The National tribune., 1906-02-15
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Continued from fifth page.

parte to the effect that this Government
Is practically without a reserve supply
of ammunition and without extra guns
for ships of war.
One of the results of Gen Chaffee' s
| observations of the maneuvers of the
French army last Summer is the adop-
ton by the General Staff of the bit and
Dridoon principle for all mounted troops
in the United States Army.
The War Department has decided to
| go back to the heavy caliber for Army
| ieVoivers, and has adopted cartridge
proposed by the Ordnance Bureau car
rying bullet of As caliber to replace
the .3S caiber now In use. The reason
Tor the change is that it is desired to
nave bullet with greater stopping
power than that now in use. Oppor-
tunity also is given for a decided inno-
VatIon in the type of revolver. The
ordnance Bureau has invited manufac-
turers of pistols TO enter into n compe-
ution and to submit samples of reyolv-
ers, either of the automatic type or
along the lines of those now used by
the Army. All weapons submitted.
however, must be made for the :45
caliher cartridge which has been adopt
ed The competition will take place
some months hence. thus giving ample
opportunity for those interested to
evolve type OF pistol for entry in the
contest.
The Board of Naval Construction has
decided to recommend the installation
of turbine machinery on board either
the South Carolina or the Michigan.
the two battleships now being designed.
The question has been under considera-
ton for some time.
The Navy Department has received
and approved the plan for the estab-
liShment of n naval training station on
the Great Lakes. The execution of this
plan will cost about s2,000,000. AL
though there is some opposition in Con-
greSs TO an expenditure of so much
money, the chances of favorable action
are said to be good, especially as Rep
resentative Fose, of Illinois, Chairman
of the House Naval Committee, is in
tereSted in the project. The plan con-
templates station for the housing and
training of 1000 young men similar in
its general design to the stations at
Norfolk, Newport and Yerba Buena, Cal.
The Navy Department has granted
the request of Gov. Warfield. and will
shortly turn over to the State of Mary
land the monitor Miantonomah. to be
used by the State Naval Militia. The
Miantonomah is now undergoing re-
pairs at the League Island Navy Yard,
Philadelphia. The Government has es-
tablished a policy of forming a coast
squadron of monitors to be manned by
the Naval Reserves. The monitor Will
be placed in the hands of the State of
| Maryland with complete equipment and
modern battery. composed of four TO-
inch breech-loading 'ifes and several
six-pounder field pieces and quick-fir-
inor In will Ia tIa
books, charts and instruments used for
navigation.
When the Sth Inf. moves to san Fran
cisco to embark for the Philippines the
last of February, the men will find an
innovation in the method of providing
meals on the Journey across the CONT
nent. Heretofore at various stations
along the route the soldiers were com
PEELED TO take their stand alongside
lunch counters and railway eating
houses and get what they could 10 eat.
But this trip inaugurates the plan of
carrying a buffet on each train.
Each baggage car will be fitted with
an Army range, No. 4, and all the para
phernalia necessary to cooking. Each
train will have tank of 120 gallons
of water. in addition to two 20-gallon
coffee boilers. Arrangements have been
made by which the railroad companies
i4et NS oSiCcu " lutliSH water anu coal
This matter of subsistence for troops
While being transported by railroad is
a serious one, and has been under adj
visement for some time. QuarIeraas-
ter-General Humphrey has been active
In the inauguration of a ''dining-car
service and this experiment will be
under the supervision of a board of or
GERS appointed by him. This board will
make a report on the feasibility of train
cooking on this trip, and then the De
partment will determine whether its
permanent adoption for troops travel
ing on long journeys will be for the best
interests of the service.
The death of King Christian hung
half the Embassy and Legation flags in
Washington at half-staff. Among those
draped in black were the Danish coIors
which hang before the residence of the
Minister. on Nineteenth street, speaking
Of Nations sorrow for the old King
who so long and so well governed the
destinies of that northern land. The
standard of Great Britain is furled over
the portals of the stately Embassy, to
honor the memory of the father of
England's Queen, and Russia's Imperial
standard Is draped about the hagpole,
the Dowager Empress and the Car be-
ing. respectively, the daughter and
colors will so remain for 30 days.
There are few things IN life more
pathetically humorous than the snob
and toady. President and Mrs Roose-
Welt are finding out who these are OF
course, the invitations to the wedding
of Miss Roosevelt and Mr. Longworth
had to be limited TO the capacity OF the
White House grounds, anyhow. 1t Is
said that they viii hardly permit every
body to get into the White House at
one time unless the outside walls are
removed. Despite the fact that to such
n ceremony in private family nobody
would dare ask an invitation, the Presi-
dental mail has been Increased by
wagon loads by people writing to ask
for an Invita- ation to the wedding In
view of this fact the President has been
forced TO issue a card of regrets" that
the capacity OF the White House Is so
limited and their list of friends so large
II is as follows:
''The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
ask the kind consideration of many
friends who would, under ordinary cir
cumstances, receive invitations to Miss
Roosevelt's wedding. The capacity of
the White House requires that under
existing circumstances invitations be
limited to the closest kinsfolk the per-
sOnal friends of Miss Roosevelt and Mr.
Lcngworth and certain classes of Off
Gals in Washington. No friends of the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt are being
asked, unless they also come within one
OF these classes; and even with these
limitations the number of guests threat
ems to overtaX the capacity of the White
House"