Evening star., 1907-09-01
Tests of Medical Devices.

The medical corps of the army has been
quick TO take advantage of the opportunity
offered by the camps of instruction held
this summer to test in a practical manner
several new devices intended for the alle-
Walton OF the sufferings of the sick and
wounded on the field of battle Many OF
these are interesting and promising to look
at. but it Is the experience of the army
surgeons that the tests applied in connec-
tlon with the summer encampments and
drills when conditions of actual warfare
are reproduced as nearly as possible In
time of peace. result in trying out the de-
vices SO thoroughly that only small per-
centage are found to be worthy of adoption
for regular issue.
This years tests apply particularly to
apparatus for steriliZing drinking water. a
subject to which surgeons attach more i'm
portanCe than almost any other connected
with the health of troops in active serv-
ice
The present first aid package. too. has
been thought possible of considerable I'M
prOvement. not only as to the nature of the
contents. but also in the matter of reduction
OF size. while another object of interest is
the gslloping two-wheeled ambulance,
which far has had rather sensational
career. being in several accidents.
Submarine Boats and Mines.
The remarkably successful trials Of the
naval submarine boats have attracted the
attention of the army engineers, and they
are now contemplating experiments to
demonstrate the value of such boats in the
placing of submarine mines and also in
cOuntermining operations. One type es-
pec@lly. which crawls around the bottom
on wheels, with a large opening below like
diving bell, through which every inch OF
the bottom of the harbor may be scanned,
is believed to be we'll adapted to the work
of crawling into a harbor OF the enemy S
coast and quietly cutting all the electric
cables connecting his defensive mines with
the shore stations from which they are
supposed to be exploded.
Atlantic Seaports Not Defenseless.
Apprehension exists in some quarters over
the departure of the battleshp fleet next
winter for the Pacific, on account of the
defenseless state in which it is feared the
wealthy seaports OF the Atlantic will be
left AS matter of fact while the fleet
which Admiral Evans Will steer around the
continent of South America will comprise
the noblest and most formidable force of
warshipS ever collected under one comma nd
in America &; will not by any means ex-
haust the'naval strength in eastern waters.
In the way of full ironclads there are the
four monitors of late design and able to
keep the harbor entrance against almost
any foe: there a number of protected
cruisers of good quality, and still more
gunboats, that even what remains of
the Atlantic fleet on the eastern coast will
make a pretty good showing. Certainly
II will be quite sufficient to effectively police
the waters of the Caribbean II trouble
should break out in that section of peren-
nial disturbance while the big ships are
away from home
Meanwhile. the stay-at-home fleet is to be
kept in first-class condition, and orders
have been issued for them to carry out the
regular fall and winter drills and target
practice. which may take them to Guam
tanamo Cuba, for a few months.
Notes on the Russo-Japanese War.
The military information bureau is soon
10 publish in book form the numerous re-
ports which 1t has collected from officers
who served the War Department In the
capacity of military observers in the late
war between Japan and Russia. Already
much Of the Information contained in these
reports has been published in the shape OF
pamphlets, each one dealing with separate
matter OF inquiry but it is DENIED we'll now
to collect all of this valuable matter in
one volume. which will be embelished with
an accurate map of the extensive field OF
operations covered by this war, the great
est of modern times.
1t is true that already some time has
elapsed since the conclusion of the hostili-
ties which formed the basis of Inquiry, but
in the opinion of military experts, less has
been accomplished in the years since the
close of that war than in any similar period
of time in the military history of the pre-
Ceding century; that is in the matter OF
military invention and changes in tactics
So for the military student this forthcom-
ing report will emDcdy the latest informa-
tion of value.
observations of the Turret Board
The so-called ''turret board" headed by
Lieut.. Kaiser, which was appointed to fine
some means TO stop the dreaded flare.
back" and prevent the fatal accidents that
have made the turrets an object of dstrust
to the very men who are obliged to live ir
them, has now completed that part of its
work which involved a careful examina
tion of every type of turret and gun TO be
found in the vessels of the Atlantic fleet
Under the department orders ii has now
but two weeks to come to conclusion, anC
this the members are confident of doing