Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS

will last until the fleet reaches the Straits
| of Magellan. From this point to Callao
| the fleet will experiment with the dried
potatoes which have been put on board.
/ DRIED vegetables form an important part
OF the supplies. Cranberries and cabbage
| are two of the things in which the expert
ment has proved very successful.
Americans Not the Best Paid.
The oft-repeated statement that the
American soldier is the best paid soldier
in the world has been officially contro-
verified by Maj. John H. Beacon, 9th In
fantry formerly United States military
| attache at London, and now on duty at
| Fort MfSsOula, Mont, in a report to the
| War Department in regard to the armies
| of Europe. Using terms of American cur
| rency and the waGe-earning power of the
| British unskilled labOrer as factors, Maj.
| Beacon shows that the British private in
his first year receives S12.95 a month. as
| against S13 paid to the American private;
hut as the rank and length of service in
| crease the proportion becomes reversed
and greatly diSproportionate. so that the
| British regimental sergeant major re-
celves SI13J n month, as against $40 paid
| to the American of like rank, while the
private in his third year receives from
| the British government S1S.SJ, and from
the American government S14.
Taking into consideration all the factors,
including the cost of living, Maj. Beacon
shows that the financial condition of first
year privates in the American and British
armies is as 13 to IA, that in the third
year this becomes Ii for the American
and % for the British soldier while for
the regimental sergeant major it is 40 for
the American and 10 for the British SOL
der
There is abundant proof. however with
out the use of such comparisons, that the
disparity between the pay OF the Ameri-
can soldier and that of the American
rNl 1,iN<
great that it is impossible to keep the
United States Army recruited to anything
approaching safe minimum of strength.
To Cruise With Midshipmen.
1t has been arranged that the U. S. S.
Chicago shall leave the Pacific coast early
in January and come around to the At
lantic. with a view to being attached to
the practice squadron at the Naval Acad-
envy and used next summer in the regular
cruise with the Olympia, Hartford. Ar
kansas and Florida. The increase in the
number of midshipmen to about 600 who
will have to be taken out next summer
makes it necessary to use such a ship as
the Chicago, which Is particularly well
fitted for the duty, being roomy vessel
with accommodations for about 200 mid
shipmen. The Chicago is equipped with
a modern battery and will make use
full vessel in the Naval Academy practice
vessel to be Withdrawn from the fighting
fleet.
Many New Vessels for Army.
During the current year the quarter
masters department will build seventy
boats of various descriptions, including
large number of tugboats to be used as
target boats for the coast artillery. These
tugboats will be 100 feet long and will be
first-class sea -going craft of extraordin-
airy power and speed. A considerable
number of sixty-foot launches to be used
by the coast artillery district command
ers will also be built, as we'll as score of
thirty-foot launches to be employed in
mine planting and similar work in con-
nection with the coast artillery. con-
tract has just been let at Seattle for the
construction of a steamboat for. use in
Alaskan rivers for the army. She is to be
l23 feet long and have % feet beam and
draw but two feet. of water. She will be
a stern wheeler and able to carry a large
load of freight and two or three COM
panies of troops.
Plans are being made for cable boat
for the signal corps 10 feet long and
making eighteen knots A mine planter
for the coast artillery corps of the type
of the Armistead with some improve
ments over that boat. is being planned.
After a Suitable Target Range.
In accordance with the recommendation
of Maj. Gen. Grant. commanding the
Department of the East. the Secretary of
War has appointed a board of army Off
GERS to consider the question of the estab-
lishment of target range in the vicinity
of this city for the use of the troops
stationed at Fort Myer. Va, and at
Washington barracks. The boaru con-
sists of Maj Gen. w. T. Duvall. assistant
chief of staff and Brig. Gems. W. s.
Edgerly and W. T. Wotherspoon. Three
sites are under consideration by the board
one at Falls Church, Va. another at
High Point in Fairfax county. Va. and
the third at Knoxville in Frederick coun-
ty. Md. The board met at the War
Department Friday morning and entered
upon its duties at once by making a visit
TO the site at Falls Church. where the
remainder of the day was spent in study
ing the available territory Visits will be
paid to High Point and Knoxville early
this week. and result of the observa-
tons of the members of the board will
be embodied in their official report to the
War Department. Elements of availa-
blity, accessibility and cost will govern
the board in its recommendations to the
War Department.
Army Orders.
The following named officers will report
to the examining board at Fort Riley,
Kan. for examination to determine their
fitness for promotion: Second Lieut.
Henry l.. Harris. jr 9th Field Artillery;
Second Lieut.. Edwin F. Pritchett LIST
Field Artillery. and Second Lieut. Roy B.
Shaver. LIST Field Artillery
Leave of absence for two months. with
permission to go beyond the sea- is
granted Maj. Clement A. F. Flagler,
Corps of Engineers.
Lieut.. Col Charles G. Woodward, Coast
Artillery Corps, will repair to this city
and report in person to the inspector
general of the army for temporary duty
in his office.
Maj Adelbert Cronkhite. Coast Artil-
lery Corps, is relieved from duty as an
acting inspector general. and from fur
Their duty at headquarters, Department
of the Gulf, and will proceed to Cover
nors Island, y. Y, for duty.
Maj. George +. Downey. paymaster
upon being relieved from duty with the
Army of Cuban Publication, will repair
to this city and report in person to the
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