Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
Southerners in Control.

Southerners in Control.
Southern men are now in practical con-
troll of the War Department for the first
time since $780, remarked a high official
of the department today. ITO elucidate,
said he. Secretary Dickinson is from
Tennessee. Gen. Bell. chief OF staff. is
from Kentucky. Gen. WotherspOon. as
sistant chief of staff and president of the
Army War College. Is from the District
of Columbia: Inspector General Darlington
Is from South Carolina, Surgeon General
Torney Is from Maryland. Gen. Marshall
chief of engineers is from Kentucky;
Gen. Murray. chief of the Coast Artillery
Corps. is from Missouri, and Ad1t. Gen.
Ainsworth. although native OF Vernon.
has lived the best part OF MS life south OF
Mason and Dixon's line. so that he may
be properly included in this list OF south
evn army officials. The only bureau Off
GERS not in the above list are Judge Advo-
cate Davis Quartermaster General Ale
shire. Commissary General Sharp, Pay
master General Whipple. Chief of Ord
nance Crozier and Chief Signal Officer
Allen all of whom are from western or
northern states. 1t thus appears that
there are eight southerners. including the
Secretary. as against six citizens OF all
other sections of the United States.
Soldiers Make Good Firemen.
Gen. Wood commanding the Depart
men. of the East, is so we'll pleased with
a letter he received from Mr.. Croker,
chief of the New York fire department.
that he has published it in the form of
circular to the army. In that letter
Fire Chief Croker requested Gen. Wood
to inform all soldiers honorably dis
charged from the United States Army
who desire to secure positions In the New
York fire department that they may Sc
cure application blanks from the munich
pal civil service commission at $50 Broad
way. We have" says Mr.. Croker, "a
great many United States soldiers and
sailors in this department. who have
ment is DESTROYS OF procuring number
of good men,, who / am sure can be found
il the army"
Plans for Sea Monsters.
Bids Will shortly be invited by the Navy
Department for the construction of the
two 2G30D-ton battleships provided for in
the naval appropriation bill of last ses-
sion These vessels. the most powerful
of the United States Navy. will carry
twelve twelve-inch guns, and will be
capable OF a speed of 2O5 knots. The
mean draft will be % feet q inches.
breadth at load water. 90 feet rs
inches, and length over all, 5o4
feet. The six turrets will be located on
the center line. stepped above each
other. In order to obtain a clear broadside
fire of all twelve guns either side.
They have been named the Arkansas and
the Wyoming.
Storage of Reserve Ammunition.
The chief OF ordnance of the army has
completed a plan for storing reserve am
munition for coast Notifications. This
will undoubtedly require n special appro-
priation by Congress to furnish buildings
OF the required type TO contain sui.i-
Gent quantity of shell and powder, which
time of emergency. At present the stor-
age places for coast defense ammunition
are too remote from the forts where it
would be used. Ii Is proposed to establish
three storehouses at various places along
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts where
facilities of transfer and conditions Of
safety are favorable.
Promotion Of Col Deems.
Lieut.. Col Clarence Deems. who, when
commander. of the artillery district Of
Baltimore. was summoned before an ex-
aiming board during which examina-
tion the fact that he thought a lot Of
Riley. his pet fox terrier. was introduced
evidence OF a weak intellect. has been
promoted to a colonelcy Col Deems is
now commanding Fort Hancock, in New
Jersey, where he was sent after the con-
clusion or the examination. which found
him perfectly nit His promotion fills
the vacancy created by the retirement of
Col. Charles d. Parkhurst
To Cripple Balloons and Aeroplanes.
The ordnance department of our army,
as we'll as the military authorities of
other governments, has taken up the
subject of offensive and defensive weap-
ons for use against aerial craft. Designs
are now being made in the office of the
chief OF ordnance of the army for a gun
which shall be particularly adapted for