New-York tribune., 1908-02-17
ARWT AND NAVY NEWS.
Prom The Tribune Bureau.l

Washington February IS
BATTLESHIPS' NIGHT DEFENCE PRACTICE.
The naval target practice with large guns this
season will include feature in which much
interest is taken. The ships Of the Pacific feet
have been holding their practice in MagdaIena
Bay in order to complete the firing before the
rival of the Atlantic feet, the ships of which will
do their firing the way San Francisco Bay.
In addition the regular long range firing there
will be much work with the torpedo defence guns
at night The preliminary reports which have
reached the bureau of navigation of the firing by
the ships of the Pacific fleet show that salts
factory scores have been made with the 3-inch
guns. the 6-pounders and the 3-pounders. Hitherto
these have been fired by day, and it was decided
that this did afford the practice under service
conditions which was necessary in the training of
the gunners- The torpedo defence battery,
posed OF rapid fire guns will be used TO repel the
attacks of torpedo boats, and this attack is
destined 10 be made by daylight. 1t is considered
necessary. therefore that the gunners shall become
acquainted with firing by night and gain a famil-
iaTity with the appearance of various targets
der those conditions which likely prevail in
time OF actual war. The percentage of hits under
these unusual and somewhat unfavorable condi-
tions has been nearly 75, and in those
cases where there has been day firing the
pedo defence battery the showing is little better.
This Is gratifying the experts and shows that
the gunners have applied themselves to the prob
lem with intelligence The duty which devoves
upon the torpedo defence battery of e ship of
is increasing in Importance with the development
OF the torpedo. the range Of which has been
larged in the last year two and has introduced
vital problem in naval strategy. On the other
hand the American ships are also devoting con-
sidera bic attention firing Of torpedoes with
the ldea that these implements of attack may be
used with precision
FAST SCORING OF BIG GUNs-The Navy De
partment has just received the report of the tar
get practice Of the United States ship Penn
syivania. This was held at AIagdalena Bay, in the
latter part of January, and the results, while they
are not given out in detail, are said to be most
satisfactory. Special has attached to the
remarkable which by the crew o
the after s-inch turret Of the ship These twin
guns made twenty-five hits with twenty-five shots
in 1 minutes and 2S seconds, record unequalled
rapidity such large calbres The officer in
command the turret that occasion was En-
sign J. n Ferguson. The photograph which has
reached Washington from the ship shows Ensign
Ferguson and the members Of the crew. The
group posed before the just after the tar
get practice with the turret guns, and shows the
appearance of the men during the exercise.
FILIPINO CADETS AND MIDSHIPMEN.-It is
proposed to admit 10 the Military Academy and
the Naval Academy, respectively, five Filipinos,
who shall be nominated by Philippine Com
mission and who shall have the pay and
allowance do the cadets and mdshpmen
appointed from the United States It has not been
figured what employment shall be given the
Filipino nidshipmen upon their graduation. but
they viii probably be assigned 10 some auxiliary
duty under the Nav Department In the Of
the Filipino cadets from West Point Il is proposed
10 exact of them an obligation 10 serve at least
eight years with the Philippine scouts It will
take special legislation however. accomplish
this The project has the approval Of the Secre-
tary of War and the Secretary OF the Navy.
SCHOOLS FOR COOKS AT CANPs-It is a
part Of the plan of the militia authorities who
interested in the militia manoeuvres be
held the coming summer, including camp
Pine Plains, y. Y. to establish schools for cooks
and bakers. It is hoped 10 obtain appropria-
ton for this purpose along with the general fund
which Will aside for the encampment ST.
100000 in amount Some question has existed
whether il would be advisable to maintain these
schools for general instruction to such militia
men as desire TO attend Il was appreciated that
those thus taught would be likely TO leave the
militia and make use Of their training in getting
good jobs for themselves, but il is also realized
/ that these cooks would be likely present
themselves for service in time of war and In any
event as one expert has remarked in his advo-
cacy of the system. ii will contribute the gen
eral contentment Of the country If the War De
partrnent is able do something toward fur
rishing better cooks and bakers, The schools
which are proposed Will be conducted on the
same lines as the regular army schools. now
located at Washington Barracks. District of Co
lrnbia: Fort Riley, Kansas, and the Presldio
San Francisco
AGE LIMIT AT ARMY SCHOOLS.-The War
Department has adopted the policy which will be
followed in regard 10 militia officers who de
sirous attending the garrison schools each
army post and the higher postgraduate institu-
rons at Fort Monroe, Fort Riley and Fort Leav-
cnworth A question which has been presented
lately the eligibility of retired brgadier
general OF the militia attend Of these
schools. II decided that such Officer
could not attend. since the schools were for tho
benefit OF active officers Of militia In the
Of = militia colonel who desirous or attend
ing u vas held thai II he were less than thirty
I've wars old he might avail himself Of these
privileges At the same time ~ considered
that it uss entirely advantageous 10 all con
cerned n have such restrictions imposed II
permit OF zt-en1ante arm schools only of
those officers no are so1ep mere near The rauh
and aec Of officers OF the regular army VINO
are under instruction