Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-10
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Extension Of the Alaskan TeIe-
graph Lines.

So great has been the success or the gov
eminent telegraph lines In Alaska that it
win probably become necessary TO extend
the duplex now working between Seattle
and Sftka to the Sitka-valdex section In
order to take care Of the prospective heavy
rush OF business next summer. Reports
reaching the chief signal oficer show that
in some instances the receipts during the
past few months have exceeded by 100 per
cent, and in many instances 80 per cent.
those Of a corresponding period last year.
At present this system comprises seven
teen-hundred-mile stretch from Seattle to
Valdez via Sitka and fourteen hundred
miles Of land lines, terminating In one
hundred-and-ten-mlle wireless jump from
st. Michael 20 Nome. the extreme point
westward It is probable that Congress will
be asked to authorize the expenditure OF
the telegraph receipts toward extending the
system this year from Fairbanks to Circle
City. The cable ship Burnside is now at
work extending a branch from the Juneau
Sitka cable down to Wrangell and Ket-
chikan, the latter place being boom Alas
kan town and an important point in the
estimation Of the chief signal officer for
reporting shipping.
Purchase Of Discharge in the Navy.
The President has issued an executive
order of great Importance to the enlisted
personnel Of the navy, as it restores to such
men the privilege of purchasing their dis
charges after the manner of the enlisted
men Of the army. No man will be allowed
to purchase his discharge, however. unless
he has served one year. and the privilege
Is in addition, limited to men for their
first enlistment. That is concession to
the theory that men who re-enlfst do SO
with their eyes open and a full conscious
ness of what the service means to them
The privilege of purchasing discharges Will
be highly appreciated in the navy and
Marine Corps, from which 1t has been with
held for several years.
Dismissal OF Warrant Machinist
Shafer.
The President has approved the record
of the court martial in the case Of War
rant Machinist Adam A. Shafer of the
navy, who was tried on board the Alabama
at the New York navy yard and sentenced
to be dismissed from the service. Shafer
was found guilty of being absent twenty
eight days without leave. This is the third
time within twenty months that Warrant
Machinist Shafer has been tried for SINH
lar offenses.
Pest of Plague Rats.
Reports have reached the War Depart
rats were found in Manila, and since then
a large body Of professional rat-catchers
have been hard at work to protect the city's
health. It was aseertained that the plague
rats infected only two sections. :and in both
of these districts a thorough disinfection
was at once undertaken. Every house was
systematically cleaned and all the habitual
abiding places OF the rodents, such as WOOD
piles, were removed. Although the olsen
festion was NEST thorough in the houses, not
single claim for damages has been fled.
Electric Firing Of Guns.
The naval bureau of ordnance has been
experimenting with new types of batter
les for electric firing of guns and for night
sight lighting Two types have been de-
yeloped which have given satisfactory re-
suits on shop tests. One consists of eight
reserved dry cells. giving voltage of
twelve and life of about thirty to forty
ampere hours. The other consists of four
storage cells giving voltage OF eight, or
life of from twenty to thirty Aampere hours.
1t is proposed to furnish batteries to YES
sells In groups of eight reserve dry cells. or
four storage cells. two groups being fur
nished for each gun: the two groups Will
be connected in series for firing. while one
group will be employed for sight lighting.
Philippine Scouts Commended
Gen. Lee, commanding the Department
of the Visayas. in a general order publishes
a letter commendatory of the services rem
dered by the Philippine Scouts. under Maj.
William H johnson. in aid of the boats
crew of the United States coast and geo.
detic survey steamer Pathfinder.
To Command the Kansas.
Capt. Charles E. vreeland will be the first
commanding officer of the new battleship
Kansas. which has just been completed by
the New York Shipbuilding Company OF
Camden. N. J.. and which viii be given her
initial trial next Thursday. Capt. Vree.
land has been for some time on duty in
the Navy Department as naval aid to the
assistant secretary. No announcement has
yet been made of the officer who will sue
coed Can't. Vreelagd at the Navy Depart
ment.
The States Must Pay.
The War Department has decided that
transportation charges On condemned ord
nance stores being sent back by militia
organizations to government arsenals must
be paid by the state This decision was
based upon an opinion of the Judge advo-
cate general of the army.
Candidates for Army Commissions.
The examinations of candidates for ap-
pointment as second lieutenant in the army
are now being conducted at Fort Leaven-
worth. Kan. As announced in general or
ders from the War Department the army
candidates will be given the preference
over candidates designated from military
institutions and from civil life. The nu-
merous candidates taking examinations
were thrown into furry this weelx nv