New-York tribune., 1905-12-25
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
from The Tribune Bureau.

THE SOLDIERS BURDEN.-Leading army OH
GERS believe they see the passing OF the historic
haversack Practical military people TN the hel@
have pronounced that article of the soldiers equip
great impediment the march espe-
cially when the soldiers are conducted through
country of thick growth. II is awkward burden
when streams are to be crossed II is coming to De
realized that with all the theories of imposing upon
the soldier his burden of the field it IS desirable
after all, to minimize the extra weight which ne
must carry when away from the garrison or base
of supplies. The soldier too often at imminent rSK
of his interests applies the remedy in the form
of the simple process of throwing away most of the
things which the theorists have painfully Inquired
out may be carried by him the necessities OF the
minimized burden does not extend beyond one SUIT
towel and soap shelter ter half Of tentage, blanket.
the usual rations, and extra ammunition Ihese
sufficient as the soldiers burden on the march; ana
authorized in dire extremity as for instance when
the soldier is in cold climate and would need, on
extra blanket sleeping bag: Even then he will
nave an me- Mangs TO G@r b d S9 WIN ha tbe ndivUaJ
mobility is seriously impeded. Personal comfort Is
found to be consideration against which even the
retention Of the ration becomes of small moment:
NAVAL NEEDS ASHORE.-The Secretary of the
Navy will make a plea before Congress this year
in behalf of liberal appropriations for the
shore equipment. OF course, there must be strict
economy in the naval allotments and there are IN
dications already in the preliminary arrangements
for the naval bill that the approved estimates VIII
be greatly reduced by the house naval committed
1t is intended however, by Secretary Bonaparte to
exclude from the pairing process as far as pos
sible, certain important public works Whlch are
deemed to be necessary. This applies particularly
to the dry dock construction planned for the next
five years, in which it is hoped to bulid at
least three craving docks, to be established re-
spectiveIy at Boston. Pensacola and Bremerton'
Wash. 1t is also planned to have a floating COCK
of dimensions as great as those Of the Dewey. II
Brooklyn yard. 1t is understood that an Ine SPTt
is likely that additional dry dock construction VIII
further south. The floating dock will be located
at Solomon's Island in Chesapeake Bay, where the
the headquarters of such a dock. There would oe,
however no naval station at tnaI pace ptio tg Win
a floating dock which would be held IN Teaalnesss mess
be, by a floating machine shop on the order OF the
Vulcan, equipped for service during our war Win
Spain.
VEXING NAVAL TITLES.-The troublesome
question of titles for certain naval officers or
prominence has again come before the Navy De-
partment Some fault is found because the chief
constructor of the navy. w. l. Capps, is addressed
as rear admiral, it being held that stan onlcer
may not use a line title although he holds under
the law the positive rank of rear admiral ana
draws pay of that grade. There are many tncon-
sfstencies in the application and employment Oh
naval titles and they find their most bewildering
navy bureaus. Staff officers who are bureau chiets
the SO-Called line title or rear
although the engineer in chief VINO rs & Ide i
GER has that privilege. TWO of the three H nne
but are permitted use, and must be addressed
by the title of rear admiral an dne dueSS1Tin eSirals
the most prominent being Rear AdrII t,pS re
garding the chief constructor.
FILIPINO SCOUTS PAssING-War Department
officials considerably interested in the crit1-
cisrns which come from the Philippines in regard
to the scouts of the islands 1t has been recon-
mended from authoritative source that the eX-
penditures account of that branch OF island
defence shall materially reduced This includes
the cheapening of the scout ration, which IS de-
scribed as consisting largely of articles mot 20 be
obtained in the place from which the r men are
and with which they bn rns rto5 PFo5
be reduced accordingly so as to resemble more re
found to be much cheaper, generally accessible and
composed of articles with which the men are ia
miliar and for which they have liking 1t Is
pointed out that the scout branch should not be
that men from the same class and the parta
of the islands should be drawn upon to serve as
able that this agitation viii, lead to a merging of
the scouts and the COnStabulary. There are many
advantages to be gained by this arrangement.
FINISHING THE WARSHIPs.-The progress
which is being made In the construction of naval
ships will shortly diminish the list of vessels in
process of completion to a notable degree. In the
list OF thirteen battIeships under way, it is
expected that six of them will be ready for service
by next July that another Will be finished two
or three months afterward. The completed ships.
Of course include the Connecticut. building at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard. By that time also, four or
the six armored cruisers will be finished, as VIII
the three protected cruisers, two training ships
and two torpedo boats, and inside of year the
four submarines building at Quincy, Mass. will De
ready for acceptance by the government. This
will leave under construction, toward the end OF
1906, only six battleships. two armored cruisers
ana three scouts. together with the two batteshipS
authorized the last session, two cOllierS and
whatever NAV be provided in the way of naval In
crease at the present session.
SUPPLIES UNDER AMERICAN FLAG.-Secre-
tary Bonaparte is very anxious to have the law
repealed which requires shipment of coal and sup
plies for the navy in American ships. This
ouirement of the statutes has already resulted in
deficiency of $25000O and it is destined to require
a special appropriation of double that amount.
This deficiency due entirely to the necessity OF
shico:ag fuel and stores for naval ships on dis
tant stations in American bottoms. This means pay
ment of high freight rates, which amount
siderable in the end when much material is shipped
to the Asiatic station.
PAY OFFICER INVOLVED. II Another navy
paymaster is in trouble, it is probable that the
officer, Paymaster George NJ. Lukesh. duty
the Asiatic station will be brought before naval
court martial or permitted TO resign. He is
charged with serious misconduct and the alega-
tions are supported with affidavfts from Ameri-
cans in Yokohama. Japan. Paymaster Lukesh is
present at Cavite.
DEWEY SENDS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.
Warns Aoainct Chimes and Grudpes in Greet.