Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-06-27
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette J
Washington, June "a

fCoYresDOndence OF the Aiexanorla Vahe''o'i
Washington, June II.
The navy department has under con-
sideration plans for long distance teS'
of armor plate, TO put at rest the
speculation thst has been aroused BY the
recent test made upJu the tufret Of lne
Florida, which is to be named The Tslla'
hassee when che is again out OF commits
sion. The Flor da test WAS made 81
short range. the powder chsrge oeing re-
duced 80 TN the two shells had veloc-
ity upon impact corresponding TO that
which would have been attained BY
full charge at a distance Of 4 900 yards.
Officers maintain that the conditions
cannot be made similar by reducing the
powder charge, and insist that the CAM
age to the turut srmor would not nave
been 30 great had the shell actually been
fred at a 1000 yard range. 1t Is prob.
able that the long dist,oce ts't will
be made at the Iodian Head proving
grounds. 1t will determine the effect Of
ting at the long range, whether the
she'll can pierce the plate, and whether
the rotation st that long distance will
not change the position OF the shell SC
that it will glance from the srmor.
Many naval officers are awaiting with
much apprehension the report OF the
board of rear admirsls which will desig-
nate these selected for enforced retire.
ment in order TO shave Own the
"humps', caused by The congestion oil
Ulcers 10 certain grades. The retiring
GARD will make it's report on July l.
AZ cordipg TO the present vacancies
fourteen officers will be cut of the active
list if no applications are made for vol
uutary retirement. Some applications
have been handed 10 but as they cannot
be made public until July /, none but
the members of the board knows how
many there are. II is not likely there
will be fourteen seeking refinement SO
that some officers willing or unwilling
will have their naval careers ended aud
there are many minds Ill at ease await
ing the fateful decree.
Admiral Ospps the chief of the naval
bureau of construction, left Washinet) ID
today for San Francisco from which port
he will sail with the feet on July 7 to
inspect Pearl Hsroor, Hawaiian islands.
DO will inspect the hsrOOr and deter
nine in general way plans for the
naval station on which millions Ire t.
be expended by the government. Later
he will be followed by to chief by the
bureau of yards and doct7 lgr the same
purpose.
The bsltleship New Hampshire reports
her 8 rivsl ct Colon yesterday with 400
marines on board. She will return st
once to the United States after dis
charging her passengers in order to 60
to Quebec to take pa in the tercentsn'
cry celetr ton.
Confidential specifications are being
issued BY the Navy Department for the
construction of ten torpedo boat destroy
ers which are TO be added to the fleet.
The new fleets. which sre 10 be 2S9 feet
long and OF 700 tons displacement, will
have contract speed of % knots and
will cost net more than $500, 900 each.
The board of pure food and drug inspection
,day de- ided that the government inspect on
mark shall be placed on all packages of oleO-
margarine.
SenOr Veloz, charge d'affaires Of the Vent'
zuelan legation, who is ia charge OF the
business Of the legation 10 Washington has
not been Withdrawn. On the contrary his re-
lations with the State Department are as
cordial as they have ever been. He has not
received any disluietng news fro m his tOun-
try.
Baron Takahira, the japanese Ambassador
called at the state Department today TO pre-
sent the condolences Of his government on the
death of President Cleveland. Senior Herarte
also presented condolences on the part OF the
pnvernment of Guatemala.