Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08

showing that these vessels are habitable
and could. IL necessary. defend points on
the Atlantic coast from hostile attack
for week or more without disclosing
their presence or without returning to
take on fresh stores or fresh crews.
Upon the completion of this test the
Navy Department will extend the limit
of the run so that the submarines can
be given the most rigid tests possible
before the general coast defense maneu-
vers. about April l, in BuZZards bay. 1t
is reasoned out that If the vessels can
make GOO, or even 800 miles without great
difficulty, they will, by means of the Cas-
tine. their parent ship. be enabled to
guard most of the Atlantic coast. the
Castine is a gunboat of LII tons. 1t
will be fitted up SO as to act as a movable
base for the submarines and greatly
widen their scope of action. besides being
center of supply in the defense plans.
Equipped, as she will be. with powerful
dynamos. an electric plant and afS-com-
pressing plant. she with generate electric
ity for each of the units in the submarine
fleet and supply compressed air to the
torpedo tubes. In addition. the crews
from the submarines, can IL necessary. be
quartered over night on the Cast1ne.
Troops Small-Arms Practice.
Gen. Grant, commanding the Depart
ment of the East. has announced in gen
eral orders that the regular practice sea-
son with small arms for trCo.s at Fort
Myer. Va. and Washington barracks for
the target year 1908 will be held during
the months of April May and June. and
that the supplementary practice will be
held during October.
A Private's Punishment.
Private John d. Wallace. Hospital Corps,
at the Washington barracks. was convict
ed Of the charge Of absence without leave
as result of court-martial proceedings
and sentenced to confinement at hard la
Dor for two months and to forfeit $50 of
his pay. The sentence has been approved
by Gen. Grant. commanding the Depart
ment of the East.
Rebuke to Trial Court.
Ii passing on the case of Chief Trump
etec Gilbert G. Alderman. Sc cond band,
Coast Artillery Corps. convicted by court
martial convened at Fort Preble. Me-.
Of shooting Private Harry Sherman. Nth
Company. Coast Artillery Corps, Gen.
Grant, commanding the Department of
the East. took occasion to administer a
reprimand to the court. Alderman was
found guilty of simple assault and ac-
quilted of intent to kill, and sentenced
to reduction to the ranks. to confine-
ment at hard labor for three months and
H.
The court recommended the accused to
clemency of the reviewing authority in
the following words:
'.First-The long and faithful service
OF this soldier. extending as 1t does over
some sixteen years as a private and nom
commissioned officer, in the opinion of
tn, court. entities him to consideration.
'Second--The circumstances. as shown
by the evidence submitted indicate that
th. soldiers idea may we'll have been
self-defense. although the use Of such a
weapon was not justified
Gen. Grant quotes this recommendation
of the court and then reviews the case
as follows: The evidence shows that
the accused and number of other per-
sons. civilians and military, were In a
public dive. maintained in violation Of
law. in the city of Portland, Me-. a pro-
hibltion state that after an amount Of
drink had been taken an alteration be-
tween the accused apd Private Sheridan
arose: that the party then proceeded TO
au alley back of the dive and. before
any physical injury had been done the
accused. he drew revolver and shot
PriH ate Sheridan. infiicting severe
wound in the leg. The defense claim
seif-defense. but the story was not cor
roborated and is also improbable. The