New-York tribune., 1907-10-14

may be engaged IN the work of preparing for war.
lie was the officer who distinguished himself while
with his command at Madison barracks. New York.
last winter. by taking the men out in the snow
Tot target practice under severe climatic conditions
This had never been done in practice Of small
arms before. and Colonel Reade realized that the
practice would be admirable. since the men would
then Know how TO shoot in the glare OF the
he sd Infantry Is now at target practice under
Colonel Reade on the naval ranges at Annapolis
Nd. having had difficulty in finding a place
where they might shoot. 1t was recommended that
they go 10 the range at Camp Perry. Ohio
from Canton, where the 23d Infantry took part IN
the military feature OF the dedication OF the Nc
NnIey monument. but the War Department CON
sidered that II would he better keep tho COM
mand intact as much as possible at the James,
town exposition until its close. This would en-
able detachments OF men TO go TO Annapolis for
the necessary firing in order get them in readi-
ness for their trip the Philippines which occurs
early in the coming year.
FOOD FOR BATTLEsHIP FLEET.-The sailing
81 the battleshps for the Pacific Coast will be
test IN various ways. OF the most important
features having TO do with the ability OF such
command to maintain itself without calling for
provisions at any of the ports on the way. No one
seems to know Just how long the cruise will take.
and Rear Admiral Evans has far offered no
estimate Of the time which the ships will consume
IN reaching San Francisco Those who have charge
OF the provisions, however proceeding the
and they laying in stores for that length of
time II Will not be possible to store certain sup
plies for that period. and Il may be necessary TO
send shipment OF fresh vegetables Panama. to
he picked up by OF the supply ships while the
fleet is going north in the Pacific. The feet may
make some experiments with canned vegetables
which is a idea, and Il is purposed carry a
quantity OF the dehydrated articles which have
been used I'm the army without much success. II
viii not be possible TO than 10000 dozen
eggs. for the extension of which supply the
will use powdered eggs.
ARTILLERY PROBLEM SOLVED-The arti!-
lerists OF the army have solved an important prob
lem which has been botherng them for some time.
They discovered there a tendency for coast
defence guns To FIRE before the muzzle Of the big
rIne mounted on a disappearing carriage had fully
cleared the paraPet In it's ascent. This OF course
presented serious situation. Various devices have
been under trial at the army proving ground al
Sandy Hook with view TO discovering some means
which shall practically prevent this premature dis
charge. 4 number Of methods have been tested
ana ior the most part have been criticised either
too complicated in mechanism uncertain In opera-
uoh or costly of installation. At last. however, the
ordnance officers who have been conducting theee
tesls nave come upon device which meets all
the requirements and which they think is admI-
raoiy adapted to the purpose, being simple IN con-
SFucuoh' ehnclent in operation and economical in
manufacture. This device has been formally adont
ed by the chief OF ordnance and will be sent our
as part Of the equipment OF the coast defence
eNH' WHICH are mounted Oh disappearing carriages
PAY INCREASE PROJECT.-It has not vet been
decided / except tentatively, what will be tho IN
crease in pay of the enlisted force Of ~. 49,.
navy. marine corps and revenue cutter seryc. in
lhe event or the enactment Of the service nav hlu
which has had the approval OF the President and
which Will be referred 10 in strong terms in his
annual message to Congress, and which will be in
troduced in the House and Senate by Represapta
tive Capron and Senator Dick. respectively 1t has
been decided. however. to include In the annual
estimates TO Congress which come from the Treas
ury Department the additional amount necessary
to meet the proposed increase of pay of the com
missoned personnel and the enlisted men OF the
services In the Of the officers the increase Is
set at various percentages for the different grades
In the case Of the enlisted the pay under the
provisions of the bill is left President for all
the services as is now the with the navy. 1t
is estimated that the increase In case OF the
army will amount 30 per cent of the present
appropriation In the Of the navy 10 per cent
and in the OF the cutter service 20
per cent The marine corps goes with the army.
Then, It is not meant that every enlisted man in
those services should get the percentage increase
indicated, but the general increase of appropriation
will be that amount, and the President viii attempt
to equaize the pay giving on-commissioned Off
GERS of the army and petty officers OF the navy for
instance. larger percentage than the prvates.
This is with the idea of encouraging enlistment.
No subject Is Of greater interest army and navy
people than this question of Increased pay.
RESIGNS FROM NAVAL ACADEMY.-Midship
man Felix E. Gross. u. S. N. an appontee TO the
Naval Academy from the 4th New York District
has submitted his resignation. to take effect on
November 15 Mdshpman Gross has been attached
to the United States ship Illinois, and was due 10
take his final examination preliminary 10 being
commissioned ensign in the navy next month.
He has been troubled with defective vision for
some time, and this disability has required him to
leave the service.
m NOT EXPECT EVANS tn pTTTpr