New-York tribune., 1907-04-29
ARMY And NAVY NEWS.
Little To BE GiUen Out About NaUGI
Target Practice. Q
IFrOm The Tribune Bureau.I


TARGET PRACTICE RESULTS.-The Navy
Department will give out little information
cerning the records made the target ranges this
year In naval Gunnery. 1t is not yet known to
what vessels the various trophies will be presented
as this cannot be definitely determined until all
the records of all the ships are received and are
carefully verified and compared by the experts OF
the bureau Of navigation. II Is known. however
that the Maryland. on the Asiatic station and the
AIlhols ana the Missouri OF the Atlantic feet made
more than six hits minute with the six-inch guns
tnI tIaI lhe kentucky and the KeaTsarge made more
Inah nine hits minute with the flve-inch guns
and that several ships made more than nine hits
with with the three-inch guns. while the Missouri made
The bluetackets belonging to the Atlantic fleet
practice GUANTANAMO their oficers were NOT per-
id nItted TO assist them in firing the guns. or. at
men should do much of this work themselves in
snn 10 eStaonsh g sef1reiance and exPertness in
sboi1 & put Is expected that the general
IN time the men will feel the benefit OF this system.
GREAT BRITAIN MAKES RECORD.-Com-
parisons drawn between government built war
ships and those built at private yards will ever
De a source of argument. it is impossible to
get at the exact figures. and the varying cOndi-
uohs under which the ships are constructed rem
der 1t impossible to pronounce Judgment on the
prOouct OF the one as better inferior than that
OF the other The recent record Of the British
SIiP the Drea1nought. built by the British
cover, government at the royal dOckyards at Ports
SURPASSED b 1e DT,,o one which will not easily be
the constructive department at the navy yard
heavier than any battieship aAoat Of eDtreIY ISIT
neW type and embodying features new to bat
caps this government plant established a record
II 1IT SPee9 never before equalled. completing the
ana predicted all sorts Of shortcomings for this
every government test and after three months
cruise has been pronounced great success.
PROMOTES EFFICIENCY-The officers Of the
artillery corps are much gratihed with the re-
suits Of the act Of January 25 which permits
the appointment Of enlisted who are qualified
Tor the work 70 the positions which will give them
extra compensation. sometimes as much as g or
80 month AS soon the law was enacted 10
was observed that re-enlstments improved. Men
who had intended to leave the army and who have
been sufficiently we'll trained to make their loss
Of Importance. reconsidered and remained. This
mas been OF decided advantage to the artillery
corps. because IT keeps IN the service men espe-
artillery force when needed. II has resulted in
increasing the personal contentment. which IN
cheney Nothing could have improved menacing
situation , to greater extent than the provision
which brings him additional pay. 1t has made
eonGnns in 10 c @ tn o 8bcS tSe men
willing to go in preference to remaining in the mill
artillery posts in the vicinity Of New York where
opportunity for outside labor and the demand for
good meI are greater than at many Of the other
artillery stations.
SURGEONS BADLY NEEDED-The army sur
geons duty in the War Department who are
charged with filing vacancies in the junior grade
of their department. entertain hope that much /
will be accomplished toward that end IN the exam
nations being held various places this week. /
Not more than thirty-ive candidates have signihed
a desire to be examined. and there are thirty |
vacancies in the position OF assistant surgeon Last
year there double that number Of candidates. |
and only small percentage has been found i
qualified. The the explanation 4
Of this lack Of desire 70 Be examined is due to the
fact that the medical department OF the army
sion of Congress. Urgent recommendations were
made % 9T1 aoTRns @ %as 9 GsTe G9s % 81 as me S ta @
OF old ofeeTs and the or y Juniors m are
situation is serious one, and can only be met BY
begin 10 answer the purpose. especially as there |
is need of officers IN the permanent corps for their
t neS b tS Xsr n Deos 10 induce Consress 10
snacf tFs ~ IesisstioD Which viii nut the medical de-
partment footing that will make II attractive
no particular inducement TO enter the department
Those who do so are led 70 take the examination /
IN the hope that something sooner or later will be
done for the corps
A SUCCESSFUL. ExPERIMENT.-Ths Navy De- \
partment is in receipt Of the reports OF the tests
which have been held on board the U. s. s. Florida
These were made to demonstrate whether or not 1t l
would be possible to fire gun Of one turret over
the top OF another without injury 70 the occupants
of the This arrangement is necessary
board the battleships for which contracts have
Just been awarded and the two vessels for which
bids TO be opened on June 90 II was found in |
the experiment held on board the Florida That
servable by the officers who occupied the lower
caibre was removed and mounted in a position
above the turret. The firing was at different
observers that the plan was feasible and could be
carried out with perfect safety and at no incon-
venience to those who were below the shock Of fire.
NOTES OF THE STAGE.