New-York tribune., 1908-01-16
AND NAVY NEWS
RepEy to Critics of Nary Nearly
Ready.
rFroh The Tribune Bursau.l


REPORT OF CONVERSE AND CAPPs.-The
report which Rear Admiral O. A Converse ana
Chief Constructor ". L. Capps are preparing for
the President in reply TO the criticisms made on
the design. construction and equipment OF SHIPS
of war IS almost completed Considerable research
has been undertaken by the authors OF the re-
port, aided by other officers Diagrams ano hius-
trations will accompany the document although
these may not be published. In fact IL has not
been decided in just what form the report VIII ne
made accessible to the public. There is differ
ence of opinion regarding the amount or inIornna-
tion of possible use to foreigners which the re-
port shall contain. Some of the officers consulted
believe that the Navy Department should with-
hold nothing which win serve as a hnal repiy 10
the criticisms, so that attacks may be silenced.
Others think it would be well not to divulge con-
hdentiai information of technical character un-
likely 70 interest the casual reader. but which
would be- welcomed by foreigners The report
takes up in order the charges in the Reuterdahl
article and enough is known OF its contents 10
state that the reply will that the writer was
mistaken and did not possess accurate lnforna-
ton. 1t can be shown also that Reuterdahi had
access confidential papers. and possibly reier-
ence will be made this situation, not lot pup
ncation. but for the President. who is already
aware that much of this criticism comes from
officers who have made themselves liable TO rep
rimand for indiscretion.
NUMEROUS MEDALS NEEDED are
signs that it will not be long before medaI pu-
reau Will have TO be established IN Ile war De-
partnent The demand for these emb1erns is IN
creasing and the Secretary Of War has received
many appeals from Civil War veterans VINO nave
not served in the military branch since 1ooo' anu
who are mostly members Of the Grand army OIL
the Republic These veterans want the civil war
badge which has just been designed ana is 10
ha ct1Ired at mint in Philadelphla ana
distributed by the War Department TO army ON
GERS and enlisted men who were IN the service III
Tspuarv 1905 There is no special reason why that
he caip q
u-itb civil War service 10 his credit who may have
left the army previous TO that date is heio 10 Dc
entitled to the badge as wei as one VINO mar Oo"
tnued in the service. The same desire Tor oaase
comes from the younger volunteers VINO served Ii
the war with Spain and are not OF the regular
military establishment Some of the Applications
come from the relatives Of dead ofhcers ana SUI
diers IT is evident that this pressure 1or tne less
restricted issue of medals VIII increase "hen @
medals are seen. There others VINO lfhfh uia'
the government is likely TO be too liberal IN the
distribution Of medals and that TINS VIII nave 'ne
effect of lessening the value ana slsnliichh0e %
! those erlblerns This is not matter which ne'
concern the applicants, however and II Is eFI-
dent that sooner or later there VIII pe d Ia" CA
tending the eligibility TO medals
rz1-7-tz T1NKERs sCARCE-The army medical
o+7cars do not undersl and why they have SO much
difficulty in obtaining dental surgeons only one
candidate proved qualified in the recent e&arllIa
+ions which were held at San Francisco and west
pOiUf ard
vacancy existing Another examination VIII shorIly
ba held with view to finding young dental sradu-
a+es who are qualified 70 go on the ehg1nle hSt
4ron, which they will be appointed whenever va
| ca,cies occur The examination is a hard one'
and there is no disposition the part of the sur
| ceou general of the army to reduce the require
u,a,ts The dental surgeons sent TO important
military stations in all parts of the country, as
| well as TO Cuba and the Philippines, and they have
been performing duty which is of great advantage
| IN the military personnel Navy officers nope 10
Obtain legislation at the present session OF Con-
gress so as to dental surgeons on board SHIPS
and at the three training stations.
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders have
| been issued:
ARMY.
| Jsa,taraut wTT,DTTRR WILLING, OF en-
| gneers TO chief engineers office, Washington
| NAVY.
! .gi5sbfnr,an H MCIJRE detached torpedo boats in
! reserve, navy yard Mare Island to the South
! Midsbpman J. NC MURRAY. detached the Preble; to
| the South Dakota
| MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPS.-The following
| movements of vessels have been reported to the
! Navy Department:
| ARRIVED.
Jan I4-The Tingey Norfolk.
! SAILED
! Jan 1s-The Chicago from Magdalena Bay for Aca-
! pulco-
| Norfolk; the Potomac. from Portsmouth Tor Boston