New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-20
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Modern Cruiser for Nez0 York Pub
lie School Boys.
from The Tribune Bureau

NEW YORK'S NAUTICAL SCHOOLSHIP-The
United States ship Newport is 10 become the
public schoolship New York. in place of the old
St Marys The latter vessel was built in 1874. at
Washington. and has long since passed its period
OF value. and las been marked for transfer from
the active naval register for some time. The New
port. which is Portsmouth y. H. being
made ready for delivery the New York authori-
ties on July l, is In the class Of unarnored COM
posite vessels Of TIE gunboat type and was built
at the Bath (Ie) Iron Works. 1t IS of little more
IMAM 100 tons displacement and has length Of
EOS feet. The single screw vertical. triple expan-
sion engines produced speed the trial trip of
the vessel of % knots. The vessel carries Scotch
boilers. and has bunker capacity OF 22i tons The
Newport also has main battery composed Of six
i-inch rapid fire guns four 6pounders I-pound-
ers and one SOcalibre automatic gun. The New
sail on the theory that cssols ~ his soTt oid
be useful for training puTToses end for certain
special duty Accordingly the Newport has boilers
ana engines and is rugged as barkentIne There
are accommodations for eleven officers and 1b0 men,
xsss. cost a when 6g under contract h in s
nas done was in the war with SPAIN. when the
who recently died at the League Island Navy Yard
Ts SaF adiniFai and cemm ndan Of that station
April q, of Cabanas. cuba, taking the Spanish
the Spanish Tsse Podr a{ De Dos ana on Nav
ana and t cSP5TTf the spsnsb schooner SeysTt9
is being made 10 save the old St Mary's. TO he
pier While the Newport takes The boys cruising
thus doubling the capacity of the nautical school
'CP TO" THE CONTRACTOR-Thc Navy De-
rs-stment has obtained opinion from the Attor-
ney General in regard to the responsibility for the
interruption OF work the drydock at the
navy yard at Brooklyn. The Navy Department
authorities entertain the notion that II will
or later be necessary 10 annul the contract. No
work has been done the drydock since last
August, and the recommendation made
weeks ago by the chief OF the bureau of yards and
docks that the contractor be deprived OF his con-
tract and the work relet the extra expense TO be
SISTED that he could not 20 on with the work until
the government corrected the conditions at the
remedy the situation The Attorney General has
is not responsible for the conditions existing at
the BROOKLYN Navy Yard and that the contractoE
will enable him TO do the work without inter
rupton.
LOSSES OF MAJOR FFEMONT.-Ma5or J. p
Fremont, L. S. a, who was recently tried by mill
tary court for alleged failure TO meet his financial
obligations. and who was sentenced 10 a loss OF
sixty files in the grade Of major OF infantry. has
been before the War Department this week with an
interesting proposition. II pointed out in his
behalf that there were only ffty-nino majors his
junior and II inquired whether the sentence OF
the court would not be carried out II Major FIRE.
mont was placed the bottom OF the list OF majors
and jumped by hfty-nine officers who were Until
recently hts junior. The War Department has held
that the court did not sentence Major Fremont 10
take position at the bottom Of the list of majors
but that he should lose sixty nies 1t vas accord
ingly decided that Major Fremont inusi fTn az
become his senior This was acconplished a l.%
to The rank Of major. This has left the way open
for Major Fremont 70 resume ms p9sIoio f ~ , me
bottom OF the list Of majors. preceded by Sky
younger officers
WIRELESS FOR MILITIA DRILL.-The army
signal officers have been assembling new field wire
less sets Some Of these have been sent 10 CUBA,
and the reports received In Washington indicate
that the new system has proved great success
This is most gratifying TO those who have been
trying to devise an economical! method OF wireless
communication In the field by means OF which II
will be possible have portable instruments which
would enable the establishment ofaa station wher-
ever desired The new sets. which are being manu-
featured by the signal corps. will be distributed 10
the leading army posts ana pt @min vi" sumner
is planned also send sets OF the portable system
Fort Hancock, New Jersey with the eNpeC tation
that they will be used in the exercises IN which me
will participate.
STILL SHORT OF SURGEONS. The surgeon
general Of the army has been informed that only
ten candidates completed the examinations held IN
the last week two at various army posts IN dlf-
fcrent parts Of the country for appointment as
sistant surgeons. There thirty vacancies. and
thirty-three medical college graduates asked per-
mission to appear before the boards for eXamina-
ton Many OF them failed TO present themselves:
others declared physically dis4uahned anG
ginning it, There is little hope that All OF the ten
candidates who completed the examination VIII be
found qualified, and the prospect Is that there VIII
SIN be many vacancies in the army medical de-
partment which branch OF the army is In great
need Of Junior officers This situation Wi! be used
as an argument by the surgeon general early in
the next session OF Congress- to obtain the lcgtsla-
ton winch has been urgently recommended Tor sew
eral years.
RIG GUNS AND EAR DRUMS.-The naval sur
geons attached to ships Of war have been engaged
In an investigation of the method OF protecting the
,..l,r atto FROM hoo,r oy,,,
fire II has been found that there is grave danger
Of permanent injury and perhaps death. by reason
Of the unprotected of those stationed in turrets
or In the neighborhood OF big guns There are
several devices for the protection OF the ear and
some of these have lately been under examination
and trial. the surgeon general of the navy Will not
specify another type for but will be able
10 inform those who Interested which of the
samples meet the requirements a substitute FOR
the bits of cotton some officers and men wear when
in the neighborhood Of gun fire In the device TO
be generally used II is desirable that tho drum
shall be sufficiently protected from shock while
there is interference with the hearing of orders
pArJLTr EJEET'C GIrNNFRS REST