New-York tribune., 1907-12-14
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Var Department Calls on Experts
an Aerial Navigation.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau-l


WAR BALLOON EXPERIMENTS. - General
specifications for the construction OF several diri-
Eible balloons and 2eroplanes for the use OF the
United States army have been formulated ny the
signal Office Of the War Department and sent TO
number Of aerial nsvigators and manufacturers
who are considered to he especially interested in
this project and capable of designing and making
machines for aerial transportation The enthusl-
aroused in the signal corps by me ehperl-
inents with the floating balloons Influenced General
Crozer chief of the ordnance bureau, TO inquire
into the adaptabty Of aeroplanes for the use OF
the army. and he has asked General Allen. chief
signal officer TO include them in his search for
practicable navigation of the air Before publish
ing the final requirements General Allen thought IL
best to consult the foremost American aeronants,
and as a guide TO them he has sent the general
specifications These requirements will be carefully
studied by the prospective bidders. and any sus-
gestions that may be of value from them may De
used in formulating the specifications which bids
will be asked According TO the general specifca-
fiors the irigible aoons will be required 10 re-
main in the air for az least three hours, ana each
balloon will have 10 carry enough fuel Tor TINS
period Each must carry two men, the operator
and another who is TO make observations ana
notes The balloons must be of some strong and
substantial fabric irpervious To atmosphere con-
ditions and TO the great strain TO which they are
often subjected The requirements for the aero
planes are not so well defined but II is demanded
that each machine carry two men for the same
nurroses as those who sail in the balloon The
question of speed and endurance is one that has
not been finally passed by the signal Office and
in the statements TO prospective bidders and men
interested in aeronautics suggestions these two
.roinrs have been asked. The aeroplanes are re
ouired 10 need no extensive starting platform. as
this is considered an i.rpedment TO the necessarily
Quick and satisfactory efficiency OF the machines IN
military practice. They also must be so con-
strcted as to descend any sort of ground with
c,,. injury TO themselves or the occupants. 1t is
xnected that all the suggestions VIII be received
within week and shortly after that time the final
specf6cations will be announced and bids asked
DETACHED DUTY EVILS.-Army officers en-
.e-a; sincere hopes that there will he some legs-
la-ion this session authorizing the filling of vacan-
cies which practically result the detail of line
officers TO certain detached duty This is now the
r,ractica in the case of officers detailed for duty
as consnissaries quartermasters and so on, nut IL
is not followed where officers are detailed on re-
cruitine college duty 1t is believed that there
is as much reason doing this generally as there
is in certain cases especially the line loses the
services of the officers on this detached duty
The regiments which going to the Philippines
This wear have scarcity of commissioned officers
in all grades, excepting that of colonel, and their
places cannot be filled owing to the large number
of officers on detached duty.
OH, FIJEI. FOR WAR CRAFT.-The Secretary
of the Navy has taken up with keen interest the
study of the question of oil substitute for
coal as the fuel of torpedo boats and destroyers
His attention has been drawn TO the reports which
have come from Europe especially regarding the
British torpedo craft. nearly all Of which now