Evening star., 1909-04-11
To Investigate Manufacture
Ordnance.

Ordnance.
AS result Of repeated representations
by labor organizations that too much
vate manufacturers. the Secretary of the
Navy has ordered thorough investiga-
ton of the subject. A board. of which
Rear Admiral Leutze. commandant of the
Washington navy yard, is president. has
been appointed to ascertain the cost OF
producing naval ordnance. especially the
finishing of guns. mounts and projectiles,
at the naval gun factory at the Wash
ington navy yard. Offic.als of the naval
| ordnance department insist that the &C
| ton of the department in the past was
justified by the circumstances. Some
months ago. according to their state
ments, 1t became necessary to have ex-
ira work on the armament of new ships
OF war done outside the Washington gun
factory in order that the guns and
mounts might be ready for installation
by the time the ships were completed.
Estimates furnished by the officers in
charge of the gun factory showed that
the work could not be handled there, and
1t was feared that the delay would fur
nish the builders OF the ships with an
opportunity to claim damages against the
government. That was avoided only, il
is stated. by placing the work with pri-
yate firras, and also at the army arsenal
at Watervliet, N. Y. The work sent to
the latter place was withdrawn in part as
result of the demand made by labor
unionists In Washington.
The ordnance officials are confident that
the investigation will show that naval
ordnance work can be done more cheaply
under contract than at the government
plants They base their belief on the
fact that under existing conditions the
employees of the plants have thirty days
leave a year, which period will be in
creased after July l by fifteen days al
lowed for sick leave. That makes it i'm
possible. 1t is asserted, for the govern
ment plants to be operated, in the item
of labor. as economically as private
plants. That the question of maintaining
government plants for the production pf
such war material as powder, guns and
SO on cannot rest entirely upon the ques-
ton of relative expense is, however, re-
allied by Secretary Meyer. There must
be governmental sources of supply and
production as q check on the prices ex-
acted, by private manufacturers If not
for other reasons.
Capt. Franklin to Answer Charges.
Capt. Thomas Franklin, who was chief
commissary of the Department of Luzon,
has arrived in this city in response to
orders to explain certain transactions in
the administration of the cadet mess at
the West Point Military Academy sew
eral months ago, while he was in charge
Of the mess. These charges were pre-
ferred against Capt. Franklin shortly
after he reached the Philippines. They
allege that he misued funds intrusted to
his care in the conduct of the cadet
mess, which Is not a government institu-
tion, but corresponds to the officers mess
at army posts and the army post ex-
changes.
The whole subject has been investi-
gated by the inspector general of the
army, who made report. AS result
it was considered advisable to have Capt.
Franklin detached from duty In Manila
and ordered to Washington, where he
might make his explanation without the
delay and difficulty of adjusting the mat
ter by official correspondence.
Capt. Franklin is Marylander and
entered the army as private in the 18th
Infantry in 1892. He was commissioned
In 1897 and was appointed to the sub
sistence department in 1901. Most of his
duty since he has been a subsistence Offi-
Ger was performed at the Military Acad-
emy.
Shortening Tropical Service.
Navy medical officers are urging the
department to restrict sea duty in the
tropics to eighteen months. 1t is main
tanned by them that longer service
proves detrimental to health and impairs
the efficiency Of the personnel. 1t Is
also urged that more liberty be given to
the enlisted force, and that the blue
jackets be permitted to go on shore
whenever 1T will not interfere with the
work Of the ship. 1t is said that such
increase in their leaves will be a positive
contribution to the contentment Of the
men. and will thus promote re-enlist-
ment Numerous complaints have reach
ed the department from enlisted men
that they were not allowed shore leave
when such denial was unnecessary. 1t
has always been held by the department
that the question Of shore liberty must
be determined by the commanding of
rule could be followed. 1t is probable
however, that commanding officers will
receive a circular suggesting greater
consideration for their men.
Photographing Shells in Flight.
The navy bureau of ordnance Is pre-
pairing some interesting experiments.
which. 1t is expected. will throw light
on how a shell strikes a target, and will
enable ordnance experts to make i'm
provements in the form and load Of a
projectile. SO as to secure the greatest
efficiency In the blow delivered. A cam
era Is to be employed behind heavy
plates, and pictures are to be taken just
as the shell strikes. This will show
precisely the angle of the she'll after it
has travelled through its trajectory.
There are some who think a shell main
tains itself parallel to the muzzle
throughout it's journey to the target,
and some claim that it describes a curve
eoinoiding with the trajectory 1t Is
hoped to get light on this problem by
photographs OF the actual position of the
shell in fight.
To Honor Japanese Admiral.
Vice Admiral Sotokichi Uriu. imperial
Japanese navy. who attained worldwide
fame by successful and gallant naval
Japanese war. will be the guest of the
Naval Academy class 1881 at a ban
quet in Washington June g. 1909. and
will attend the graduates dinner at An
napolis June 8. The graduation exer-
eises will occur June 4, 1909 This
event will be of international impor-
tance. On account of the short time be-
fore Admiral Uriu's start for the United
States, the invitation was forwarded to
him in the name Of the class. As Ad-
miral Uriu will come as the chief Off
ccr Of a great and friendly nation. the
officers of the class Of 1881 feel special
and wish to make as good a showing Of
numbers present as possible.
Large Army Post in Hawaii.
1t is planned by the War Department
to maintain one of the largest of the
army posts In the Hawaiian Islands. This
post will have accommodations for field
artillery. cavalry and infantry. in addition
to the coast defense garrisons within the