The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-05-31

sensation from our new island posses
sions. This time it comes from the
entirely new race OF people. speaking
Enthusiastically. At least, that is what
celebrated scientists say. The new peO-
pie are called Tagbanus, and they diff
fer from all other known races Of peO-
pie in that they have not woolly hair
nor yet straight. but black as midnight
and wavy. They have a new kind OF
writing also. something that not one of
the worlds renowned scientists knows
anything about. They wrote once. be-
fore paper became known to them, on
bamboo canes. The writing is com
posite." and not Ineligible to white
man as yet. During the ST. Louis Elk
position it was found that some of the
FilipinOS who were on exhibition there
were writing home in a language and
In characters that no white man knew
anything about. Maybe these people
have a past that will some day be I'M
earthed. Who can tell?
Here's a pretty howdy do!
In good. set terms Rear-Admiral Ma
SON. Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance,
declared to Congress and the Navy De-
partment the other day that if war
should break out within the next few
years. the condition of the Navy will
be such as to lead to disaster
He says there Is no reserve ammuni-
fion for the big guns of the Navy; that
the ships about to go into commission
VIII have no ammunition in their mag
ozines. and will be worse than useless.
and target practice will have to be
abandoned. There will be no reserve
guns, torpedoes. or reserve mines on
hand. and range finders, the use of
which Is 80 essential in fight, are
lacking, and there is no money to buy
them.
Admiral Mason states that more than
$12.000.000 has been cut out Of the
Bureaus estimates by Congress, and
he describes the condition of the Blu
reau as "a little short Of desperate" for
the coming year. Congress has provid-
ed for an increase in ships, but refuses
to supply them with the necessary ord
nance and ordnance stores.
Admiral Mason declares that the peo-
pie of the country are fooled; that they
are led to believe their Navy as efficient
as any other, but the fact is that 1t
stands to-day with empty storehouses
and magazines. He says:
1.-The people Of this country believe.
and justly, that. ship TOR ship, our Navy
is as efficient as any other. but this
efficiency disappears the minute 1t be-
comes Impossible to place aboard ship
such stores and articles as are neees-
Eary for use in war, which may be or
are expended or damaged in use. That
minute Is upon us now. in spite Of the
Bureaus best efforts, and we stand to-
day with empty storehouses and maya
zines. SO far as modern reserve material
g. concerned"
IL seems. now, as though Admiral
Dewey said something like this once
upon time. It WIN also be remem-
bered that one reason why Mckinley
held OF the declaration Of war 80 long
was because we had not q load each
for our big gums.
Mrs Mark Hanna, widow Of the late
Senator Hanna. lis disposing Of all her
Cleveland property and it 70 thought
The beautiful home on Euclid avenue
Is offered for sale.
The President has made another shift
In the power Of his subordinates. When
the Chief OF Staff was created II was
supposed that that officer would rank
everybody else below the Lieutenant
General OF the Army, and SO he did.
until somebody was made Chief Of
STAFF over the heads of men who out
ranked him about SO to 1, and then
there was one grand kick all around.
The President relieved the Chief Of
Staff Of a lot Of his authority. Now
e.
signed aus order which makes the Mill
tary Secretary rank the Chief Of STAFF,
and makes him also Acting Secre-
tary OF War In the absence OF the Sec.
Rotary and Assistant Secretary Of War
This shears Gen Sherman Bell Of most
Of his power as Chief Of Staff. and takes
from him all the glory.
The general order was made neces-
sary on account Of certain friction
which has been In evidence and could
not be set aside. since Gen. Bell took
up the duties Of Chief Of Staff. The
fact Is that the Chief Of STAFF had only
the rank Of Brigadier-General. while
the ONCE has always before been filed
by a Northumberland, placing him
in the position Of giving orders to sew
eral officers above him in rank.
Notably was this the case in the
signing Of military orders. Gen. Aims
worth. who. as Military Secretary. has
the rank and pay Of a Major-Generai,
refused. 1t is said. to sign the orders of
q Brigadier-General. II was sought to
avert friction on this score by chang
ing the orders 50 that they should not
carry the name Of the Chief Of Staff,
but should read instead by order of
the Secretary OF War"
Sweet peace does not reign, however
tHGfc are SOfHc OHfecTS VINO DOSl-
lively declined to receive orders from
one SO much lower in rank. they at the
same time do not like the present order
OF things. and say-at least. the more
conservative ones do-that the order Is
extremely unjust to Gen. Bell They
say he has brought order out Of chaos
In his very brief tenure OF Office and
that he works very hard, and every
branch OF the service has felt his in
fiuence.
The National Zoo received the other
day from the Government OF the Prov
ince OF Ontario, Canada. q pair Of Can
adam black squirrels.
The Canadian black squirrel Is moth
ing more nor less than the common
gray squirrel OF this section and the
whole Of the East. but In Canada this
gray form has developed a pure black
variety, specimens OF which are con-
sidered more or less rare and curious
The pair at the Zoo are jet black-sc
black that they appear shiny-with ar
exceedingly thick and heavy fur fol
protection against the Canadian Win.
tiers.
big footprint, relic Of an ancien
American race. has just been received