New-York tribune., 1907-09-02
ARMY and NAVY NEWS.
IFrerl The Tribune Bureau ]

washington,
M.-s,r WATCH CLOTHING ACCOUNTS--Gen-
ora1 E,adericl, Funston in command of the De
partnent of California. has observed a tendency on
the part of certain enlisted men to acquire sur
plus amount of clothing which often results III {"
large indebtedness TO the United States for ma
teral overdrawn by deserteTs and men dlshonoraDiy
discharged General Funston says the records Oh
courts martial and reports of Geserters hdlea'e
that this clothing is drawn prior 10 deSeIIoh -
trial with a view to selling otherwise disposins
of it To individual advantage. He has ordered tiia'
commanders of organizations shall exercise greater
care over the clothing accounts of their me-' OS
examining acquisitions and prcnibitins tue over
drawing of the clothing accounts II theFe are
marked discrepancies in the clothing accounts vi
enlisted men of about the same length OF service
General Funston says. there should oe prompt
investigation to discover the cause thereof
REPAIRS AT FORT observation-disclosures
have been approved by the quartermast'E SHH7!di
for charging reconstruetins and making repairs
to the general mess hall at Fort Sloc.nl New forn
and also for the construction of recruit eNaii.d-
tis:n barracks and two double barracks incluclnS
plumbing. heating. wiring. gas piping etc. SpeCI
cations have been approved for eleculc hsI' ilA'
ures for non-comrnissioned STAFF Olhcers quarters
and double stable guard building at fort LeaVeh-
worth Kansas. The depot quarterrnaster AT 'efler-
son Barracks. Missouri. has been instructed 10
advertise for bids for the construction OF one re
c-,,it examination barracks and one double oar
racks Specifications have been approved for the
construction of temporary coal shed az Fort
Riley Kansas. An advertisement viii appear IN
the course of a few days from the office OF tie
depot quartermaster. Washington for furnishing
the army with 1290 trunk lockers
EIGHTY PER CENT EFFICIENCY.-Tests Of
tho Case outward thrust propeller wheel recently
conducted in the experimental model basin AT tle
Washington navy yard showed approS'hale'S "
per cent of efficiency. as demonstrated OS ti'
curves Of efficiency deduced from the curves Oh
thrust and torque No propeller of the same diam.
e+er dveutv incnes) having such high ratio "f
pitch to diameter such thin blades has previously
bee tested in the basin The Case Outward thrust
propeller wheel departs from the established de-
signs in that the water through which il travels Is
disnIaced i'm an outward direction rather than di-
recy astern. The theory of its design is that the
solid water backing thus obtained increases pro-
pelIing force and stesdiness- Severai SETS OF the
propelIers are in smaller government ves-
sci. sinc wheels OF seven feet in diameter. Use of
the wheel on merchant vessels has resulted in
increased. speed. and the manufacturers hope TO
secure it's trial several batteships and cruisers
now brlcinC
WILL. BUY GRIFFISS LAND.-The War De-
partment has decided to lease tract of land in the
philippines from Contract Surgeon Frank C.
CrifFs, /. s a. to be used as reservation. and
eventually purchased by the government The
question arose in this transaction OF the night OF
the department purchase OF in any other manner
obtain propertv which was owned by an officer in
the military service of the government II would
be an absurd condition of affairs if such prom
bition existed and the department. was theleoy
prevented from acquiring desirable property Inc
opnion of the acting judge advocate general OF
the army. TO the effect that such a transaction Is
in accord with the law the subject. has war
ranted the Secretary of War in approving the bar
gain
NEW LIGHT on ANNAPOLIS-The surgeons
on duty at the Naval Academy. who have an op-
port,Inity 10 study the conditions attending the
work imposed on midshipmen, firm in their be@
lief that the Cooper-Hewitt mercural light should
no installed there This will relieve the midship-
men Of the binding and glaring light which is now
thrown on their study tables from swinging cleo
tric lamps. 1t is found that the reflection from
hooks and tables throws too much light into the
evas and nroduces ar overstimuated vision. There
have been many of eve trouble which re-
ouired the attention of the naval surgeons at the
academy. and il believed that much premature
disability of this character could be prevented oy
A change in the method Of illumination