New-York tribune., 1908-01-11
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Officials WeIcOme the Personnel Blu
of Senator Hale.
[From The Tribune Bureau
IIr. L. n.

mated discussion in the Navy Department to-day
concerning the bill introduced in the Senate yes
terday by Senator Hale developed almost general
agreement that the proposals were bound to oeneht
the service, in that opportunity would be al
forded for a fair and impartial hearing OF the
various questions which have been disturbing the
serenity of the personnel The bill is the hrst
practical step toward positive rank for naval staff
officers. although some of them We're inclined to
think that by the wording of the bill these officers
would have the same titles as are now USED lot
the designation of army staff officers There was
no objection expressed by the staff officers to the
provision that they should not exercise command
over any vessel of the Navy Department MOST
line officers insist that the staff officers shall not
have the titles used by line officers. but the
smaller conservative line element is IN FAVOR OF
granting the desire of the in this respect as
means of promoting harmony in the service
The staff officers will be glad to have the thinS
settled definitely way or the other and hnaly-
The provision for voluntary retirement of naval
officers after thirty and forty years service is the
application to the naval personnel of the privilege
which long has been enjoyed by army ofiicers ne
provision for the increase of pay meets with favor,
although it may complicate the proposition of
general the sliding basis which is pro-
posed in the pending service pay bill introduced
by Senator Dick and Representative Capron- 1here
was much discussion for and against the provision
limiting the appointments as ensign or the graz
uates of the naval academy 1t has been realized
that the large number of midshipmen graduated
will sooner or later cause a lump in the junior
grades and it is to avoid this demoralizing GAIA
nifty that Mr. Hale has proposed restriction on
final appointment. The provision of the bill which
has created most interest in the Navy Department
to-day is that which has the effect of dissolving
the naval general board, for which Mr. Hale has
acquired a dislike, well as the board on con-
struction. 1t is appreciated among naval officers
that the bill will have to be changed IN many
respects before enactment, but it is welcomed as
a means of getting before Congress. or at least
before the Senate Naval Committee, the Varleu
grievances which are now disturbing the commits
stoned personnel of the navy. Senator Hale Is
prepared to call upon some officers who are In d
position to enighten the committee and the hear
ings are destined to be most interesting
IJNDESIRABLEs IL THE ARMY.-The General
Staff of the army has gone on record as IaVorIhs
a system of elimination. There is nothing dehnlte
in the memorandum which has been submitted 10
the chief of staff on the subject. but it has been
pointed out as one of the factors now troubling
the army and interfering with re-enIistment that
there are unfit officers who under he present mys-
tenn must be carried the active list, with no
hope of their retirement discharge. The General
Staff has not developed plan by which this elm
nation may be done. 1t has contented itself with
the announcement that there are unfit oflcers ana
that their presence has decidedly adverse effect
upon the welfare of the enlisted men. The emina-
ton of such officers is recommended and there the
plan stops. General William CrozieI, the chief of
ordnance of the army, is anxious to have enacted
his plan for a scientifically evolved percentage of
transfers from the active list. This is with view
to facilitating promotion and has not been sug
gested as needed to rid the army of officers who
are admittedly unfit The proposition from the Cen
eral Staff will find little favor army officers.
largely because it is indefinite and opens trouble
some question to the method of establishing in
dividual unfitness There is always present the
thought that a proposition to declare disqualified
ton will invite influences which far removed
as possible from military consideration and to that
extent add to the element of discomfort in the mill
tary personnel
EXPERIMENT ON STORING sHELLs.-An
important experiment is in progress on board the
Vermont and Louisiana during the trip of those
ships with the rest of the Atlantic fleet from
Hampton Roads to Magdaena Bay. One turret
on each of those vessels is being used to ascer-
tain to what extent the shell of the guns of the
respective turrets may be stored in the structures
themselves This is with tn idea of reducing the
time of firing 1t is believed that with the shell stored
nearer the breech of the gun it will be possible
to increase the rapdity of fire over the present
conditions where the shell is stored below the tur-
ret and must be sent up along the hoists with the
powder This necessarily takes time under
the best regulated handling of ammunition between
the magazine and the turret OF course. there
is the element OF risk 10 be considered. and this
must be observed carefully by the board which
is in charge of the demonstration on board the
Vermont and the louisiana One element in the navy
has insisted that there at present insufficient
precautions against disaster, and the officers who
entertain this view not inclined to believe that
the advantage gained by having shell in the turret
is worth the additional peril About one-half of
the allotment for turret be stored in the
turret will be possible after the firing of the
guns in the target practice at Magdalena Bay to
ascertain Just what time is gained by this arrange
ment.
SADDLE DUTY TIME ALLOWANCE-The bu-
reau chiefs in the War Department making re-
ports this week to the Secretary of War the
recommendation made by the inspector general of
the army that time be allowed from the official dag
of army staff officers on duty in this city allow
them to acquire the necessary skill and endurance
in horseback riding in anticipation of the demands
hereafter upon all field officers have ninety
mile, three day. annual ride. Conservative army
officers beginning to think that the most i'm
portant work which they fit themselves for will
be equitation and that the scholastic research upon
which they have been engaged under the policy
which throve under the Root administration has
given place TO something more vigorous. AT all
events many of the field officers who staff
duty in Washington and elsewhere do not have the
opportunity prepare themselves for these tests in
horsemanship 1t will be necessary to take out of
the period devoted to their official tasks suf1-
| cient time for practice. This is consideration
| which must be given by the military authorities
and must be duly authorized, since it is not possible
for most officers to regulate their time There
is Il general approval of the suggestion by the in
! spector general of the army.
| ORDERS IsSUED.-The following orders have
| been issued: -.
Second Lieutenant CARROLL R SAWYER coast artiI-
son seTy sehdoi Fort Banks
| Captain FRANK c WOOD auartermaster Porto Rico
provisional regiment of infantry. in addition to other
duties to assume charge & Of construction T0R s pertain
| Captain FERDINAND ". KoBBE from 21st to 22d In
Captain cHAUNcBY B. HUMPHREY. from 22d 21st
First Lieutenant SAMUEL A. PRICE 2sth Infantry.