New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-05
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Plans for Improving NaUal Gunnery.
rFrcm The Tribune Bureau
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nearer the practical conditions for WHICH lnOSe
responsible for this work have been striving for
long time The criticism now directed against the
system Of developing naval gunnery is that the
present drills only preliminary, on the theory
that when the well versed in the details
battle practice will be taken It has been point
ed out to the Navy Department, however, that the
crews of the ships are constantly shifting ana
new men are required to go through the preiinll-
nary work without reaching the graduating
class The next target practice. therefore. VIII De
at ranges which not announced In advance
while some OF the firing will be conducted whle
the ship is rolling either naturally in sea or oy
mechanical means. In this way the gunners VIII
have opportunity OF firing under condltionS
which they might be called to meet in war AS
1t is now, the conditions favorable to accuracy
of craftsmanship with heavy guns and 1t is con-
sidered that 1t would be advantageous to increase
the severity the conditions surrounding the prac-
tice with as many difficulties are reasonably
possible all with the idea of giving the gunners the
opportunity firing under most exacting circuIra-
stances
sEARCHLIGHTS NEEDED.-Congress will prob
ably be asked again at the next session TO ap-
propriate $4,000 for the purchase of searchhghts
to be used part Of the equipment Of the coast
Notifications. Much work has been done IN the
last two or three years in the development OF
these aids to night operations Of coast defence
guns. Congress has not been willing, however, to
, appropriate the money which has been asked an
nuaIy, at the last session of the $4,000 which
was the amount Of the item In the War Depart
ment estimates only $4,000 was appropriated
This is being used in the acquisition Of search
lights of type which has been approved, after
much investigation and experimentation, by the
chief of engineers. the chief of artillery and the
chief Of ordnance Of the army under whose COM
bined departments the equipment or the coast
Notifications comes II is necessary TO have an
efficient long range searchlight service In every
district and these searchghts must be so equipped
| be
ton in the radius of fire commands
CANNED POTATOES FOR ARMY-The mill
tary authorities have added the canned potato to
the list of articles provided for the subsistence Of
the army in the field 1t will not be often that the
vegetable in this form will be called for by the
troops. Occasionally it may be needed in Alaska
where vegetables difficult to obtain for large
part OF the year. The canned potato has been
tested by the subsistence officers in that ter
rttory. well in the Philippines, and
full observation was made of the keeping qualities
of the potato aid record kept Of the results Of
its Issue under such conditions Of climate pre-
vail in Alaska and the tropics. The results
satisfactory to the experts. In time of the
canned potato will be welcome where the fresh
vegetable is not obtainable but for the most part
It is destined to be used in Alaska. and then only
occasionally.
SEA-GOING TUGS.-The Navy Department at
to obtain additional sea-going tugs. which are
much needed on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts
These tugs. If authorized by Congress. may be
built at navy yards. instead OF by contract al
though the influences which interested in the
shipyards may operate to deprive the navy yards
of this work The need Of sea-going tugs in the
navy is Illustrated especially in San Francisco Bay
where the Navy Department is building coaling
station. and where no tug service is provided
SURGEONS READY FOR SERvICE-The
geon general of the army has finally acquired
stock of field supplies the army medical
department. This is the first opportunity the War
Department has had of accommodating such guam
THY of medical and hospital supplies be used in
times OF emergency. Contracts were awarded
Gently 100000 worth of material. and this has
been delivered at the medical depots in Washington
and St Louis The amy medical department has
been relieved Of much embarrassment caused by
the failure Of Congress to provide for field equip
rnent The special apparatus and supplies for field
medical equipment not In the general market
and cannot be Improyised. To assemble them takes
months. IN view Of the CELEBRITY Of modern mill
tary movements q prudent government must pro-
vide them beforehand. A large reserve of medical
supplies in store at San Francisco was destroyed
in the burning of that city. The estimated value
OF the stores destroyed ss57.Ss1 g. and the ap
preparation to replace them only 100000 Those
who have made study of the situation have no
hesitation IN describing OF the vital needs
of the medical department in the future years
supply for army OF at least four times the
actual strength OF all such medicines. hospital
furniture and stores not materially damaged
by keeping, TO be held constantly hand in the
medical supply depots
NAVY EXPLOSIVES IMPROvED-The navy
bureau of ordnance is doing some important work
at the naval proving ground at Indian Head.
the Potomac. This consists in the reworktng of
snoISeless powder which has been stored at In
dian Head and for which Congress appropriated
H50GG0 during the last session Some of the pow
der is between six and eight years old. but it is
thought that for about one-quarter of the original
cost OF manufacture it be made OF for the
naval service It is stated by the experts in the
bureau that the present methods of manufacture
and publication have much improved the quality
OF the material out OF which smokeless powder is
made. and IT is thought it will last now for ten
or twelve years, but the srnokeless powder in
dustry in its infancy time alone will tell II this
is borne out
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders have
been issued:
Captain PERCY WILLIS. from Saith to SD Company.
Captain ALLEN D. RAYMOND from ssd to s4th Com
First A Lieutenant GEoFFREY BARTLETT. coast artir
lery from 18th Company. assigned list: to artil-
lery district OF Boston for stan duty
assume charge construction work Fort wingate.
First Lieutenant JOSEPH H BARNARD. 9th Cav
First Lieutenant EBEN HILL medical reserve corps
Leaves Of absence-CoIonel JOHN C. d HosKINs coast
GIENPENTN l7t4 R 9o October IS Fist
Lieutenant Commander z. H WATSON. detached Naval
Gsss to Sss ssEfaS 1fs a St hSms
feernE stsoa PaE to as ee fc4nT aFae
ton Dallas asE vice assistant Surgeon C. L MORAN