Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Success of Fireless Cookers.

Success of Fireless Cookers.
One hundred fireless cookers have beeh
constructed for the subsistence depart
ment, and these cookers were distributed
to various organizations Of the army fol
an exhaustive test in the field. They were
tried out on the march. on >bivouac and
in maneuver camps, and have proved
highly satisfactory, with the addition OF
slight changes suggested by actual ex-
perience. Some criticism has been made
on the subject of adopting the fireless
cooker. on account of its weight, as a
part of the company field outfit. The
cookers designed by the subsistence de-
partment combine lightness of weight
with stability of construction, and are
intended to stand long travel on rough
roads and assure the perfection of the
contents at the end of the journey. Gen.
Sharpe says that this method of cooking
Will insure hot meals of excellent quality
on the march, on bivouac or on the firing
line, save expense and labor and largely
contribute to the health and comfort or
the troops.
The Inspector general of the maneuver
CAMP recently held at Pine Plains. N. Y,
in his report remarked concerning the
cooker that the one in use by the 2fth
Infantry during the encampment was
joy to the men of the organization and
an object of envy to all observers. The
chief surgeon of the maneuver camp at
Pine Plains said that the hreless cooker
lis believed to be of great value. and
by its use coffee. stimulants. broths and
fool can be prepared at the permanent
camps and served hot to the advanced
stations. such as dressing and ambulance
stations recruits on bivouac, etc" The
United States Marine Corps procured
through the subsistence department, six
of the cookers of the army pattern and
thoroughly tested them at the Norfolk
navy yard, for the purpose of providing
warm food for the guard there. and were
pleased with the result of the expert
ment, which was in every way successful
Australian Horses for Army.
The War Department may go to Aus
tralia for the horses required for the
military force in the Philippines The
decision, which is postponed for an
other year. is of vital interest to the
dealers in animals in this country. Some
time ago the War Department pur-
chased ABOUT 800 young horses in Aus
tralia and sent them to various places
in the Philippine Islands, after training
them at the big army post near Manila.
The reports received from the officers
who have used these Australian horses
show that the animals do not compare
favorably with the horses sent out from
the United States, but inasmuch as the
latter animals are older and better sea-
SOned, the comparison cannot be accu-
rately made until another year has
elapsed. Then 1t will be possible to de-
termine whether the aged" Austria
liam horse is equal to the American
product under the same conditions of
training and habits. The Australian
horse is a spirited animal, easily trained
for military work. but the young horses
which were sent to the Philippines have
not proved up to the requirement of
endurance called for by practice
marches and the mobile operations Of
the military force in the Philippines II
has been decided at all events, to pur-
chase no more horses from Australia
until the experts have had an oppor-
tunity to look into the question further.
In the meantime the additional horses
required by the army in the islands will
be sent out from the United States.
Long-Distance Wireless Telephones.
officers of the United States Signal
Corps are conducting experiments with
a wireless telephone apparatus which is
designed to operate a distance of about
forty miles. The instruments are be-
ing tried between Sandy Hook prov
ing ground and New York city.
At present the greatest distance over
which the wireless telephone is in sue
cessful operation is about eight or ten
miles. Several instruments were placed
aboard vessels of the Atlantic battle
ship fleet before it left Hampton roads
last December and on small scale they
have worked satisfactorily. but COM
munication has never been successful
over a distance of more than about ten
miles.
wireless telephone outfit. similar to
the type used by the navy, was recently
installed at Fort Monroe. Va, connect
ing the post with the target range. five
miles away. This system was recently
put out of commission by lightning.
A long distance wireless telephone will
be of great importance in connecting the
forts in each artillery district. Such
phones are now used by several Euro
pean countries and IL the present tests
are satisfactory. the instruments will be
adopted for the use of the United
States Army.
Defenses of Hawaii.
Gen. Bell. chief of staff, has appointed
board Of officers to visit the Hawaiian
Islands for the purpose of looking over
the ground and making a report, accom-
panied by ground plan. and making rec
concentrations as to locating the buildings
of a permanent garrison, to consist of &C
commodations for one regiment of in
fantry two squadrons of cavalry one
regiment of field artillery. one company of
engineers, one company of the Signal
Corps and general hospital and bar
rack for detachment of the Hospital
Corps, and other necessary buildings:
also for the purpose of locating the build
ings of the temporary garrisons so that