New-York tribune., 1908-12-14
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
From The Tribune Bureau I
~

washington December *
TT-RBTNEs TO DRIVE BATTLESHIPS
Secretary of the Navy has decided to install the
Parsons type OF turbine the batteship Florida
which is TO be built by the government ar the navy
ward az Brooklyn. This is the end OF a determined
fight which has been going for several weeks
between the representatives of that type motive
power and those who have been anxious TO have
the Curtis turbine adopted for the battleship The
Parsons turbine will be installed on the Utah,
which IS the sister ship Of the Florida. which
is to be built under contract by the New York
ShpbUildng Company. The naval board on con-
sr7lcton submitted its recommendation in favor OF
having the Florida equipped with the same
chinery the Utah. but il pointed out 10
Secretary Newberry that the Curtis tvpe was an
American invention. while the Parsons turbine was
of British origin, and that there were other
reasons in favor of trying the Curtis type. such
that OF having two otherwise identical battle
ships equipped one with the Parsons and the other
with the Curtis turbines, principally with the view
Of obtaining comparative information as 10 econ
orny and efficiency Of opera ton.
WEST POINTERS FOR INAUGURATION
The war Department is confronted with the diff
Guilty in bringing Washington TO take part in the
inaugural parade March 4 the "a cadets OF the
Military Academy, OF lack Of funds for the sub
sistence of the cadets while they absent from
West Point The commissary general OF the army
has carefully figured out how much the trip will
cost in the way Of food. They viii be absent two
days ii being intended that they shall arrive in
Washington The evening Of March and return
TO West Point 8 late train on the following
day This would make forty-eght hours absence
from the Military Academy It is possible that an
effort Will be made TO permit the West Pointers.
well the midshipmen from Annapolis. TO remain
over until March s. that they may attend the in
augurai ball or be entertained bv friends in the
city The objection this. however is that 1t
moves the cadets and the midshipnen from the
disciplinary restrictions which It Is necessary to
maintain, especially on occasions when the young
cost OF bringing the cadets from West Point and
the midshipmen from Annapolis is estimated TO be
about 5000 in the way Of extra expense the gov
ernment. but the expenditure is regarded with
favor by the authorities, since il gives the young
men opportunity to take part in a national
event and to be seen by many people. Il Is found
that it acts stimua1t to cadet pride to receive
the greeting which is always accorded the West
Pointers and the midshipmen when they appear in
the public parade.
LAST CRUISE OF RELIEF-The naval hos
ptal ship Relief has been declared unsea worthy
by the experts who examined that vessel AFTER
her experience with a ryphoon. and she viii be
used hereafter only a station hospital ship. She
viii not be brought Puget Sound as was in
tended. There is need OF such q floating hospital
as the Relief would become at Olongapo. Il cost
the government 5000 70 1T out the Relief and it
is keeuly regretted by the naval authorities and
especially BY the naval medical officers that the
usefulness at of the Relief has been = such
snort ddrdtion ! ne main reiiance n ne way OF
a naval hospital snip will not devolve upon the
Solace which 10 he frted out for such service
az the Brooklyn navy yard and viii be assigned 10
duty with the Atlantic feet the arrival OF that
command IN home waters. in February Il is
hoped TO have the SclaCe ready by the time the
ships proceed the Cuban drill grounds In the
mean time every effort viii be made 10 include II
the naval appropriation bill provision for two hos
pitaI ships Of design which is being made by the
bureau of construction ard repair. These ships
~ a-h and
Rixey or the navy will urge that they be provided
for in the hearings Of that officer before the
House Naval Committee next week Strength is
added 10 the BY the special reference 70 the
need Of these hospital ships in the annual message
OF the President
TROUBLES OF MEDICAL RESERVISTS--of-
ncers Of the army medical reserve corps are IN