New-York tribune., 1908-03-13
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Erplosirf Gelatin Shells for BotA
Ser19CPS.
from TIE Tribune bureau ]

WOULD DESTROY MONITOR.-The inventor of
| explosive shell which he has been trying to get
the government to test for some time is anxious
| that the Navy Department shall include his shell.
with its charge of explosive gelatin in The attack
which isko be made on the monitor florlda al
Hampton Y.oads. The application TO the Navy De
partment has with the reply that there IS
much doubt to the safety of firing 4 shell loaded
with explosive gelatin and it is required Of the in
ventor that he shall give bond sufficient 10 cover
any possible damage due to destruction of the
sun should such firing take place. The inventor
viii probably decline to any obligation. and
viii make this the basis Of a request to Congress
for full investigation to be conducted by the
Senate Naval Committee of his experiences with
the War Depa rtrnent, q well s the Navy Depart
ment He has recently received notice that the
fral in the series conducted OF the prov
ing ground of his shell, loaded with $50 pounds OF
explosive gelatin will take place on March 1s
The inventor has also been advised by the War
Department that unless he is present the govern
rlent will abandon further consideration of his
shell. The tests at the army proving ground have
heen conducted with a Pinch gun in an attack
on target which is partly submerged. the firing
b' ing under such conditions as will reproduce
nearly possible the effect OF impact below the
waterne The inventor asserts that this has never
been done and that the theorists on TIE suoJect
all wrong this reason that he de-
sired to have the with the Florida lnciude
the firing of his she'll He promises to present
interesting views concerning the adminlstra-
ton of the army ordnance office and the naval
| bureau of ordnance if he is permitted TO tell the
Senate committee what he knows of the experience
with the government of least one inventor
SUPPLY DEPOT BLOCKED.-The War Depart
n1ent officials have encountered formidable block
their plans establishing &.0oo.ooo army gen
eral depot a Fort Mason. California. This is on
account OF the alleged ownership Of certain sub
merged Ian which must be acquired by the govern
ment filled in and utilized in connection with the
wharfage facilities intended for all the army trans
ports which ply between San Francisco and Manila
This ownership of the submerged lands involves
the interests New York people, and 1t will re-
Gure action of the courts settle the claim. In
the time. however the War Department IS
going ahead with the preliminaries, to the end tlaS
no time may be lost in constructing this depot
which will be the important point of shipment on
the Pacific Coast for troops and supplies to the
Philippines. Philadelphia architects have been en-
peyed and have drawn up plans and specifications
for the esta ablishment, and bids to be opened
next month in San Francisco for large part OF
the construction including the piers.
COST OF RESERVE IIST-lA special naval
board has been making estimate of the cost of
the of the naval commissioned personnel
recommended by the Newberry board, which
year ago. The original calculations submitted
found to be erroneous. The computation
shows that the plan for the active list exceeds
existing Ian by little than sooocoo for the
period of eighteen years. The cost of the reserve
list which is proposed would be about s2,5o0c0J.
The plan contemplates increase in the seagoing
list of 2.0oO commissioned officers.
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders have
been issued:
ARMY
surgeon. rnlllppnes transport service.
Captain rHoMAs s. BRATToN assistant surgeon from
Captain HESRS R cAK coast artillery corps de-
First tailed to an n oas artillery
corps from l2lst ComPany to & san Francisco. ,r,S,
LA scoTT ri':S SIN G Field ed ar5ilers s '''''
Lieutenant Il y. JENsEAN, contonue duty the West
Ensign 6 G: PEGRAM. detached the Punser' to com
Ensign ?. BAssETT detached Porpose;
MARINE CORPS
Colonel g c. GooDLoE. to marine barracks navy yard.
Captain sM1pER detached 5se5ut9r M m at st
FIRST Lieutenant A. P cRIsT detaened the Milwaukee,
10 marine barracks navy nayy yard Mare Island
FIST FIST Leutenan wl1,1fAM BRAcKETr detached the
St. Louis; command marine detachment of the
First Lieutenant r. 0. UNDERWOOD to the Franklin
First Lieutenant E r. BEADLE F., two months leave.
First emtenant L. BIGLER -:P detached navy yard
Second Lieutenant H. NJ BUEI.ER detached headquar
ters marine to marine school of application.
navy yard, Norfolk to marine school Of application,
Second Lieutenant P. 4 CAPRoN marine school of
Second eute5ant F H DREEs detached headquarters
marine corps; to marine school Of application. An
Second lieutenant J. DIXON TO headquarters marine
MOVEMENTS OF wARsHIPs-The following
movements of vessels have been reported the
Navy Department:
ARRIVED.
March loThe Abarenda. at yard, New York; the
March flOE1f 1.-THE I Yankton. at Acapulco
SAILED.
March a-The Mississippi Guantanamo League
The u!ros placed Of commission and the sa,nar
missioned, at naval station Cavite. March IL