New-York tribune., 1907-11-12
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Plans for Fire Control System for
atlantic Fleets Trip.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. November II.
FIRE CONTROL ON BATTLESHIPS.-The most
important work which is being done on the battle
ships preparatory to their departure for the Pa
cihc Coast, and possibly for a cruise around the
world by return to the Atlantic Coast by way Of
the Suez, is the installation of n fire control sys
tenn There never has been a complete method Of
directing the fire of the batteries of these warshps
About year ago the adopted fire control system
was installed the Virginia. and since then there
have been tests of the system especially during the
recent battle target practice in Cape Cod Bay. The
new system pronounced success in the re-
port of the observers. and estimates were at once
prepared for extending the system to all the ships.
For this purpose $4,000 has been allotted for each
vessel. it being estimated by tho experts that it
will require that amount 20 make the installation
on each batteshp. There is no special reason for
the installation at this time. save the fact that 1t
be done while the ships are being repaired and
overhauled In anticipation of their long cruise.
While there is some secrecy regarding the naVys
fire control system it may be said that it consists
primarily of an elaborate telephone system, con-
meeting the observer. who is stationed in the
crows nest above the lighting top. with the COM
mandng officer the bridge, the. commanding
officer and the officer charged with &erating the
range finding system. and finally. the &nmandinG
officer with the battery commanders a main cen
trail" station will be placed beneath the armored
deck. from which the commanding officer can be
instantly placed in telephonic connection with the
officer in charge OF every Pinch gun, for instance.
every 10-inch gun. etc Observations Of the man
in the crows nest viii he communicated to the
commanding officer. who will direct the attention
of the range finders to the approaching target"
Given the range. the commanding officer can COM
municate with order with Fall tho guns of a
given size board ship, and. II desired. with the
engineer officer who controls the speed of the ship,
etc. The telephone system will be supplemented by
speaking tubes for use in the telephones be
4- Of 10 70
establish board ship the accurate and elaborate
system of range finding employed in the coast de-
fences. and much reliance will have 10 be placed
on the spotting system. despite the unsatisfactory
returns which that system has recently given at
long ranges. Tho work Of breaking in the system
will be done while the vessels are en- route to tho
Pacific. At present tho installation is being ac-
compshed by the joint operations Of three navy
department bureaus The bureau of ordance is in
stalling the instruments for range finding and de-
fection the bureau of equipment is furnishing the
telephone and voice tubes while the bureau con-
structCn and repair is constructing the tubing
REVIEW OF ATLANTIC FLEET-Rear Ad-
miral Evans commanding the Atlantic feet con
ferred with naval officials to-day respecting various
details connected with the coming movement Of his
feet 70 the Pacific Ocean. 1t is understood the
President, who is TO leave Washington aboard the
Mayfower to review the fleet in Hampton Roads,
has invited Secretary Metcalf and Admirals Dewey
Brownson and Cowles to be his guests on that
occasion
PROTECTION AGAINST DIsEAsE.-Hereafter
when troops ordered 10 prepare for service be-
yond sea company commanders and medical officers
will be directed to see that those who have any
/ infectious or contagious disease reported for
DISCHARGE or transferred to other commands Per
sons so affected Will not be taken on transports
All troops en- route for the Philippines or Cuba viii
be required before they depart to provide them
selves with certificates showing that they have been
cd SMALLPOX.
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders have
been issued:
a Once 2TP q Rsrse,at fsas4a 92sS62 no"
Captain SOLOMON p vEsTAI. eth cavalry detailed as as
acting qgarteIInasteT 10 take charge ot construction
Captain MG5N JERRY e sPRNGsTEAD Ist Infantry
Haonai Guar from M sy oaBx ggT fas been ordered
! mustered out November IL.
Captain ROGERS r. GARpME coast artillery CORPS TO
tGne'I iTCY m25YS TIXHfY 18th Infantry to Fort
Houston for examination as to physical h'nesS
Captain william e vosE assistant surgeon. to Co
Flrst LieateHaat WILLIAM \ DUNCAN, assistant SUI.
eeon from The transport Thomas the general hos
First 'i tenan m 1g if Bi:N SMITH 18TH Infantry from
! Fort Icaycuworth 70 Fort sam Houston -. ton,
Fort Terfy to For, McIicnry.
! NAVY
Captain d u MAIiAN detached from the Indiana; to
tho navy yard Puget sound
Commando " ciAMBEEs 70 70, GgTsau ,I Of @ ordnance
Lieutenant G9nm9nds a. H. 4 a9 SS sivd% s% Wa.hngton
| IAcutenan ! e KTEss Eussus H. y. STUART and J.
/ Ensign g. e TEGRAM. detached from the Whppe' 70
command the PIunger. ,
Medical Director T. T. DTRR detached from navy yard
| Portsmouth: to navy recruiting station at fTol
Medical Inspector STEELE. detached from navy re"
crultiug station Cleveland. 10 navy yaid al ioilS
/ -. ...---,-c.,-.r, ,..a.Lo,
! from naval hospital Pensacola; TO the Panther
| Passed Assistant Surgeon J. II. PAYNE jr' detachel
from rayy recruiting station at Providence: 10 navy
! recruiting station ~ Cleveland ,....A.s
| Surgeon r. r. WILLIAMS. detaoheI
! from tho Maine: o tho Frauklu 80, -, -,
! Assistant surgeon r. a. WARMER detachod rom inc
/ Louisiana. To he naval hospital at Pensacola ,,-
Assistant Surgeon WHEELER. 70 navy recruiting
! station indianapolis 49,, - ...,.t.r
Assistant Surgeon II. Casio detacA"a from recruiting
! station AT Indianapolis: 10 tho Maine. -,, -.
zs,asT't -Irreon W g. STEApNAN jr, detached from
the Franklin; to the Louisiana.
PavDIagter = IfAT IL. detached from navy ydrd aI
| Eoqt0n. TO navy yard at Mare Island ,.-
( pavrngster W 3. ROGERS. % navy yard a. HoStoh'
| MOVEMENTS OF VESSELS.-The following
movements Of naval vessels have been reported to
! the Navy Department:
! ARRIVED.
| Nv oThe Paducah Guantanamo -. ,,.,.,
| Virginia, the ColoTado' the NtI l'u
- 1J the pennsylvania, at Long Beach tho saturn AT
| Diego. .UrD
~. q The Tolphin. from yard, New YORK. tor
NV ,,-ssnnpon: the Wasp. from New LONDON tor nun,
Ington Long Island. the West Virginia, me ol1,;o 80