Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-13
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS

airy and infantry, and have had no pre-
vious training in the handling or ad-
ministration of coast artillery troops
AS a consequence in such cases they have
no adequate knowledge of either the
tactical or administrative needs of this
arm.
Under such conditions the interests of
the coast artillery suffers in all matters
of the technique which bear on material
and it's use. So long as this anomaly
continues to exist just so long will the
coast artillery be lacking in that eff
cheney which rests on an adequate and
proper installation of material and the
highest possible development of training
of the personnel assigned to Its service.
1T will be lacking, in short in that
standard Of efficiency that would be pos
sible were the administrative head of the
territorial department educated and
trained technically in his earlier years
In all of the de- tails of the means and
me thods of modern coast defense.
The coast artillery has practically
nothing In common with the army. 1t
is in no sense mobile army. On the
other hand, 1t shares with the navy the
common mission of defending the coast
line of the country. The unity Of direc-
ton that will result from Abe closer CO.
operation of the navy and the coast de-
tense arm has been demonstrated in the
joint maneuvers between the land forti-
fications and the ships Of the navy"
Defense Of Appointments by selec-
ton.
Some Of the higher officials Of the War
Department who are In a measure re-
sponsible for the selection of the off,
GERS who have been recently promoted
to the rank of major general or brigadier
general are beginning to get bit FESTIVE
under the criticisms that are being
shoWered upon them in the press for
jumping" certain officers over the heads
of others in the same or lower grades.
One of these officials pointed out the fact
that such Jumping" which Is after all
but another name for the dreaded "se-
lection process, was really aimed at by
Congress when it excepted general off,
GERS from the operation of the seniority
rule in promotions. 1t was realized that
while seniority might properly be the
proper thing for the lower grades in the
army there was every reason why the
| appointive power should not be hampered
in selecting men peculiarly qualified by
| temperament or acquired qualiflcat lions
for the discharge of duties involving the
| exercise OF large powers of discretion and
responsibility. AT any rate, it was said
| the President had in late years never felt
| bound to regard seniority in promotions
| to grades above colonel. and the list of
| appointments of brigadiers and major
generals since Clevelands admin!stra ton
| show this.
Some Amusing Mistakes.
According to the Bluejacket, Rear Ad-
miral Evans, while travelling on steamer
between Fort Monroe and the exposition
grounds, was accosted by a lady passen-
ger, who had a baby and some bundles
in her arms. with the query: Are you
going ashore here?" When the admiral
said yes she asked him to carry her bun
dies. Certainly, madam. only too pleased
to- was the quick reply. The admiral
| was In uniform. and the lady took him
for one of the steamers officers or por-
| tiers.
Petty officers of the navy are frequently
| asked to stop a trolley car, to prevent q
| dog fight or to say of-hand Just when
| the next train will leave for Oshkosh or
some other way station The story. is
also told of a midshipman in Washington
who was asked by an old lady to carry
| her baggage and offered him 10 cents as
| a tip. These mistakes are due to the
| fact that naval uniforms are so closely
| copied in the dress Of municipal. railroad
and other employees that 1t is sometimes
| difficult to tell the real from the imita-
| ton.
| Retirement Of Two Admirals.
| Rear Admiral Charles H. Stockton, re-
Gently on duty in this city as president
| of the naval examining and retiring
| boards, and Rear Admiral Seth NJ. Ack-
| ley, who has been on waiting orders fol
several months. will be placed on the re-
| tired list today Sunday the former or
| account of age and the latter because OF
| physical disability. Capt. Albert Ross
| becomes rear admiral, vice Admira
| Stockton, but the retirement of Ajmira
] Ackey makes no vacancy, as he was ar
additional number in his grade.
American Boats Superior.
i The fact that in designing the new tor
pedo boat destroyers about to be built the
speed was placed at twenty-four knot.
has been brought to the attention of the
President by some officers, who assert thai
in this respect the boats will be notably
inferior to the fast European destroyers
The President has inquired into the mat
ter and 1t will be shown by the de
signers that while many of the European
boats are faster ION paper or while
jockeyed up for a run over mile course
| few if any of them can maintain theil
reputed speed in a seaWay under service
conditions. On the other hand, the Amer
lean boats are planned to make twenty.
four knots an hour in and out of season
to keep 1t up in heavy weather; to be
strong enough in hull and engine and ma
/ chinery to meet all service demands, anG
finally, a most important consideration
to carry enough coal to enable them te
i cruise twice as far as the European
| boats.
Defense Of Army Gunners.
The President has taken notice of the
criticisms upon the army target practice
contained In the report Of Commander
Simms of the navy after a recent visit to
/ Fort Monroe. AS a result Lieut.. Col E.
M. Weaver assistant chief of artillery. Is
lpIeparing long report intended to DEM