New-York tribune., 1908-06-08
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Technical Responsibilities Deter
Naual applicants.
lFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]


ENGINEER IN-CHIEF VACANCY.-There ap-
pears to be no disposition the part of the iine
officers Of the distinguished from hhe
officers who were of the old engineer corps 10
assume the responsibilities of the duties of the
engineer-in-chef of the navy. 1t is understood
that several such lire officers have been ap-
preached upon the subject and have expressed an
unwillinsness to be appointed The Discrimination
is natural under the existing circumstances. and
some of the officers in the Navy Department,
where the interest in the appointment is keen, are
of the opinion that engineer officer who would
naturally be selected account of his record and
ability would be also in the best position to ap-
preciate the difficulties which will beset the new
engineer-in-chief at the time when there Is an i'm
portant transition in the development of motive
power This includes the substitution of turbine
machinery for recprocating engines and the in
PRODUCTION of liquid fuel-problems which are
sufficient to tax the ability of the professional
engineer. Moreover engineers throughout the
country are manifesting disposition to eriticise
any ignoring of those line officers who are or the
former naval engineer corps, some or Whom are IN
their prime and are active candl- d'eS' such as
CAPTAIN A. F. Dixon, who has been acting IRE
oueutIy as chief in the bsence of that
official; Captain G. b. Ransom. Captain j. K
Edwards and Captain John r. Barton and Com
manders r P. Hall. r. s. Griffin and H. p Nor
ton.
DIsREsPEC-T FOR THE FLAG.-E. E. Stokes.
who lives at Hastings Hudson, y. Y, has
written the War Department concerning an Incl
dent which occurred at the house where he is
living in that town. He says that the tenants un-
dertook to display American flags on Memorial
Dav and were required to remove them by the
Russian Jew who owns the premises. and who com
PEELED the withdrawal Of the emblems at once upon
penalty OF the ejectment of the tenants from the
house. The display of the flags, OF course. under
this threat discontinued. Mr.. Stokes has asked
the Secretary War if any action can be taken in
such a case. There happens to be no law which
would cover an offence of this kind. Several at
tempts have been made to enact legislation which
would compel a recognition Of and respect for the
flag but this has never been accomplished. and the
War Department obliged to inform the com
plainant the incident would have to pass with
out official notice or action. At the same time an
incident of this kind excites considerable interest
in the War Department. the more so because the
man who compelled the withdrawal of the flags
from his building property in the country the
flag of which he evidently despses.
MILITIA NOT TO SHARE PROFITS.-A decision
has been rendered by the War Department which
will exclude militia commands from sharing in the
profits accruing from the conduct of bakeries and
other establishments at army posts or joint
manruvre camps. The question has been raised
whether these militia companies may share in such
profits which in the regular establishment are ap-
piled the betterment of the fare Of the soldier
The period of service of the militia with the regu
lars is so short that any profits which derived
by the army in any way would hardly amount to
much In any event. it is considered that with the
government supplying the transportation sllbsist-
ence equipment shelter. etc, there is no occasion
to allow the militia share In these administra
tive profits, which would hardly be expended for
the benefit of the militia and which the latter could
expect TO take home with them in the shape
of bonus for individuals for respective COM
mands When a regular troop company is serv-
ing temporarily at post it does not benefit by the
profits of the bakery and other establishments at
station. the profits in that case going to the
troop regularly duty there. 1t is considered that
no greater favor may properly be extended to the
militia.