New-York tribune., 1905-02-20
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
IERoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l


Washington February 1s.
NEW COAST DEFENCEs.-The first session OF
the joint army and navy board convoked 70 revise
the Endicott system of coast defences has been
held in this city. The board will be occupied for
some time with its labors, which will be conducted
more or less privately in a room in the War De
partment Building assigned to it for the purpose
Oh deliberations 1t is expected there will be
numerous changes in the scheme Of coast defence
now existing, not only in the methods OF defence
out IN the character and in the location OF the
works One new thing has developed a result of
the inquiry into the coast defence needs. II has
been found that there is no secondary battery at
any coast fort for repelIing landing parties or pro-
tecting against attack from the The great
Furnish MS 49, On SarrlsseS as 40 20 toI @
7-pounder of special design and light weight with
view to ascertaniDg whether such ordnance would
serve @ the purpose desired The War Department.
carriage and timber to be mounted on some fort.
probably in New-York Harbor, and there tested
useful in driving OF enemy which managed 70
IT, rs se4LlS aIlI IiEelS 70 d IaI-l
could get in behind the works and make an attack
there, II being impossible to direct fire from the
big guns to the rear.
ToRPEDoEs TO THE FRoNT-The Navy De
partment Is already learning great deal about the
torpedo. Comparatively little was done in the direc
ton OF torpedo firing until this season, and the in
tention OF holding competitive firing at Pensacola
for all the vessels carrying tCrpedoes has stimulated
preliminary practice extent unheard of before
1t has been found in these preliminary rings that
there is much to learn about the torpedo. its care
and operations. Incidentally numerous changes
found 70 be necessary in the mechanism of the tube
and the missile. These changes are OF minor char
more euectiye as weapon. The official observers
have been impressed with the discoveries made by
an Approaching eompettion. for record purposes
would have resulted so advantageously to the ser
from the firing at Pensacola, and that the torpedo
will take more prominent place in the naval arIa-
ment than ever before
NATIONAL RIFLE MATCH.-The national rifle
match will be held at Sea Girt. \. J.. in August.
according 20 the present plans formulated by the
general board in Washington. General W. P. Hall.
Assistant Adjutant General OF the army, will have
charge OF the meet as executive officer. The match
will begin about August %. and will continue for
three days, be followed by individual firing 1t is
expected that there will be least thirty thirty
five teams in the competition. including one repre-
senting the New-York National Guard. the army.
navy. marine corps, West Point and possibly An
napos the services the keenest interest Is being
taken in the event and preparations being made
everywhere for the training OF the marksnen- The
&c 81 IenS- S.SjIjtios 80 fri-1- -ToH srr1S in
target practice on board ship and the inability TO
Be built It is proposed to construct small arms
target ranges at the aaye5 n rad SJSh AZ m 1 mo-
pense to the government and where 1t is believed
be accommodated without trouble This viii be
done Instead Of buying additional land at home and
the ranges at the various navy yards when II is
neGeSSar The % h1a sma arms target practice there Win
take place before the great gun fire at Pensacola
NAVY PAY AND PERsoNNEL-NavaI officers
have been greatly exercised by the report that
Mr. Morton has written to the naval committees
advising against any legislation In behalf Of the
personnel and relating TO the naval pay table This
--ETa ~ Co aWarNy
of the Navy had already gone on record as urging
legislation which would at least repeal the por-
ton of the thirteenth section of the personnel
law which required reduction of Is per cent
of the pay of naval officers while on shore duty
Mr. Morton. it may be aqthoritatively stated, has
not changed his mind He is stili OF the opinion
Law should be repeated ana ne mas so eovlseG S.
the members of the naval committees There would
man to any other eTect. say observers OF the
situation at the Capitol since II Is very unlikely
sort 1t now looks as, If everything would have
ton 10 90 viii neA' bave Studied the Whole question
Of naval pay both that relating TO the commits
and will be in position to give valuable infor;;
nation The subject c Is Ra dsa Of %a is n9w aRd
aud still less of an idea Of what the exact exist
ing situation is
NICE RANK QUEsTION-A question OF the
right OF command has been bothering General
Macarthur at San Francisco. When the troops
the transport Sherman were assigned 10 that YES
sell it was found that the highest ranking officer
on board as a passenger was Colonel w S Scott,
the assistant chief OF the Philippine constabulary.
He was senior TO Colonel C. A. Williams. 2lst
Infantry, so far as rank went. although Scott
held his colonelcy by virtue Of his duty with the
consta bulaTy, being in other respects a captain
Of cavalry. 1t was thought he should exercise
command the transport but the law officers
of the army in Washington, sustained by the Sec
retarY of War. held that seott.s superior rank
was only for civil and not military. purposes, and
that he had right 10 command troops on or
off the transport a colonel He went back 10
the grade OF captain when he came in contact
with other officers of the line although. so far
choice quarters went he had the right 20 select
This is one OF the most troublesome questions
which come up and has frequently existed since
the army officers have been holding places IN a
civil capacity where they draw the pay and al
lowances of higher grade than they really Oc-
cupy in the military establishment
NAVAL. ORDNANCE NOvELTIEs.-The Navy
Department will award e contract for large
Der of target shells. These are intended for
on board ship in practice with the heavy guns
a matter of economy. it being cheaper TO use this
new type Of shell than the service projectiles- 1t
will be OF the dimensions, but not costly
of manufacture. and viii answer the purpose quite
as well in the practice OF training guns. An
additional advantage is that it will preserve the
guns from deterioration Bids have been received
FOR these shells and have been taken under advise
ment Bids have also been received by the naval
ordnance bureau for hundred sets OF 3-inch