New-York tribune., 1907-10-05
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
1dmirdL Mason to Remain Chief OF
Ordnance.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau.

/ when the Pacific cruise was determined he
/ urged that command of one of the vessels of thc
! fleet be given him. Measured by every condition
of Admiral Brownsons policy. Admiral Mason is
eligible. He has never yet enjoyed the opportunity
| Of making his captains cruise since he attained
| that grade, and he five years active service
/ before him. of which than a year will be
rear admiral The high estimation In which Ad-
! miral Mason is held. moreover. predsposed his
! perior officers to granting his request but his
! marked ability and the exceptional value of his
services in his present position chief ordnance
! operated against him. and it has finally bren de
cided that he is Indispensable where ne is. and
| that there he must remain until he has served his
! four years term head OF the ordnance bureau
| which means that he will not be permitted to 20
| To sea until after January ?, 1909
! GENERAL STAFF EXPERIENCE-Army off,
| GERS are discussing thc advsability of changing
| the la" which provides for the detail of line
! officers to special staff duty. The plan which orig
mated In the administration of Secretary Root. has
worked well especially in the way of acceIerating
| promotion in the military establishment, At the
| same time it has be realized that in time
| OF war colOnels. lieutenant coones and majors
who are on staff duty will hardly be likely to wish
! TO remain in that capacity They bound TO
GeSlrc TO return to their line commands or to
| volunteer regiment. There signs that the War
! Department will sooner later urge Congress
change in the law conffne the detailed
| system to the junior grades of the special staT
corps. While the personnel above that grade shall
be filled by permanent appointments made from
detailed staff officers Of the line who have served
satisfactorily in this subordinate capacity.
NAVY THANKS NEW YORK MILITIA.-The
Navy Department has received n report from Lieu
tenant Harris Lauing. who was the captain of the
navy rife team which made such a record Tor
itself at the national match at Camp Perry. Ohio.
winning the three matches under the control of
| 'He national board for the promotion of small
arms practice. Lieutenant Laning gives an en-
| 'husastIc account Of the competition and es-
| pecialy praises the members Of the navy team and
| me marksnen from the Naval Academy. In clos
| ing his report he SAYS: 1T only through the
courtesy Of the officials the State OF New York
! mat We were able to get practice on the
magnificent range at Creedmoor and II is to
Colonel y. B. Thurston. captain OF the New York
state rife team, and his well known associates
| that we must feel indebted for the knowledge Of
llHe shooting that has this year given the finest
team that ever a national match
Sk1TT1SH Colts FOR CADETS.-Dnculty
mas been encountered in obtaining colts for the
use OF the cadets at the Military Academy II
was recently decided to have twenty Of these ami
mails selected from the stable Fort Riley Kansas
where there is school for cavalry. 1t found
however by the head OF the institution. Brgader
General K. :. Godfrey. who had been duty as
instructor of cavalry West Point that these
colts were altogether too spirited too high
strung for cadet use. especially in the ranks
General Godfrey has accordingly recommended
that hereafter twenty horses. selected from the
best OF those purchased under contract by the
quartermaster's department. be Fort Riley
to be trained 1t Is. of course. impossible to de-
eide just what type is suitable and just what
line of training should be followed until expert
ment has furnished data.
INCREASED COST EVERYWHERE.-There Is
observable I'm the estimates which have been sent
In from subordinate sources at army posts and
navy yards the effect the the OF
labor and material in all parts OF the country. II
has hitherto always been safe adopt from year
70 year the recommendations giving cost OF CON
struction which were passed by a previous
Congress. This IS not the at present II Is
found that the additional cost OF construction is so
great that there must be a revision OF these later
estimates A JOB which Ave or six years ago cost
$500 or 5000 Is now found TO require expendl-
ture OF $4,000. and this shows the percentage OF
increase In all branches OF work under tho govern
ment. II means that the on,y way to decrease the
appropriations for construction next year VIII be to
leave out Of the items
DANGEROUS NEW YORK DRYDOCK.-The
Navy Department continues 10 receive reports from
the officials Of the New York Navy Yard In regard
TO Drydock No. g. This structure Is In a crippled
condition. and requires constant watching TO keep
| II from collapsing. 1t is evident that regular
sum will have to be set aside to meet tho emer-
gencies which constantly coming up. There are
many leaks and Cave-ns-all Of them coming sud
denlv and without warming II is pointed out that
negligence will result seriously, besides adding TO
| the expense OF repair.
! TO PROMOTE COLONEL. G. s SMtTH-The
| President has directed the appointment OF Colonel
/ %
| brigadier general the retirement OF Colonel
Godfrey. on October 9. and wishes II announced
! that the appointment is made in recognition OF
! Colonel Smiths exceptional services in connection
with tho establishment OF the coast deIences and
the supply artillery service with modern
mament. Colonel Smith will have little more than
! two months service in his new grade he will
! retire account of age on December 2s
| ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders have
| been issued:
| Captain PARK HOWELL. assistant surgeon. mill
| Captain EDWARD r. SCHULZ. corps OF engineers in
aadluoh 10 C'leI uutI"s, 70 tineht OF the
tenant Colonel WILLIAM II. BIXBY. OF
| Captain VICTOR NJ DUMAS, LIST Infantry. Michigan
| -, thnal siTard' to garrison school Fort Wayne
artillery corps. accepted.
| The following assignments OF first Meutenants
and assistant surgeons are ordered:
| CHARLES F. CRAIG to Fort Leayenworth. WILLIAM
iG genera hGsP@ te'@T m nEt Of San
| HARRY c. HUMPHREYS to Camp Captain John
contrary su2seon FRED co%sEELmAN from Fort
Contract surgeon CHARLES L. BAKER. from Fort
Totten TO Fort warren relieving Contract Sur
his home, Philadelphia, and report to Surgeon
Surgeon Sr HoW%b OF PREsT from
| c. Phia to general hospital. PR2nl. Fort Fort Bayard 49,
| fantry. to Philippines. November ; ~ "
| Resignation of second Lieutenant WILLIAM F. KUTZ.
Major FRANcI$ n SKUNK, corps of engineers. in
as chief engineer oficer. relieved by Lieu
! tenant Colonel WILLIAM II. BIXBY, corps OF
Captain T T.. d. " vEEDER. detached Naval
n'anding the Hartford. '''"
iese: to Naval Academy >a''' war Col
| Lieutenant CommanGep g. W. Laws detached Navy