New-York tribune., 1908-11-02
ARMY AND NAVY NEW S
Coast Defenders to LiCe IN Barracks
australian Horses.
From The Tribune Bureau J

TNINHA BITABLE FORTIFICATIONS.-T
caast artillery officers who are ARA nging for the
shelter Of the enlisted force Of that branch hope
Ia obtain from Congress al the next session an ap
pFopriatien Of about 100000 TO furnish barracks.
The estimates of the cost Of barracks are being
prepared rapidly possible. the most urgent
need being at Fort wadsx9rth. in New York Bay,
where the men have long been Quartered in damp
and dingy classmates, which it is necessary to keep
heated even in The summer to make the place
hsbitsbe. There IS much discomfort. and conse
auently great discomfort, account of the condi-
1ions Fort Wadsworth. and the authorities
anxious apply the money which is available for
barracks construction At some OF the other posts,
notably Fort Moultrie. South Carolina. the are
auartered in barracks which overcrowded and
srs practically Of a class of structures which in a
civilian community would be condemned. The army
surgeons have several times reported with
siderable feeling the situation at Fort Wads
worth. where the accommodations are regarded as
menace TO health.
HORSES FROM ANTIPODES.-The War Depart
meHt EaE to Australia for the horses required
for the military force in the Philippines. The de-
ciSon. which is postponed for another year. IS of
vital interest the dealers IN animals in this
ccuntrE- Some time ago the War Department pur-
chased about five hundred young horses in Aus
tralia and sent them 70 various places in the Phil
ippsne Islands. after training them the big army
pest near Manila The reports received from The
officers who have used these Australian horses
SHOW that the animals 90 not compare faVorably
with the horses sent out from the United States
but inasn.uch as the latter animals older and
better seasoned the comparison cannot be accurate
iy made until another year has elapsed. Then it
viii be possible determine whether the aged
Australian horse is equal TO the American product
under tae same conditions of training and habits.
The Australian horse is a spirited animal. easily
trained for military work. but the young horses
p hich were sent the Philippines have not proved
'In the requirement of endurance such as is
,sla
operations of the military force in the Philippines.
II has been decided. all events. TO purchase 40
mere horses from Australia until the experts have
had opportunity TO look into the question
further. In the mean time the additional horses
required By the army in the islands will be sent
from the United States
PAY CORPS STAGNATTON--The personnel OF
the naval pay corps is confronted with the Unpleas-
ant prospect of stagnatiOn. The commissioned
grades Of the corps are now filed for the most part
with Of comparative youth The next retire
In-nt from the corps will be until September
of next year and the following retirement viii
take place until February, 1913, following which
there will be retirement within the next two
years. Tie only vacancy in sight is that which
will be caused by the resignation of Paymaster
David Potter. L. :. y. who desires TO leave the
in literary pursuits, in which he has had much