Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02

at targets representing in section the side
of battleship The longest endurance
test yet made. covering little over a
hundred miles. has developed the diff
Guilty of sending these boats unaided for
any considerable distance from their base.
Yet in time of war occasions might fire.
quently arise where the presence of a
submarine might mean the successful de-
Tense of harbor from hostile fleet. So
the naval strategists have exerted them
selves 10 find a solution of the problem of
how TO give these boats the mobility de-
sired for naval purposes.
During the Russo-Japanese war the
Russian government purchased several
submarine boats from an American con-
structor and actually succeeded in trans
porting them more than half way around
the world to Vladivostok. But In that
case the boats were cut into sections and
reassambled upon reaching their destina
ton. The Navy Department now desires
to demonstrate the possibility OF convey
ing these boats long distances without
knocking down in any way, so as to
launch them at their destination in condi-
ton for instant uSa. even where no ex
pert mechanics are available.
The first step in the experiment will con-
sist in the TRANSPORTATION to the Pacific of
a couple of the smaller type of subma-
rines. and IL that is successful the effort
will be made to handle the larger boats in
the same way. The Shark and the Por-
".
These two boats were among the first of
the submarines constructed in this coun-
try and they are of small dimensions.
weighing only about sixty tons each and
being less than ninety feet in length.
They are now at the New York navy
yard. and the fact that the equipment bu-
reau is soon to dispatch soma golfers to
the Pacific with coal for the naval yes
sells now on that station and for the bat
tleship fleet has decided the naval officials
to avail themselves of this opportunity to
make the test.
Therefore the two little boats will be
picked up by one of the floating cranes
at the New York navy yard and gently
deposited on the decks of two of the big
golfers and thoroughly secured against
the possibility of being torn away by
some of the great Pacific ocean swells
which might be encountered on the voy-
age. An alternative plan contemplates
the removal of some of the deck beams
of the Golfers. which would admit of slip
ping the submarines directly into the hold,
where thew would be much safer. The
naval constructors are studying the trans
portation problem thus presented, and If
it is worked out successfully in this case
the experiment may be extended to larger
boats. some of which will measure sew
eral hundred tons. and the field of useful
ness of the submarine will be thereby
greatly enlarged.
Confer on Administration Matters.
Secretary Taft and Assistant Secretary
Oliver had a long conference at the War
Department yesterday afternoon with
Gen. Bell. chief of staff, and the heads
of the various military bureaus of the
War Department in regard to matters of
business before the department with a
general view to the Improvement of the
service in matters of administration.
The army is confronted with the posi-
bility that 1t may not have money enough
to pay the bills for travel for. the remain
der OF the fiscal year. The expenditures
from this fund have already exceeded
the available appropriation by $4,000
An urgent recommendation was made by
the Secretary OF War for the inclusion OF
that item in the urgent deficiency bill.
but the bill was reported without the item
It appeared to be the view of the House
appropriations committee. especially of
Mr.. Tawney the chairman Of the sub
committee which made up the bill. that
there had been violation of the law by
the Secretary of War in creating a de-
ficiency in the mileage fund. That view in
declared erroneous by Gen. Whipple, pay
master general. who described to the sub
committee how impossible 1t was for the
expenditures for mileage to be entirely
controlled from Washington. Much I'M
expected travel is performed in the course
of year, and 1t is not possible to make
an accurate estimate of this in advance
Travel this year has been mainly in con-
nection with the horsenlanship tests
movements Of troops, changes Of station,
Inspections, etc, The authorities of the
War Department will endeayor to have
the fifty-thousand-dollar deficiency
bill is before that body If that
Is not done the War Department will
be seriously hampered in all orepa-
tons involving the movements of officers
and troops.
Eighty Miles in q Day.
Troop II, 18th Cavalry. Capt F. l..
Phillips, while engaged in the annual field
practice last October made an expert
mental forced. march. covering eighty
miles in one day of twenty-four hours
The march was made with the full field
equipment, except ball ammunition, with
which the troop was not supplied. Each
horse carried besides the full heavy
marching-order outfit one extra bed blan-
ket for the trooper and two days field
rations; also full set of four spare
horseshoes and, a part of the time. one
half ration OF oats. The days march be-
gan at Martinsburg.. w. Va. From there
the troop passed through Winchester, Va.
y
crossed the Shenandoah at Castlemans
Ferry. passed over he Blue Ridge noun
tains via Smokers Gap, then proceeded
through Bluemont, Aldie and Chantilly TO
point short distance east OF Fairfax
Courthouse. Va. where the march ter
minated It was accomplished without a
single case OF cincha or saddle gall and
without damage to the mounts other than
temporary soreness and stiffness in a
small percentage OF the horses. This feat
is certainly somewhat unusual one in
peace time--a march OF eighty miles In
one day of twenty-four hours by an en-
tire organization. The march was made
without explicit order from higher au-
thority. hut on the initiative and on the
responsibility Of the troop commander.
Col. Deems May Be Transferred
The record of the case of Col. Clarence
Deems of the Coast Artillery Corps, COM
manding the artillery district of Balti-
more, with headquarters at Fort Howard,
Md, has been received at the War De-
partment. and. following the usual course
surgeon general of the army for review
before final action. IL was alleged that
Col. Deems was not in good physical con-
dition. and he was ordered bee ore q retir-
ing board at Governors Island n. Y, to
determine his capacity FOR further active
service. Most OF the evidence adduced
against the officer related to his alleged
over-fondness for his fox terrier. Riley.
and his alleged habit of telling the same
story over and over again. The complaint
against the dog was that he had the run
of the post and carried feas into all the
buildings. Col. Deems admitted his love
Tor the dog. but denied the allegation as
TO fleas. He also admitted that he may
have repeated the same story two or three
times. adding. however, that some of the