New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-10-21
ARMY IND NAVY NEU'S.
rrram Tho Tribune Bursau1

Washington. October % 1877.
| REVIVAL or HAND GRENA DES-The reports
received from the military observers in the Philip
pines have contained some references TO the use 81
| hand Ercuades. implement uf warfare which
| some people consider archaic. but the Japanese
used these with considerable effect In the attack on
| Port Arthur when they came 70 sufficiently close
| range 20 make IL possible To use the rifle The
| japanese even constructed an Ingenious gun made
| Of wood which lifted a can uled with a high eN-
| posve This composition was largely the cejehrat-
/ ed shimosc which has come TO be regarded tie
velopmeut ia destructive ammunition. There has
| been conducted during the last few months under
the chief Of ordnance OF the army experiment I'm
order to ascertain II satisfactory hand grenade
could be developed for the service. There has also
| been under consideration mortar for throwing
this projece. the mortar 70 be light enough to be
carried about b. hand The grenade which has
been tried with best results may easily be thrown
~ feet obstacle fifty sixty feet high. II
IS possible that with the adoption Of the hand
grenade there viii be special exercises on the part
Of artileriss in the distance and accuracy of tho
throw.
COAIMANDANT or WEST POINT CADETS
Colonel Robert l.. Howe. commandment of cadets
AT tho United States Military Academy 1T Yves:
Point, has gained much distinction on account Of
hts bravery in the field. lie is a lieutenaut-coloncI
by virtue Of tho position Lee occupies at West Point
but In the line he Is "A captain of the 9th Cavalry.
Fo was born in Texas ana graduated from the
Military Academy in 1858 During the war with
Spain he was IL captain in the adjutant generals
department in :he volunteer establishment and
later was Northumberland of the saith United
States Infantry. lie brcvcttcd "A brigadier-gen-
eral on account of his services From 1901 TO 1904
he was major in the Porto Rico provisional regI-
ment Of infantry. lie has won a medal OF honor
for gallautry i'm rcpUsinR the attacks Of hostile
Sioux Indians tho north bank Of the White
River in South Dakota 1891 while he was serving
as IA second lieutenant OF tho 9th cavalry
IMPORTANT NAVAL vACANCY.-rhc dcsire Of
Captain $. w. h, DghI L. s ~. he relieved
from duty judge advocate general OF the navy
and assigned TO a battleship command preferably
tho Mississippi or IN" idaho. has attracted much
attention among naval officers and marine officers
who are ambitious to succeed him There are al
ready a number OF candidates who are understood
as instituting campaign or as having been urged
upon the Secretary of the Navy officers who are
qualified TO discharge the duties of this important
advisory place. Among those who are mentioned
I'm this connection are Commander Harry Phelps,
who is present duty in the office OF the Judge
advocate general; Lieutenant Commander Robert
l.. Russell. who is the executive officer on the
Charleston; Lieutenant Alfred W. Pressey. who is
on duty at the League Island P"nnsylvanip Navy
Yard. and Lieutenant Elisha Theall retired ma
rine officer who is engaged in the practice of law
I'm Washington. There others who likely
TO offer themselves eligible It becomes
known that the vacancy Is likely TO occur.
IMPROVING MILITARY POsTs-The army
duartermasters who hate charge of construction
army posts busily engaged in making contracts
which may be carried out by virtue of the funds
which are available with the beginning of each
fiscal year The last Congress failed to appropriate
all the money which estimated necessary,
and this has required revision OF the plans
OF construction at military posts including the pro-
visions for officers quarters. barracks for the en-
listed force drill halls. stables and other structures.
The appropriation for the post exchanges will per
NIT the erection OF buildings for this purpose at
several posts which are not now so equipped. The
estimates which will go to Congress this year will
take into con&deratoa the increased cost of labor
and material and for this reason there is not likely
TO be as much construction carried on hereafter
has been possible in the past largely for the reason
that Congress has always been disincned to in
crease an appropriation for construction. il being
considered that the usual allotment in lump sum