New-York tribune., 1907-12-16
AND NAVY NEWS.
TTrom The Tribune Bureau.l
VA shin Ufn1 nnce.

who failed TO take the 1fteen-mile test IN horse
manship. No subject has attracted more attention
in the military personnel than the cases of these
thirty thirty-fve officers who failed to take
failed in taking the ride prescribed by the Presi-
dent of the qualifications for fitness for
duty. These officers not to be retired because
they could not or did not ride. but most of them
have been pronounced physically incapacitated FOR
active service owing TO disabilities which, had they
been discovered before under other circum-
stances by the army surgeons, would have led to
their retirement The Acting Secretary Of War,
General Oliver, does not wish to act upon
the cases recommending retirement for the rea-
son that there is involved policy WHICH
would require the consideration of the head
of the War Department, with the approval of the
President, of course. in the of officers who
must be retired. The President is believed to on
tcrtain some decided opinions concerning the in
eligibility of officers who cannot ride, and Il Is
not expected the War Department viii recon-
mend that any exceptions shall be made IN behalf
of certain officers, such Colonel W. l. Marshall
of the corps or engineers, in charge Of river and
harbor work in New York. IF any exception is
made. Secretary Taft will be advised The depart
ment is confronted with many vexatious questions
with the likelihood of being charged with favorit-
ism.
ELIMINATED OFFICER APPEALS.-There are
signs of an interesting debate in Congress- and
pecially in the Senate when Senator McCumber calls
up the bill to restore the active list Captain Will
tam G. Cutler. L. S N. retired ono of the fifteen
naval officers who forced the retired list
last July by the recommendations of the elimination
board. 1t is understood that another Of the officers
Of this class. Captain John c. CoIwell. will seek
Congressional redress under the orcun-
stances. Last July, for the time the
has been in existence officers of the navy were re-
tired for alleged unness for active duty under the
process OF transferring from the active list officers
who were deemed undesirable for service The Off
GERS thus retired have regarded their transfer from
the active list public humiliation without war
and nF sTaTar
only shall the law be repealed-an incident which
would be received with marked favor throughout
the service-but they Will make the attempt TO be
restored 10 the active list in their former places
and carried numbers. It is evident that
these officers have impressed Of the Senators
and Representatives with their claims to consdera-
tion and it is expected that the debate will
teresting in that IL will permit ventilation OF
Congressional view this particular method of
creating vacancies TO help promotion The Navy
Department viii make adverse report on the
Cutler bill and other similar measures of relief If
called upon for comment.
NEW RIFLES FOR AIILITIA-Arn1y ordnance
officers ere making desperate effort rearm the
army and militia with a new Springfield rife. re-
chaIILbered for the pointed ammunition. before the
beginning Of the next target season The facilities
OF the ordnance establishments az Springfield
Mass. and Rock Island. ILL., being utilized TO
the maximum extent in the plan these i'm
proved rifles ready for the marksmen TO when
the new rifles viii 80 TO tho Philippines where II
will be necessary to send about fifteen thousand
The next shipment will be made to Cuba. provided
the troops are still there, seems probable and
where about five thousand will be distributed Then
the distribution Will be made among the troops in
tho United States. After the regular army Is fully
equipped with the new rife the national guard will
be furnished with that weapon.
NEW YORK MIDSHIPMEN.-There are 945 va
cances at the Naval Academy in the position of
mldshipman 10 be filled before March by the
Representatives and Senators. These positions in
Clude the vacancies created by the graduation of
next June. Allowing for the usual percentage of
failures in the entrance examination. there Will
probably be two hundred and eighty members Of
the next fourth class Each Representative and
Senator may a principal and three alternates
The nominees made by the Congressman of New
York State. far reported TO the bureau of navi-
CATION, follows:
Second District. Representative Lindsay-R- T
Branch. of Brooklyn. principal
Twenty first District Representative Bradley-E
+. Nickinson of Middletown. principal; l. \. Pack
/ of Port Jelvls; D. a. Nicely. of Ridgebury. and J.
Il. Smith. of NewbJng alternates
Twenty-second District, Representative Draper
c. s. Alden of Troy principal; W. y. McCulloch
of East Greenbush. alternate; r S Hagsart. of
Granville. principal. and c. 3. Kinney. of Salem.
alternate. Representative Draper has two appoint
ments 10 make to the credit of his district.
Twenty-seventh District, Representative Sher-
man-Harrison Weaver. of DeerheId principal
Twenty-eighth District, Representative knapp
". L. Greenman. of Watertown principal; e B.
Burrough of Oswego, alternate
Thirty-first District, Representative Payne--L. A
Gilbert, of Newark. principal; II. ]. Mallory of
! Dundee, alternate.
Thirty-thrd District Representative Fassett-E.
II. Costello. of Elmra, principal: L. r. Brown. Of
Urbana; Carlyle Bebout. of Corning, and L. H
Aialony, of Waterloo, alternates
Thirty-fourth District. Representative Porter-L
II. Black. of Alexander, principal, and P NJ. Ben
ton, OF Oakland. alternate.
FIGHTING MOSQUITO FEvERs.-The army
will wage the mosquito by filling in
ber Of ponds covering area of nearly ten acres,
at Fort Taylor, Florida 1t has been discovered
that this reservation is veritable pest OF yellow
and malarial breeding insects. They increase
prodgiously by means of these ponds which are
too large to be treated with OIL As the reservation
is TO be used next summer for artillery exercises
under field service conditions it is considered neces-
sary protection of health to have this untoward
condition relieved. The chief OF artillery has made
a strong recommendation the subject. backed
up by the surgeon general and the quartermaster
general. The work win be carried soon as
money can be obtained from Congress.
MILITIA TO GET ALLowANCEs.-Oficers of
the national guard who attending the army
service schools have been advised that they Will
receive in addition to quarters. the allowance OF
fuel and light which is now paid TO officers OF the
regular army when they occupy quarters at mill
tary post when they regarded as In posi-
ton emitting them to Communication or quarters
This is an important concession to the militia OFF,
GERS who have chosen TO take the instruction at
service schools and shows TO what extent the war
Department is disposed to encourage by every way
possible those officers of the national guard or
efficiency.
MaGpALENA BA- TARGETs.-A special board
of gunnery officers of the has been in session