Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-13
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Construction Bureau Willing to
Build Big BattIeship.

The construction bureau of the navy Is
willing to undertake to build the leviathan
20.00O-tOn battIeship provided for In the
pending naval appropriation bill. On the
basis Of the experience acquired In the con-
structien Of the battieship Connecticut at
the New York navy yard the constructors
feel sure that they execute that task
with reasonable dispatch and at a minimum
of cost. careful estimate limits the time
allowed for construction to forty-eight
months and the cost to $10,0000 600 The
New York navy yard is found to be the only
place available and suitable for that work,
having the necessary slip room and the
machine plant and cranes required for eco
nomical shipwork the large scale In
volved in the building of such n ship. 1t is
pointed out that, after all. the new ship
will not be very much larger than some OF
those now afoat or building for the United
States navy. The Connecticut is of 11,s:GG
tons displacement and the South Carolina
and Michigan, bids for the construction
of which are to be opened next month. Will
come within less than two thousand tons of
the measure OF the proposed big ship. In
fact, the difference in size would not be
particularly noticeable to a landsman. con-
sisting as 1t will in slightly fuller lines and
breadth of hull
The principal factor in fixing the time OF
construction Is the procurement OF the nee
Navy. Department that In launching the
Dreadnaught in four months after the keel
blocks were laid down the British sn p
wrights really We're guilty of tockeying
in some degree. For a long time in advance
materials were being gathered at the dock
yard. and at the word 1t became only a
task of throwing that stock together rap
idly In fact. the ship was mere shell
when launched and many months time will
be required to complete her If the Ameri-
can steel makers are willing to do Their
share in supplying the necessary material
the naval constructors believe that they can
build the new 20000-ship In about the same
time would be required to turn out a
battleship of the New Hampshire class:
namely, in four years OF course they ale
by no means clear that Congress Will re-
quire them to undertake that work, but they
point out that, even in the absence of a
specific instruction the usual form of naval
bid provides that the department may I'M
dertake the work of construction II the pri-
vate bids are not reasonable.
Retirement of Admiral Converse.
Rear Admiral George A. Converse will 60
on the retired list tomorrow by operation
of law account of age. At the request of
the President and the Secretary of the Navy
he will continue to serve as chief of the
bureau of navigation, Navy Department, at
least until August next, when his two-year
term of service in that office will expire.
Admiral Converse is In delicate health, but.
with the assistance of Capt. Potter, Com
mander Usher and others he will undoubt-
edly be able to efficiently administer tie
important affairs of the navigation bureau
for some time to come. 1t is expected that
he will take a long leave of absence his
summer for the benefit OF his health and
that Capt. Potter will be left in charge OF
affairs
Admiral Converse is a native of Vermont
and began his naval service in November,
1861 His last tour of sea service expired
In, Oct OH time
been on duty in this city on various I'M
portant assignments. He reached the 81 dde
of rear admiral in November, 1904, and has
had about fourteen years sea service
Correcting Compasses of Lake Ships.
With the recent departure for Cleveland,
Ohio, Of Commander Reginald Nicholson,
assistant chief of the equipment bureau,
the Navy Department inaugurates a new
work Of much Importance to lake naviga-
ton. For years past there have been many
complaints by lake captains of erratic be-
hayior of their compasses upon which the
safety of their ships depends In thick and
bad weather. Cargoes of iron ore and
metals capable of affecting the magnetic
needle were undoubtedly at the bottom of
some Of these complaints, but IT was
realized by navigators that natural con-
ditions were often causing variations OF
the compass. and that 1t might be possible
to reduce the evils arising from such
causes Therefore the Lake Carriers As
ISOLATION and the Pittsburg combination and
other influential organizations interested IN
lake commerce have called upon the Navy
Department to aid them. Accordingly
Commander Nicholson goes out to the lakes
with the primary purpose OF setting up
prominent marks in proper places so that
the captains of passing ships may cheek OH
any error in their compasses and make the
necessary adjustments He Will take with
him the necessary instruments TO estaolisn
true north at these marked sites ana
call upon the nearest branch hydrographic
offices for any needed help. It Is the pres
ent purpose to erect such marks on the
banks of the St Clair river and IN me
Straits of Mackinaw, which Will hholo
opportunity to make compass corrections TO
ali shipping passing between the three
great lakes of Michigan, Superior ana
Hnron Officers at the branch hydro
pranhic offices will be instructed to assist
any ship captain In adjusting MS COM
passes when they are found through Cd
servaton of the marks to be out OF oroer'
Warning to Dental Surgeons
Col. Henry p Mccain, military secretary
has informed Maj. Gen. Wade, command
ing the Atlantic division at New York, that
IN connection with Inspections made during
the past year II has been reported that
certain contract dental surgeons have not
observed that provision OF paragraph a4Ho,
army regulations, which fixes their official
office hours at from am. to pm ana
nrohibfts them from operating on those not
entitled to free service during these hours.
Col Mccain adds that In view OF that fact
the Secretary of War directs that the para
graph in question be strictly enforced ana
mat a failure on the part of any contract
dental surgeon to comply with 1t snail De
Considered as cause for the annulment of
his contract.