimed at. Next year it is pro-
posed to carry on the practice in a more extensive
FAR REACHING DECISION.-The War Depart
ment is threatened with general revision Of its
old records. due to decision OF the Court OF
Claims in the case Of volunteer officer who served
in the with Spain. and who was sentenced to
dismissal by military court The Court of Claims
holds that the court martial should have been COM
posed entirely Of volunteer officers in order TO have
the proceedings legal else the ex-oficer's sentence
null and void. and he is entitled to pay TO the
date when his regiment was mustered out. More
over, his record is cleared OF the charges made
against him and for which he dismissed from
the service The War Department proposes to take
the TO the Supreme Court, for the reason that
If the decision Of the lower court stands, hundreds
Of other court martial cases which were created
during the with Spain and during the Civil
War will be declared void and the supposed Of
tenders will be restored good standing, with back
pay and the right TO pension. The slight differ
ence in the particular pending is that the
composed Of volunteer officers with the
exception of the president OF the court, who a
senior officer OF volunteers and junior officer Of
regulars at the time. The War Department
insists that the fact that the president of the
happened to be connected with tho regular estab-
lshInent did not render him any less volunteer
officer change the character OF the court, which,
under tho law must be of volunteer officers entire
ly in order to legally try officer OF volunteers.
ders for naval ordnance which have been placed
will be that for which bids will be opened shortly
by the chief OF ordnance It embraces eight S-inch
guns twelve finch guns and thrty-tyyo 6-inch guns
of nickel Steel with accessories and spare parts,
These guns will be placed the ships under
construction, far q they will