New-York tribune., 1907-10-31
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Special Work for atlantic Torpedo
Boats and DestroyerS.
From The Tribune Bureau.I


Washington. October 30.
ATLANTIC COAST DEFENCE.-Special work is
planned for the torpedo boats and desroyers on the
Atlantic Coast during the absence of the battleship
fleet. They have been placed under an officer who
will be superintendent of the mobile defences with
the plan that these craft shall be operated off the
coast in conjunction with the land fortifcatlons
II is possible that plan of practice work will be
devised, with the idea OF establishing a unity OF
effort to be used against a foe approaching from
the sea 1t is to this end also that the Arethusa,
| originally a water boat will be fitted out at the
Norfolk Navy Yard for service with the torpedo
boats. The larger ship will have accommodations
Tor the medical officer and the pay officer, together
with the facilities for storing supplies which
cannot be carried by the torpedo boats and destroy
eTs There viii also be board the Arethusa a
sick bay, that the torpedo craft will be self
sustaining in way at a distance from the base
or operations In tlis way the mobility of the
torpedo boats will be increased.
TRUTH ABOUT MARE ISLAND YARD.-So
many reDorts-some Of them purely fallacous.
others based the conditions of five years
aso-haVe been circulated regarding the Mare ISL
and Navy Yard and the channel leading thereto
that the whole subject has become befogged. and
comparatively few people are aware of the actual
facts. 1t may be asserted upon the highest
thority that there are no conditions surrounding
the Mare Island yard which render 1t inaccessible
to the largest battIeshps and cruisers. nor
there likely to be. The Mare Island yard is, in
point of location and equipment, one of the finest
possibly the finestin the country. except that It
has no drydock capable of accommodating the
largest vessels. The present dock is amply large
for all vessels completed up to five years ago. and
another is In process of construction which when
completed will be large enough for every purpose.
The Mare Island Navy Yard represents an invest
ment Of approximately sl7.OOoOO0. and It would be
sad reflection on the intelligence of the Navy De-
partHeht had 1t been located at n point inaccessi
bic, because Of shallow channel to the best ships
OF the navy. 1t is the purpose of the Navy Depart
ment to avoid the of navy yards for making re-
pairs TO the Atlantic battleship fleet when it shall
have reached the Pacific in so far as IS practicable
but that is not because the channel to Marc Island
will not accommodate all OF the battleships hut be-
cause II is the wish Of the department the feet
shall be placed so far possible, on its own re-
sources
MESS DEBTS NO LIEN ON PAY.-The exact
relations OF the officers messes at army posts to
the government has been set forth in a decision of
the War Department relating 10 the stoppage of
pay IN the case Of an officer duty at a Western
post. The officer owed money TO the mess
"hich was composed of officers, The debtor Is
about to resign from the army. and it became a
queSuon now the mess should he reimbursed. The
War Department has decided that II cannot with
hold any Of the officers pay, because the mess is
not governmental institution. While It's bookkeep-
ing is supervised by army officer detailed for
that purpose, this Is only for the protection of
pay their bills by any pressure which can be ex-
erted from the War Department.
STATUS OF PHILIPPINE SCOUTS-Iieutenan
Ernest Stccker, Of the Philippine Scouts. who was
formerly Of the Rough Riders in cuba. has been
designated Indian agent IN Oklahoma a re-
quest for his detail having been made 10y the Int
rior Department. 1t is held I'm the War Depart
ment. however. that officer OF the Philippine
Scouts IS not in the same position as a commis-
stoned officer of the regular establishment, and
ha Had In bfs for yaNa, ,l,aI
vice. Army officers. by a provision of law. may
be assigned to duty Indian agent or IN certain
other capacities which not purely military. An
oricer OF the Philippine Scouts, however. has a
different status. and is available for duty
side of that organization
ORDERS IssUED.-Ths following orders have
been issued:
ARMY
sees no,p g; os's5aH aa
o. 70 the PHiliPPncs necem6rr . -,
Elrst Lieutenant FoYAI-D p FISHER, 7th cavalry
Lieutenant Colonel CHARLES BYRNE. TO nth In
Major BENJAMIN G MORSE 70 27th Infantry.
Major L 10LT +, FiNbET; 70 18th Infantry
Captain BARNETT NJ, REEVE, to 2pth Infantry.
Lieutenant HARRY oPTE Jr.. LIST Infantry. Michigan
First lieutenant LANIER CRAvENs, coast artillery
n oce % aer @ as Of Of caps Fear to RTer for
con'rSet ssarseq2q WILLIAM N ARCHER, Jr. from
Surgeon ELIAS II. PORTER TO Fort Worden.
NAVY.
Commander s S WOOD, commissioned
Lieutenant Commander q. r EVANS. board o IN
speCtiOn and Washington
Lieutenant Commando ". l.. HOWARD. detached a
Lieutenant Commander r. X BEIKNAP, detached as
orccr Of naval Intelligence; to duty as naval at
tachC Berlin
Lieutenant o. UILL. commissioned lieutenant CIunor
Passed Assistant Surgeon c. 7. GRAYsoN, detached
from navy yard: to naval dispensaFy at Wash
ington.
Assistant Surgeon F. 2 PORTER, detached from the
Franklin; the yard Washington
Acting Assistant Surgeon r. \ CAMPBELL. to tho
Franklin
MOVEMENTS or VESSEIS.-The following
movements of war vessels have been reported 10
tho Navy Department
ARRIVED.
oct 27-Thr Nero. Portsmouth. Y H.
2g--The TncHS Guantanamo; tho Wasp.
New Haven, the Chattanooga. at Cayite.
SAILED
oct - The Marietta. from Key West for Puerto
Cortcz Honduras.
NATIONAL GUARD INSPECTION DATES.