New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-19
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
From The Tribune Bureau.

Navigation. This is the most important of naval
bilets ashore, and the detail is of vital interest
since the Office has do with the affairs Of the
personnel Among the officers who are mentioned
as available if not active candidates are Rear Ad-
miral William 8. Cowles. chief OF the Bureau
Of Equipment; Captain Richard Wainwright,
member of the General Board, duty IN Washing
ton; Captain John E. Pillsbury, who is Rear Ad-
miral Evans's chief of staff; Captain William J.
Barnette, now on duty here in connection with the
General Board, and Captain Richardson Glover,
former chief intelligence officer, and now at his
home in Washington on waiting orders; i was
tailed chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks
mus Tetuns 70 Jne bss S an 5geT b Guy senior
member of the corps of civil engineers but the Sc
senior civil engineer, who has filed the place for
w0 terms seIs az geqt Ios "a b be Under line con-
troll This naTrows the gossip to the EsiecgoH OF
ceI Oh the Bureau OF Ntosss 81 ne e III 20,
this supreme post OF Importance in the navy is Ad-
duty in the bureau. years ago In charge of per.
sonnet and detail. where his vide know5edgss OF
nation gave such satisfaction. and latterly before
his sea cruise as assistant to the chief oil the ou
reau
OFFICERS WITH MILITIA.-There are some
officers Of the army retired list above the grade OF
major who active duty, mostly in connec-
ton with the militia None OF them receives pay
above that of major on the active list except
where their retired pay amounts TO more than that
compensation. They do not receive allowances OF
any SORT and it Is with the idea OF providing such
extra income that the General STAFF has Endorsed
proposed legislation which will give these high
ranking retired officers allowances of the grade Of
major The provision will probably, be made in the
House a5d is noV, in the SENATE Military Commit
tee. There some eight officers directly inter-
erals and Lieutenant Colonel n. c. Cavanaugh on
duty at Wilmington, Del, with the organized
militia Of that state.
MORE WORK FOR NAVY YARD.-Another
batch of work which has been assigned to the navy
yard at Brooklyn IS that on the cruisers West Vir
giuia, Colorado. Maryland and Pennsylvania
These ships which are now in the division under
the command Of Rear Admiral BrownsOn, are In
need Of having completed certain equipment. The
work Is not extensive but 1t is deemed necessary to
do It In a thorough manner. The vessels are now
at Guantanamo where the crews are engaged in
small arms target practice BY April these yes
sells. with the other ships OF the Atlantic fleet VII
have their autumn record target pl4cI'G Win p7
petion Of this work they will come to the Brook
destined for the plant is that on the Massa-
chusetts. for which a special provision must be
structors that an item authorizing the extensive
atera tons estimated to cost at least S,o0WG ana
preparation bin in course Of preparation in the
House Naval Committee
STORM DAMAGE CI.AIIs.-The officers and
enlisted men of the army and navy who inter
ested in being reimbursed for damages sustained
by the long ago flood at Galveston and the more
recent hurricane at Porto Rico have about given
up hearing anything favorable from their appIica-
lions for reimbursement. IN fact. some OF the
Treasury Department officials take the position
that the government should not be held accountable
individuals in the services for damage wrought
TO their personal property by hurricanes and
foods. and It Is likely, considering the amount Of
money involved in the claims, that nothing will be
Congress
course, if this position is taken, as little hope can
weeks ago account Of the typhoon in the Philip
plies which DESTROYED d large amount OF Puouc
To be made n subject OF large number OF claims
ment is in favor of paying claims of this kind, but
no such favorable view Is expected from Congress.
ATHLETICS AFLOAT-The plan for establish
ing a system OF athletics board ship appears
have been abandoned A board detailed more
than year ago. composed of three naval officers.
including one of the medical corps has been able
TO come to no agreement upon a method OF instrUc-
ton A tentative textbook was provided. but moth
ing has been promulgated to the service and in
deed, the board itself has reached no final con-
illusions and submitted report TO the Navy De-
partmeut- This excited much comment I'm the ser
sonaI interest in athletic work in the service and
special provisions we're made for The Instruction
Annapolis in gymnastics. Mr.. Roosevelt found
that, while the soldiers had training I'm ath-
letcs, the sailors and marines on board ship had
no regular instruction in that class of work. The
naval board was detailed to prepare q system Of
ton by this time There is no sign of the board
getting down to business.
PAYMASTERS AT SCHOOL.-There will be
continuation of the school Of application for naval
pay officers at the Washington Navy Yard. II will
begin some time in July. by which time it is hoped
to have f!iod by competitive examination held in
this city the eleven vacancies in the junior grade
of that branch of the navy. At that session there
will also he present officers OF the pay corps now
on duty al sea- who viii be detached and sent to
Washington in order to avail themselves OF the
Advantages OF the instruction. II is interesting TO
know that Secretary Bonaparte has changed the
scope Of the competitive examination OF candidates
for appointment as assistant paymaster. ne be
Iovas mar less attention sbolid he rai5 20 NOR
book learning, which may be acquired at the last
credited "a "a new subject known as general in
formation. by which the candidate will be tested
as TO his knowledge OF cortemporaneous history
and his acquaintance with current affairs. IL Is
hoped that the next examination viii NIL all the
will have been furnished with sixty-siX assistant
paymasters and some six or seven passed assistant
pay masters In the thirty-sx months
FIRE LOSSES on TRANSFORMED War De
partment has not received the claims arising from
the losses sustained by officers and men Of the %
United States Infantry by reason OF fire on board
the army transport Meade, at San Francisco. on
the OF the sailing 81 thai vessel with the
mand for Manila. This is evidently an oversight
ana some mas forgotten the necessary IrtllINI-
naries 70 making the claim for governmental reim-
burscmeut of Individual losses. There is APP
preparation which may be drawn upon for this
purpose. but the auditor FOR the War Department
must have as a basis Of settlement the proceedings
Of board Of survey. The board evidently was not
detailed before the transport left san Francisco.
and, OF course the delay in tho conclusions OF the
board has 10 that extent postponed the settlement
OF the claims
BOOKS FOR MAN-O'-WARS MEN.-A requis-
;ion has been received at the Navy Department
1Tom the navy yard at Brooklyn oalliuE Tor