New-York tribune., 1907-08-17
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
No Legal Punishment for Making
Plans of Forts.
{Fr,m The Tribune Bureau-J

formation of possible value to some country uh-
friendly United States If such action Is 'aeh
In time of peace. The recent questions arising ee
tween this country and Japan were productive OF
,,,,. ro,,e ..snv stories and naturally the good
neonle of the Pacific Coast desirous OF knowing
lust what constitutes Spy, what punishment
is rneted out the cuprit. and possibly among
other questions, what reward might accrue 10 any
one capturing such an individual Many is'tefs
along these lines have recently reached tue ohice
of tho i,1dee advocate general OF the army 1nere
is nothing to prevent persons visiting army pos's
and fortffcatons, within certain l'Etaliohs' anu
unless some overt act is committed thefe cDu'u Us
no interference on part of the officers IN caiSe
If q person We're found making sketches OF piai"
st an army post he would be requested 10 ieaFs
the reservation and the drawings Would hioi7 tsla
likely be taken and destroyed Hp~efsl, 90 '@
ss the authority conferred by the laws OF thiS f"u
try is concerned he might cali the next haS aiIu
spend his spare time there If he gave no iut tIt
cause for suspicion There seems to ne httls Hope
If reward for those who might feel disposed 10 alq
the government In this matter
NAVAL. SURGEONS GOMPEFENT-The Navy
Department has established some rules covering
the emeloynent by naval officers of speeisists IN
the treatment of some disability, when thes s'.-
slider the regular naval medical officer is not SUI
fciently skilled take care OF the case AhiS
authority to put the government to extra expense
in consulting specialists VIII not De perElteEu up
the mere voIition of the officer seeking the uedt-
naent Treatment by a specialist where naval meg
teal officers are actually aVailaple must oe -
authority OF the surgeon seneFai OF 'ie no -
under the direction and control OK the isoisei %
tabIishuent of the Navy Department In carrying
ort tho treatment the naval medical officer in
charge OF the case will be regarded as profession
aIIy capable. This regulation Is estSaoHsned IN
order that there may be some eoptrol OF Ih0 o
sire to put the government to extra expense W
seeking special advice beyond that "hicn is iu'
ntsbed also gratuitously. by the employment OK
the naval surgeons.
GERMAN ARMY HEALTH RULES.-Ihe 7u'-
geon- General of the army has recenuy FecrifeN
coDv of the new German Field Sanitary ResGa-
tions and a. translation of Same will be printed lor
distribution in the medical corps THESE resuia-
tions are the result OF the trial OF the German
methods by the japanese in the Russiah-Japaiiss
war The army of the latter was organized anu
eouipped after the German standards. and IL has
been DossbIe therefore, the Germans TO observe
the results and profit by the experience gaines IN
actual warfare Among the important changes are
the following: \ great Increase IN lAe &t'AoiI''
of the surgeons. creation OF sanitary oepa4 Alte
personnel WHICH is placed on niiltaFy AOoSils;
with rank and titles in the regular 1orce' an
non-combatants are made a part OF the regular
organization and subject 10 orders: a portable "
raw outfit and portable ARCHAEOLOGICAL laboratories
are provided field use, special water wagons
dental outfits With special equipment for treating
fractures of the jaw. provided; the supply es
cavalry bags and folding litters which may be
carried on muiss. is augmented: new AFst a4a
packet is used two OF which are issued 70 lA1e
German soldiers. and about equals the one III use
in our army. The regulations also require the
presence Of a field sanitary expert with each army
corps
SEA BATTLES IN TORPEDO RANGE-There
has been a change OF sentiment among the naval
tactical experts concerning the value OF the sub
merged torpedo Some time ago II was insisted
that every battieship should carry at least four
torpedo tubes and some Of the ships were changed
at considerable expense In order TO meet the pre-
vaiing view. This sentiment has new been ui0di-
fed the extent that il is considered that bat
tleshIp can get along with two instead Of four
submerged tubes The preludic6 in favor Of the
larger number of tubes grew out Of the view that
naval warfare hereafter would be conducted within
torpedo range This theory not born out by
the naval fights In the Far East during the
between Russia and Japan. and the torpedo is now
considered as having limited value which really
places IN tho class of weapons carried for moral
effect.
AMMUNITION FOR MILITIA-It has been de-
cided that where tho militia IS sncamped with any
part OF the regular army at a camp OF the United
States it is proper TO issue ammunition for in
struction in firing and target practice the militia
The act authorizing the Secretary OF War TO pro-
vide for the participation of any part OF the
ganized militia, on the request OF the Governor OF
state territory, in the encampment. man6uvres
and field instructions OF any part Of the regular
army any military post. provides that
ammunition may be issued for the particular pur-
poses above stated.
NAyY's NEW CHIEF CLERk-F s. Curtis
of Mount Vernon Ohio. has been appointed chief
clerk of the Navy Department to succeed Benja-
min I. Peters. who died recently. Mr.. Curtis was
appointed the Navy Department after Civil Ser
vice examination November 1. 1891. and has served
continuously I'm the chief clerks office since that
date.
TO TRY CAPTAIN H1RSHINGER.-T'he Acting
Secretary of the Navy has appointed a general
court martial for the trial OF Captain Herbert J.
TIrshiHger of the Marine Corps. the charge Of
neglect Of duty. 1t is alleged that the officer while
In charge OF storehOuSe containing clothing. etc.
improperly Entrusted the key To subordiHates
the result OF which a shortage occurred in the
stores The court will meet at the New York Navy
Yard next Wednesday.
WAR DEPARTMENT DECTSTONS.-Several de-
cisions of interest have been made by the War De-
partment bearing various features of the ser
vice deserter apprehended by civil officer
authorized by United States statute to apprehend
deseIters from the army. IL is held Is IN the Gus
tody of the United States and. under the decisions
of the Supreme Court. the state courts no jul
risdction TO interfere with the custody Of the de-
serter II has been decided that the concealmeQt by
applicant for enlistment the fact of previ-
application enlist. which fact If disclosed.
would have caused his rejection, viii in the
of his enlistment constitute act of fraudulent
enlistment. A deserter who is In the Philippine
Islands In immediate contact with the military
authorities still passing under his military name.
Is considered be absent from the United
States I'm the contemplated by the statute
of limitation and that statute does not IL has been
decided. therefore operate TO prevent the granting
of a deserters release IN such
ORDERS ISSUED.-The following orders have
been issued:
ARMY.