Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-25
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Increase of Officers in Depart
ment Work.

During the past few years there has been
a steady increase in the number OF naval
officers on duty In the Navy Department,
presumably due to the gradual Increase in
the size OF the navy. Two years ago the
number OF naval officers stationed at the
department was seventy-four. The num-
Der there today is ninety-eIght, an increase
OF tweuty-foUr. There is an increase OF
eight officers in the bureau of steam en-
cheering. OF five in the bureau of supplies
and accounts of four in the bureau of ord
nance. OF three in the bureau of equipment
and Of two each IN the bureau of naviga-
ton, the bureau of medicine and surgery
and the Office Of the judge advocate gem
eral.
OF the ninety-eight officers, there is one
admiral. five admirals seven captains,
sixteen commanders, twenty-three lieuten-
ant commanders, nine Heutenants, seven
ensigus, five medical officers, ten pay Of
fcers, four mathematicians five construct
ors and four civil engineers. This depart
ment force does not include officers sta
toned at the navy yard the navy pay Of
flee, the naval hospital. the medical school
the naval dispens3ry, at marine headquar-
teTs and barracks, or the members of the
general board. the examining board. the
firing board and the board OF inspectors
and survey.
Two Bluejackets Commended.
to Thomas Casey. coxswain. L. s N, at
tached to the Maryland, commencing him
for brave conduct and good Judgment
displayed by him in resCuing w. X. Steven
son, ordinary seaman, who had fallen over
board and was in danger of drowning in
the harbor Of st. Johns, Antigua, February
IL last.
The Secretary has also written a letter
to Henry c. Ingersoll, quartermaster, third
class. 4. S. N. attached 10 the Dubuque,
nd inn Fgr oil a
courage and praiSewOrthy CoolneSs on the
occasion of the accidental drowning of Fred
Wiley coal pssser. at Santo Domingo City
on the LIST instant.
Matches at Sea Girt.
According to a decision made by the
national board for the promotion of rife
practice, the next national rife match Will
be held at Sea Girt, n. j., beginning Sep
TENDER + next. There was considerable talk
of holding the match at Fort Riley, Kan.
where there are better facilities, but after
thorough discussion of tn" subject was
concluded, that all things considered, II
would be better to have this years match
at the New Jersey ranges. As in the past,
the competitors will include representative
teams from the army. navy. Marine Corps
and the national militia organizations or
the various states.
Defensive Areas.
The naval general board and the joint
ing the report of Rear Admiral c. E. Clark.
United States navy setting forth that in
the event of war it will be necessary to es-
tablish defensive areas in the neighbor-
hood Of fortified strategic ports, within
which areas the movements of vessels both
of the navy and mercantile marine must
be controlled and restricted for the pur-
pose OF preventing them from being exposed
10 danger from submarine mines, to prevent
injury 20 or Interference with such mines
and TO prevent observations by unauthor-
lied persons respecting the nature and ex-
tent of military preparations. This com
muntcatlon, having been referred to the
joint army and navy board. returned
with statement of the conclusions reached
10y that body viz:
That the following principles be accept
ed In relation To the coast delcuses of the
United States: That defense areas should
he established; that in providing for the
defense Of any harbor OF port by the plant
ing az mines q paSsagewaY should be left
so as To permit of the safe ingress and
egrcSs OF commercial and naval vessels
through the mine fields and that the navy
may best have control of the inGress and
esrcSs of vessels within the defense areas"
The Army Retired List.
Attention has been directed by certain
congressman to the topheaviness Of the re-
tired list Of the army. There are 903 Of
hcers on that list, ranging In rank from
lieutenant general down TO second Heuten-
ant The aggregate expenditure in salaries
for these officers is about s. 10000 a year
being at The rate of $1,000 a year for each
officer. Brigadier generals are most
numerous on the list. There are pa officers
OF that rank Majors occupy second place.
numbering 22j The large number Of gem
eral officers on the retired list is mainly
due TO recent Legislation authorizing the re-
tiremeut with advanced rank and nav of
ali officers who served hOnorably in the war
of the rebellion. There are three retired
lieutenant generals, namely, Miles, Young
and Chaffee, with the prospects OF three
more i'm the near future, namely Bates
COrwin and Macarthur.
Where the Ships Will Go.
Most Of the vessels of the Atlantic fleet
now engaged in target practice off Guanta-
namo, Cuba, Will be locked and overhauled
during the early summer beginning about
the middle Of May. The Alabama will go
TO the navy yard. New York the Illinois to
the Boston yard and the Iowa to the yard
at Norfolk Each Of these vessels is I'm
need Of repairs to the extent of about
$1,000 The Maine. Kentucky. Kearsarge
ana Indiana Will be locked and examined
at New York and the Missouri at Boston
Later the Kentucky viii be surveyed at
Norfolk and the Kearsarge at the League
island yard. The Texas and the armored
cruisers will be sent to the New York yard
one az time. as accommodations become
available. Some Of the destroyers will 60
TO the norfolk yard and the others to the
yard at League Island. These plans insure
plenty Of work at the yards named during
The coming summer.
Athletics in the Marine Corps.
board Of marine officers consisting Of
Maj. J. y Lojeure and Capts. l.. NJ. Gulicc
and H. L. Roosevelt has made report to
the general commandant OF the Marine
Corps IN regard 20 the physical training OF
the marine force. The board recommends
certain athletic equipment for the various
posts according 10 the size OF the garrison.
The plan OF the board involves the pur-
chase OF apparatus for base ball, foot ball.
quoits and pole vault for outdoor exercise
and gymnastlc apparatus. rowing machines
and boxing gloves for indoor exercise. The
report has been approved by the authorities
and its recommendations will be carried
Into effect