New-York tribune., 1908-09-21
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
War Department to 41oait Recovery
of OrUille Wright.
from The Tribune Bureau. !
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nautical experts have learned with much satisfac
ton that the Wright brothers do not intend to
Withdraw from the field designers OF the flying
machine. despite the tragic accident at Fort Myer
on Thursday. 1t is not known of course when
orvllle Wright will be able TO resume his work.
and It is not expected that any else will carry
on the government trials for him. The War
Department will make indefinite extension Of the
contract, which to expire. and will fur
nish the Wrights with ali the aid and encourage
ment possible. Mr.. Wright has won many friends
among the officers here. OF the stanchest be-
ing General William Crozier. chief Of ordnance of
the army. The prospect of 'conquerng the air.
for military purposes will soon present & ques-
tlon to the signal corps people. who must taks
steps toward the formation of permanent aero
nautic corps, with trained officers and of ex-
perience. 1t is foreseen that the balloon branch
must have as personnel officers and who give
themselves up to the less peri1ous duty Of
ascension. and the details of control be fully
mastered before the machines become of any value
II for this reason that the signal corps officials
were not anxious to have the dirigible balloon
Missouri without the designer or
builder Of it. The place of the balloon in military
operations has not been determined For the pres
ent the experts believe IT will be used for observa-
ton purposes but in this connection there
must be special instruction of those who perform
the duty of military aeronauts. Several officers of
the army. such as Captain Chandler, Of the signal
corps. and Lieutenant Lahm. of the cavalry. are
already in line for places in the corps. which it is
predicted will be established.
BROOKLYN YARD NEGLECTED.-Apprehe
sion has been expressed by naval officials that the
navy yard at Brooklyn is being outclassed by some
of the other naval establishments on the Atlantic
Coast. The recommendations-which are coming
from Brooklyn in the form of the annual recon-
mendations for extensions and irnprovenaents-fer
the guidance of the Navy Department in the prepa-
ration Of the estimates for Congress at the next
session Indicate the need of larger alotn1ents for
the maintenance of the yard. This will be neces-
sary il is pointed out. if the Brooklyn yard is 70
retain its place at the head Of the list OF yards
Steps have already been taken to use the fund
which was authorized for expenditures out of for
uer appropriations which had been unused This
will he devoted to building connecting pier from
the navy ward proper to the Cob Dock and proyid-
ing for cutting channel from the East River
into the Whitney Basin through the narrow neck
of land joining the two parts Of the Cob Dock
Further work must be done in the shape of build
ing retaining walls each side of this cut and
cutting off the point the westerly portion of the
docks. which nterferes with moving vessels into
present drydoct,. Another important subject dis
CUssed in the reports of the navy yard officials is
the completion of the plan for consolidation of
plants and the sirplfcation OF system The pro-
posed arrangement does not meet with unanimous
approval at the yard
WASHINGTON" TO RIDE.-Arny officers on
duty in Washington due for their military rides
within the next ten days and most of them have
!
with General Grant have gone to their stations, and
the surgeons are making the reports OF physical
conditions in each case, is usual under the cir
/ cumstances, and upon which reports will depend
the continuance Of the officers on the active
list The route of the ride embraces section Of
Virginia roads which offer variety of roughness,
especially during the second Of the tlree-day trip.
It is purposed have the six-hour ride the first
day get il out of the way. The next two rides
may take place closely following the September
TI1arT The ad9 twill he
is anything but pleasant prospect for the cutting
The War Department has not yet received any of
the reports from the rides this year, but the re-
turns should be in It is confidently expected
that the years rides will result in finding many
officers in need of examination before retiring
boards. The situation is viewed with keen inter-
est consequently by junior officers whose opportuni
ties for promotion correspondingly enhanced.
TO OVERHAUL. ATLANTIC FLEET.-The Navy
Department is in receipt Of reports from the At
lautfc fleet indicating there viii be much work re-
Cuired on the ships of that command on their ar
rival at home navy yards The work Is not OF a
serious character and far general conditions
prevail the results show that the long voyage mas
not produced the deterioration or destruction whch
was expected by the critics Of the circumnavgatinS
| trip The fact that the ships have not had much
chance 10 be overhauled. except to limited extent
on the Pacific Coast, will undoubtedly require that
| a large amount Of work be done on them at the
navy yards when the ships are sent there after the
| target practice on the Guantanamo ranges. The
detailed report of the repairs to machinery OF the
ships will be awaited with much interest since tne
Information will afford an idea of the efficiency of
the system of detailing lire officers to take charge
| of the engineering department Of ships OF war.
! NEW HAvERsACK RATIoN.-The commissary
general of the army has taken up the question or
! preparing for reserve stock the new haVersack
ration to be called into use when troops are des-
tined to be temporarily separated from their per-
manent sources of food supply. 1t VIII be neces-
sarv to devise a means of preserving the items OF
coffee sugar, salt and pepper in compact or COM
pressed form. These cou1ponents OF the new ration
will he s1IppIenented by bacon in tins The bacon
will be purchased the quantities desired and re-
! tanned in stock pending the emergency call 1t Is
hoped to arrange with the makers or oread 10 keep
in touch with the sources of supply, and by adopt
ing a standard article TO have means OF acQulr-
ing the necessary supply when It is required oy the
/ service and so avoid carrying large and Costly
amount in the couanssary storehouses The COM
-1a+od ration of a quantity to supply one hundred
! eoIdiers will weigh two hundred pounds and the
! rations will be kept in specially marked boxes
ready for issue shipment to any point "llhoul
| deIav This is a feature in the general pah 10
have on hand for emergency food as wen as arms
ammunition. medical supplies and clothing sum
c;ent for a military force suddenly caled ihto Inc
! field either regular volunteer
MORE OFFICERS NEEDED-The militia all
+orities of the state of New York recently sought
tb- assignment Of regular army officer 10 outy
With the militia organization OF that state'
! W. Tensrtuneut has notified New York that II IS
ironossible to comply with the request out tnal
+ba services Of an officer on the rellreo Ilst VIII
/ accountable an effort will be mace 10 get olio
Iii he entirely satisfactory. Nearly seven nun nun,
| 80 oe7cere Of the regular army are on delaCIed
| 80. and are therefore absent from tner COLI
IDS and it has been found difficult TO properly