New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-03
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
rFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l
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for the making Of several major generals for the
retired list OF the army when Major General G.
L. Gillespe goes on the retired list upon his own
application, within che next few weeks. Ordi-
narily there is no difficulty in obtaining candi-
dates for this sort of favor. but Just now
OF the stan brlgadieTs appear willing to retre
even with the higher rank. Those who are men
toned as available in this respect are the
missary general. paymaster general chief signal
officer and the Inspector general Any OF them
is willing to on the retired list with the next
higher grade. especially the paymaster general
and INSPECTOR general They feel. however, that
they ought to be allowed to await a later vacancy
and this desire may deprive some Of them Of going
generate; viii TTobaby be filIed bT the apIoint
Eaent OF Colonel A. l. Wagner, OF the military
army, and the author Of the service textbooks on
the subject He is on duty at the War College at
that institution. vixen General T. II. Bliss goes
two places to 5e filled in the rank of major in the
military secretary's department, and 70 these posi-
18th Infantry, secretary Of the general staff and
Captain E. F. Ladd Of the cavalry arm, do
tailed Quartermaster.
BOOM FOR THE ARTILLERY.-Artillery off,
GERS gratiied to learn that the President has
taken personal interest in the affairs OF that
arm. with the prospect that at the session Of
Congress there will be some important recommen-
dations in the Presidents message, II not
special communication to Congress from the White
House on the subject One proposition is to sepa-
the artillery corps into two parts. one Of heavy
artillery. having to do with the manning Of the
coast forts and the other with the field artillery.
being the more mobile branch Of gunnery for work
in the field with cavalry and infantry. This plan
means that posts will be selected where the
field artillery can obtain practice; that the
artillery will have to be increased; that there will
have to be some special provision for the torpedo
defence of the coast and that target practice with
the great guns will have to be conducted sys
tematically The artillery branch has had its work
manifestly increased. with the result that 1t has
become highly technical and compares with the
ordnance department in that respect and in the diff
hculty Of obtaining the officers for the and
the trained men who willing to remain in the
at6er tney haXe Geen EDUCATED f9G the per
1ore mcluQes the reIentlon or these men and the
continued training OF officers 50 as TO keep them
posed that the examinations for promotion shall
that Senior as well as Junior ocers shan he 5ro
nounced capable of performing the duties of the
I in knowing what the General Stan recommends
IN this direction especially as the plan is destined
which should assure it success before Congress.
| other branches of the army are hoping for relief
in various directions When Congress meets there
| medical department. ordnance department and sig
nal corps.
NAVAL JUNK PILE.-There is likely to be a
general cleaning out Of the register Of ships Of
| as a result OF series of surveys authorized by
! the Navy Department at various navy yards. 1t
has been found that there are several ships. most
| Of them acquired during or just prior to the war
with Spain. which will require repairs to such an
| extent in order to keep them in condition for
vice at cost beyond the percentage of expenditure
| deemed justiiabe. 1t is considered that when
| the repairs to a warship amount in cost to more
than 10 per cent Of the value of the ship it is not
worth while doing the work. The proportion
formerly 20 per cent but that was in the days Of
the old wooden navy. Among the ships likely to be
! sold to the highest bidder is the Bancroft, orig
inally designed practice ship for the midship-
gree It is too small for that use now and It is
too costly OF maintenance and too light of draught
Another ship which would be sold would be the
| Rear Admiral Ammen, who proceeded on the
theory that ship equipped with a powerfully sus-
ton. The days Of ramming an enemy. however,
power guns, to say nothing. Of the torpedo. The
/ sale Of the Ammen ram is doubtful however, for
REPAIRS TO THE FLEET-Chief Constructor
Capps Of the navy. is at work on the detailed pro-
! gramme for the repair Of ships Of war after they
| have completed their work on the target ranges at
Pensacola. 1t IS desired that some Of the ships
shall be overhauled before they take part in the
battle exercises at Hampton Roads in June in COM
pany with some five thousand artillery troops OF
the army. Most of the ships of the North Atlantic
feet however. will not be taken to the yards until
| fall and few If any OF them will be docked until
| that time 1t is now the policy OF the department
] to keep ships in the water. longer than was for
active duty Of the vessels and to diminish the cost
which is always increased IN the way Of repairs
work will be done at the New-York Navy Yard.
| heaviest Jobs will be kept busy
| NIDsHIPMEN VACANCIES-F. Lyford Ling
the son Of State Senator Ling. who was nominated
last year for midshipman at Annapolis by Senator
PIatt and failed in the semi-ann examination,
has been renominated. He passed his physical
animation at Annapolis this week and entered the
Naval Academy on March o. The other vacancies
at the Naval Academy in the districts to the credit
Cd 10TH 18th 18th 18TH 18th goth. 2lst 25th 18th.
18th 8Oth 3d. 34th S5th and S7th and two each in
the Tth 9Th. 18th and 18th.
SWIFT STILL IAlPROVING.-The Navy Depart
ment to-day received favorable report on the con-
ditiOn OF Captain Swift who is in hospital at
Havana i'll with typhoid fever.
NAvY's BIG GUN SHOP.-Naval ordnance off,
GERS who are interested in the enlargement OF the
naval gun factory anxious to know what Sec
rotary Morton will do in regard to thai establish
ment which is located at the Washington Navy
Yard Last year the chief OF ordnance. Rear Admit
raj Mason followed his predecessors In the recon-
mendation that the factory plant be increased. to
the end that the output Of the plant might be en-
iarged It was pointed that work could be done
better and quicker, II not cheaper at the gun fac
tory than anywhere else. especially under eontracE
On the other hand, there has always been policy
IN the department which recognized the necessity
OF encouraging domestic industry IN the manuract-
| ure OF war supplies and war material IL was real
tied that unless there were American commercial
sources OF supply. the government would DO In
bad place when il came to demanding suddenly
enlarged quantities OF material Mr. morton did
not favor the recommendation for the increase OF
the plant and told the House Naval CSintt tnat
he was by no means satis ne lands Of Consress
AsaE@aH-T. he disapproVeu OF the 9"o' - S'''N@e