Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS

HnWI MU uHvI N[VO
The Subject of SmokeIess Fuel
Interesting the Navy.
Smokeless fuel Is subject of deep inter
est In naval circles at this time Impor-
lance attaches to such an article on account
of its contribution to the secrecy of naval
operations by means of invisibilty. 1t has
become an important requirement that there
shall be as little attention as possible at
tracted to naval ships in operation in time
of war and it is for that reason that the
deadest kind of paint Is used on the hull5
of vessels and that smokeless powder has
been adopted for the ammunition. With
the dense smoke which pours from some or
the tunnels 1t Is easy enough to locate d
ship under way, in addition to which smoke
of that kind, when ships are in fleet for
nation. obscureS signals displayed and
might lead to confusion IL not disaster. Nat
urally, under such circumstances. any pros
pect of obtaining a fuel which does not
emit smoke will be of Importance. The
tests which have been conducted under the
naval bureau of equipment have promised
important results, but they have not gone
far enough yet TO lead to any final conclu-
sions.
Telephones at Army Posts.
Within the next three months all the
army posts in the vicinity of New York
will be equipped with modern telephone sys-
tens, with a central station a. each post.
That work will be done by the Army Signal
Corps. who have secured a large quantity
of telephone material, including some 200
instruments. These Will be distributed 20
the various posts under a decision of the
War Department prescribing a telephone
outfit for all military stations. Hitherto
such conveniences have been merely per-
mitted; hereafter they are to be regarded
as part of the necessary equipment of the
garrison. They are found to be necessary
to the transaction of official business ana
1t will be part of the work of the Signal
Corps to keep these systems in repair and
extend them whenever it is necessary.
Retirement of Col. Roach.
Lieut.. Col. George II. Roach, L. s. A. ha '.
been placed on the retired list with the
rank of colonel in accordance with the act
of April 90 1904 Col Roach served as a
private in the Goth Illinois Volunteers dur
ing the closing year of the war of the re
bellion. Appointed second lieutenant nth
Regular Infantry, in October. 1873. he
goth Infantry, in March. 1904.
To Sell the Culgoa.
Authority has been given Rear Admiral
Coghlan, commandant of the New York
navy yard, to sell the naval supply ship
Culgea at public auction to the highest
bidder. The Culgoa is steel schooner OF
$3.50 tons and was built at Sunderland
England, in 1889. She has been used by
the navy as refrigerating ship, but is no
longer suitable for that purpose.
Prank of Torpedo.
A peculiar accident happened at the navS.
station in Norfolk few days ago, which
might have easily resulted in a very serious
disaster. 1t is the custom there to ties.
torpedoes by firing them from a chute at
the end Of one OF the slips. the torpedo
travelling up stream. In a recent case the
torpedo struck bottom and broke off two
of its propeller blades. which caused 1t to
dash for a cutter which was taking part In
drill 1t struck her on the port side, went
through the boat and jumped over the OPP
posite gunwale. after which its course was
stopped against the side of a tugboat. The
crew of the cutter managed to escape aft
in time and nobody was hurt
Resignation of Lieut. Hardenbergh
The President has accepted the reslgna-
ton of First Lieut.. Raymond w. Harden
DerBH, 4tn Infantry, take effect MaEcn
20 next, and the officer has been granted
leave Of absence until that date. After
service In the ranks Lieut.. Hardenbergh
was appointed second lieutenant 4th Infan-
try. in June, 1899. and reached the grade
of first lieutenant in February, 1901. He
served as a lieutenant in the Sd United
States Engineers during the Philippine in
surrection.
Cooking by Wholesale.
1t is probable that the War. department
will adopt a large fireless cooker having
a capacity of food preparation for en-
tire company of soldiers. The experiments
which have been in progress at Fort Riley,
Kan, Indicate that there is great use in a
military way for this fuel-saving device
It Is found that meat and vegetables may
be placed on the range for thirty minutes
and then transferred to the fireless cooker
where they are kept for six or seven hours
and cooked in their own heat At the end
OF that time the material Is found to have
a temperature of 40 degrees for the veg
etables, leo degrees for the meat and 172
degrees for the coffee. 1t is at that time |
ready to serve and has been found most |
palatable The army officers who en- |
gagged In the consideration of mis- method |
of preparing food for an army In the field |
say that the f1reless cooker will solve the |
problem of household economics. especial |
ly in the matter of keeping down the ex- |
penses for the purchase of fuel.
Change in British Uniform.
Information has been received here to
the effect that the uniforms of the Brit |
ish sailors has been changed and that now
they wear a Jacket, loosely fitting. comfort /
able around the neck with turned down |
collar and five buttons, peaked cap and |
the trousers moderately loose. 1t is also |
stated that the sailors will be obliged to |
take a thorough course In mechanics ard in I
the handling of tools.
Oregon Coming Home.
The visit of the battieship Oregon to I
Hongkong. 1t Is stated at the Navy De-
partment. was for the purpose Of going /
INTO drydock for repairs and had no con-
nection with threatened disturbances in