New-York tribune., 1908-12-26
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Quietus Put on the Turbine
SquabbIe.
From Ths Tribune Bureau
Washington December

DECIDED By PRESTDENT.-The fight over the
type of turbines TO installed the hattieship
Florida at the Brooklyn navy yard did not cease
with the approval by the Secretary OF TIE Navy or
the recommendation of the naval board on con-
structiou in favor Of the adoption OF the Parsons
turbine for that vessel Those who were Interested
IN having the Curtis turbine Installed carried the
question to the President, who called on the Navy
Department for all the Information bearing on the
relative merits Of the rival types Of turbine
mechanism The point made that the Gurus
turbine American invention and product
and that the Parsons turbine British device
It was shown 10 the President. II had been 20
the Navy Department. that the Parsons turbine
used on American batt1eships viii be manufactured
in this country, and. course in the case OF the
Florida, viii be built the navy yard in Brooklyn
The President has sustained the Navy Department
with the result that the Florida and the Utah viii
have identical types Of machinery
BETTER PAID MILITARY ATTACHEs.-The
Secretary OF War has again approved the recon-
mendation that army officers who are detailed for
duty military attaches at embassies abroad snaIl
have the rank pay and allowances OF lieutenant
colonel while those performing similar duty at esa-
tons shall have the title and emoluments Of major
This has long been urged upon Congress as a pro-
vision which should be made in benalf Of those
army officers who regarded as most useful IN
the capacities mentioned It often happens
however that officers detailed for duty as military
attaches do not possess the private income whicn
is required Of the incumbent. The army pay Is
not enough 20 support military attache abroad
and enable him 70 meet the demands which are
constantly made upon him in the way OF enter
tannlent in return for hospitality extended By for
eigners. This government makes no provision for
such contingency. and an army officer who must
get along on his service pay would be heavily IN
debt at the end Of a four year detail as military
attache. II is hoped by the War Departfent ON
ciaIs that Congress viii at this session take favor
able action the project.
MIDSHIPMEN ADMONIsHED.-The Navy De-
partment has decided that IL would be well to de-
part from the Ieniency hitherto manifested toward
the senior midshipmen who are about TO De COM
missioued as ensigns and who fail in coming up
to the full requirenents- For this reason letters
Of admonitiou and reproof have been written 70
such midshpmen are not reported entirely nj
for the career Of commissioned officers in the Navy
In a sample communication sent in the case OF
naidshipnan reported lacking in ocerlike quail
ties delinquent in paying mess debts and slovenly
in appearance and clothing, Secretary Newoerry
said: "Of the several hundreds Of reports or nj
ness OF uidshiprnen received during the last few
years. your case is of the worst 1t Is surpr1s-
ing that any one who has been six years mid
shipman should conduct himself as TO cause ms
commanding officer TO make the comment quoted
If decided Improvement not immediately made,
there will be no doubt of your absolute unhtness
for the naval service In another case where the
nlidship1nan reported as lacking in zeal and
interest and deficient initiative, the department
wrote. 1T rarely happens that the academc board
has occasion 10 report 10 the department the case
OF a ulidshpmau receiving unfavorable report or
fitness and it is be regretted that 1t should be
necessary 70 forward unfavorable comment
as is entered your report II seems incredible
that ulidshipman OF six years experience should
show such d lack Of zeal in the performance OF his
duties and conduct himself in such manner as 10
merit the condemnation OF his commanding officer
The department hopes that a proper sense
of duty viii be realized by you and that in the
r1t1re YOUR report win prove that the department
has not erred in giving you your commission as
ensign"
E4AyERsACK 'RATIONS-The army officers who
are in charge Of food supplies for the military
body have aboJt completed their arrangement OF a
new haversack ration This is to Dc supplied TO the
soldiers in time Of emergency, and II IS Intended
IN, rba exDerts to keep the material hand in
sufficient quantities meet the demands likely 70
De made time OF war. This viii involve ex-
tsnsive purchases OF certain articles Of food which
ordinarily not Obtainable without previous AZ
rsnsarlsrt in the market The haversack ration
will consist Of hard bread, sliced bacon In tins,
coffee sugar salt and pepper Special experiments
have been made in New York with the coffee,
sugar salt and pepper IL compress them into the
east posstbLe space These articles have been sub
tectsd 10 heavy pressure and are enveoped IN small
cotton sacks The ration is regarded with great
satisfaction as a model OF compressed food II
will take considerable money 10 keep on hand a
le, ,,uanrirv of the materials for the ration
this idea has been approved by the authorities IN
the hope that Congress may sooner or later De IN
funds for this precautionary meas
I1re When the couInissary general OF the army.
General H q. Sharpe was IN Europe last summer,
ne made an extensive inspection OF the food de-
Dart1nents Of the foreign armies with view OF
obtajning information which would be OF value in
The American Army. He observed that N Germany
and France, especially, special means were taken
20 have the army provisions kept IN storage to
extent which wouad supply a large military body
for . long war In France, General Sharpe found
rbat there we're on hand canned meats which had
been kept for more than years. and which he
fot1nd to be in excellent condition. in fact paIa-
table as when originally packed
DFEENCE OF OLONGAPO.-The naval authori-
+5as at +be base and dock yard AT Olongapo have
s,,br,ttted a long report concerning the method OF
transient as distinguished from permanent defence
g that nIace This is anticipate develop
went Of the station now that the policy OF the
administration showing preference for Oongapo as
AGAINST Cavite has been approved by Congress
Probably no further appropriations Of any amount
will be made behalf of the navy yard at Cav
ire where all funds for maintenance OF the plant
have been applied only TO prevention or deterora
tion of material The army is making rapid prog
ra.s with the defensive works, which mounted
on the hills from which a commanding fire an
approaching foe is possible Some OF the arma-
r7ant for the OIongapo coast defences has been
Skinned and IT is expected that the project will be
well on toward completion by the time the chief
Of coast artillery, General Arthur Murray visits
the place on his contemplated tour OF inspection
on which he starts from New York on February
15 The naval programme OF defence relates 10
the use OF submarines. surface torpedo boats and
motor boats With OIOngaDo becoming the largest