New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-25
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Record Breaking artillery Fighters
at HdCdnd.
From Tho Tribune Bureau. 7


tillery which has been adding to its good reputa-
ton is the 18th Field Battery now on duty in
cuba. after service at home and In the Philippines
the command was first sent to the Philippines
from its Texas post in January 1903. and
transported at once to Mindanao which WAS then
in the depths Of instruction. 1t became part
or the expedition against the Moros usder the COM
mand Of Captain, now Brigader General, J. J. Per-
sfhing some hard fighting vas done, especially, in
was surrounded by Il moat forty feet wide and of
ceeded in blowing up the fort after it had been
weakened by long distance attack.
Later the battery joined General Wood At Jolo
and distinguished Itself in several expeditions
aGainst the M9r25 gaining the special comm"nda-
The battery. retired to san, Francisco on March
at the Portland lOre) Exposition The command
San Francisco at the time Of the earthquake fol-
loving this tour OF duty with service IN the
When the military force was made up with a
as being of Importance in the pacidcaton Of the
The commanding Officer is Captain c. IL Roy II
win, son Of Brigadier General J: 3. d. Irwin
I. 5. A. retired. The other officers are First
tenant Da-is was appointed 10 the army from civil
Of the 2ost New York Volunteers during the Span
The accompanying picture shows some of the
members of the battery in Cuba. The men com
P a35 IL cd GT91 2eee1 1 heS M the
selves in field and rack work. making worIds
taken Of the team Just after the track race the
military tournament at Havana
RENOvATTNG TRANSPORTS Extensive re-
pairs will be made to the army transports hilpat-
rick and Meade at New York. under contract which
viii be awarded by the quartermaster general Of
the army. who recently solicited bids for the work
and received, at his request. estimates from the
naval constructor duty at the Brooklyn navy
yard. II was found that the proposal submitted by
the navy yard was higher than that presented from
private sources. Repairs are also be done
the sheridan at San Francisco. where the depot
Ouarterrnaster recently obtained "a bid from the
navy yard Marc Island. with different results.
II was found that the Sheridan could be restored
10 a serviceable condition. repairing the damage
w wan s sa osP d4Re & aTd II G
ton has come UP, though: whether the drydocH at
which It is estimated il VIII require keep the
transport the II the naval authorities
are disposed to give UP the use OF the dock for that
length of time the Sheridan will be sent TO the
with a firm of shipbuders in San Francisco to do
the work after the manner adopted in New York
DEsTROYERs NOT YET PLANNED-TheTe IS
delay in the completion Of the plans and specinca-
lions for the new destroyers authorized by Con-
gress last session 1t expected that every
thing would be in readiness to obtain bids FOR the
construction OF these boats by March !, but there
remain several important questions 10 be deter
mined. At time it had been practically de-
ClQeQ TO establish Inc speed or these QSStroyerS
at twenty-eight knots and to provide turbines In
stead Of reciprocatlng engines. II now appears
that the specifications upon which BIDS viii be
invited Will call for reCiprocating engines and
speed of twenty-eight knots with invitation
bidders 70 submit alternative designs COutem-
plating the use Of the turbine at speeds greater
than twenty-eight knots and possibly high
thirty-three knots. which seems 70 he the maxi
remains TO be decided whether oil-burning APP
paTatus can be used on the Destroyer The Brit
fEh have had mol nsf IA
use oil in place Of coal on the destroyers but In
this respect there is much to be learned. md Il
IS far from settled indeed. whether the. turbine
Aitoeether. it seems thar the deEtroyers are as
far off from being submitted 10 bidders they
were two months or more ago
NAVY BINoCULARs-A new device for OBJ
servaton IN naval gunnery has been adopted by
the naval bureau OF ordnance and a number Of
new improved prismatc binoculars have been pur-
chased for trial They will be used during the
firing OF heavy guns OF the ships OF the Atlantic
feet on the ranges near Guantanamo, beginning
about the middle OF the coming month. These
glasses are o9 special power and strong construo-
ton and are fitted with rubber eye guards which
Alloy then then to be ea at they tne may be-
used in night work. and as there will be soma
zen. hal # IS impossible to assemble them
Improperly. As the adjustments may be claInped.
# Is unnecessary to focus or adjust the glasses
every time they are used.
NAVAL GREAT GUN MATCH.-aruch interest
is taken this year in the record target practice
Which VIII begin about March 18 off Cape Cruz,
Cuba in which alI the ships OF the Atlantic fleet
viii take part The competition is expected to be
keener than ever before, and it IS considered that
all the ships have chance at making the best
record. There has been some suggestion that II
would be well TO publish hereafter the records
made in the firing Of heavy guns It Is observed
that this plan has been ADOPTED by me BIlti sha
AamlTaIty oa s5d the p1bIicatiops Of The rec
ords Il Is urged, VIII do no harm in any quar-
ter besides furnishing an incentive and affording
good guEnery
AR1,OR CONTINUES EXPENSIVE.-Bids have
been opened in the Navy Department for
payatlyely small quantity Of arnor for the United
States ship New York. The lowest bid was
Sat OF the Carnegie Company-S3oS ton--the total
value OF the contract being little than $780,
oc5 While this is slightly higher than the lowest
price for arnor hitherto presented, 1t IS considered
acceptable 10 the Navy Department, and probably
tho contract viii be awarded TO the Carnegie Com
pepy. czrecally rs toe order involves special ma
ching OF the material. the plates curved
ana the delivery VIII be made Ii less than five
months There special disclosure IN the
bids presented by tie aIIlvaIe. Bethlehem and Car
DrS;e companies eNl+Jt ti,at - wac observed by
the Navy Department authorities that there APP
pe4red exist on tala occIson independent bidding
ara legitimate rivalry.
INCEssANT UNIFORM CIIANGEs.-The army
s. az last 20 be put CT an olive drob basis so fer
"a is official apparel IS concerned Orders are lie
inc prepared in tho War Department which carry
OFT this plan everywhere Hitherto there has
been some use made Of the blue uniform.
but hereafter every thing q this character
Cue tIre old material - some cases the cloth
iag on hard would sUfic" 20 last the army for
apparel has advantage which must not be ignored.
" tF ri of fF