New-York tribune., 1905-02-06
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
TrRoM THE TRIBUNE BuREAU.l


NAVAL. PAY QUESTION.-Steps have been taken
to postpone action on the Foss-Dayton bill for the
revision of the naval pay table The naval pay
officers have produced statistics to show that II
the bill is enacted in its present shape 1t will have
the effect of cutting down the total pay received
during his career of every officer who stands n
chance of becoming a rear admiral or the so-caIleu
second nine This information. being communicated
to naval officers generally Is expected to have the
effect of turning upon Congress large amount of
correspondence in protest against the oil In It's
present wording. The opportunity for changes Is
is to place the provisions the naval bill in the
Senate The most aJ cap be accom-
plshed during the present session of congress
sDt most oee4s Of the service ali efforts in a
direction abandoned until next year, wnen
manner and in a way which does not invite the
81 so many are desne to be adversely
affected by the pending legislation
GREATER NETWORK DEFENCEs.-The mill
tary authorities are in favor Of acquiring some
twenty-five acres adjoining the Fort Wadsworth
(New-York) military reservation-known as the
King and Bates property-as means of avoiding
future claims for damages by the owners of the
land The latter have complained to the War De-
partment officials in regard to injury sustained by
buildings on their property og IRON t te
the property and the inability to use 1t or lease it
Popery which III IS desired purosse is Situated
nor OF tae f e p TSe on
in which damage to this private property can be
s it's parchase By the government and ncoFpora
: ton in the present reservation 1t will then be
available for any extension OF the post that may
! be found necessary.
BRooKLYN NAVY YARD PLANs.-several
emergency changes and improvements are nsces-
sary at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. and plans and
specifications have been drawn with view to doing
this work. provided Congress will add the items to
the Naval bill. which has been reported from the
| House committee One Of the projects is the ex-
tension of the railroad system Of the yard in the
for building the collier may be more complete. An
other project is that Of erecting 5000 shelter over
pump installed for the purpose Of supplying water
to the machinery plant of the coal storage outfit.
It is necessary to remove the cement shed and the
machinery storage building on the site OF the new
place these structures at other points.
DAMAGES FROM BIG GUNs-The War Depart
ment is in receipt Of several claims from people
who want damages as the result Of heavy artillery
practice with the guns and mortars of coast
Notifications. Many of these instances date from
the joint army and navy manoeuvres at Portland,
Me-. in 1901: but there claims of this kind ali
along the coast. and It is becoming of the
serious questions under what circumstances practice
with big guns may be carried on so as not to injure
Special arrangements may have to be made In the
Of the Joint naval and aTg S
they are to be called hereafter-which take place
R IS ag Eegy 9t the and dfsy yerS
VIII be made to protect private property from dam
windows and the cracking of plaster. the highest
claim amounting to $1,400.
NEw-oRLEANs NAVAL sTATION.-The Navy
Department is in receipt of protests from the citi-
zens OF New-Oreans against the criticisms of naval
officials of the facilities existing at the naval station
at Algiers. It has been asserted in hearings of
bureau chiefs before the House Naval Committee
that the approach to the station. where there is
floating drydock. at times dangerous; that ships
docked there in danger OF being injured by the
conditions. including a swift current and the pres
ence of snags in the river: that the floating dock.
is the with all such structures. presented
difficulties of docking which measuraby increased
the risk Of the operation especially in the case Of
this view insist that there is nothing at Agiers to
and such reports are apt to influence legislation
in way which will not be profitable to the station
natural. The Navy Department viii make no further
for which Station If is fa fbat be5aI iof esfatc
have been made: 1t is stated at the department
mittee without reservation the end that the full
when 1t comes to determining what items shall be
Included in the completed bill and to meet attacks
before the House.
DRYDOCKs NEEDED.-The naval officials expect
some special legislation this for drydocks The
| naval intelligence office has been supplying the
Secretary with much data the subject especially
in regard to the doclIyards of other nations in
all parts OF the world There Is difference of
! opinion shown in the discussions IN the general
board and the board on construction in regard to
the type OF dock to be used at repair stations at
| home and abroad. Some Of the officers believe It
| would be more profitable to have floating docks
which could be carried TO any point where docking
! was required other officers say that the craving
dock is best suited for naval purposes, and that the
| accompanying cost of defence must be reckoned as
| an incident Of maintaining naval stations Rear
| Admiral Converse, Chief Of the Bureau of Naviga-
ton has expressed the opinion that there are extra
! risks connected with docking a ship In a floating
structure. especially in Southern waters where sud
| O
| FALSE REPORTS nF EPInEMInS