New-York tribune., 1909-10-24
LIN ARMY AND NAVY
Pea Jackets May Replace
OUercoats.
tBrom The Tribune Bureau
Warhir-l

NfCt0npr
CHANGE IN INFANTRY ITNTFopN
The army overcoat may be abandoned q,
least so far as the infantrv arr, a. -,
eerned, and its place In military apparel
taken by the pea Jacket. A suggestion NJ
this sort has been made to the War De-
partment, and is understood to find favor
with the infantry equipment board In ses-
sion at Rock Island, Ill. That board has
taken up the question OF uniform. along
with the problem of the burden OF the foot
soldier. and for this reason the general
order prepared some weeks ago containing
amendments TO the uniform regulations
has been held up in the office of the Chief
Of Stafr until the infantry board can pre-
sent It's conclusions.
There is a difference OF opinion concern
ing the adoption of the pea jacket in place
OF the overcoat. Some officers believe that
the overcoat is necessary in furnishing pro-
lection to the legs of the wearer. despite
the impediment of long coat in walk
Ing. Those who favor the pea jacket point
out that such a garment Is usually worn
by preference In Alaska and other sections
where the intense cold requires extra pro-
lection In the way OF clothing. There Is
also a disposition to resist all radical
changes In uniform, such as this abandon
ment OF the overeoat might be considered.
The advocates OF the pea jacket are anx-
ious that 1t shall be adopted as an aid to
freedom of movement, while furnishing all
the bodily comfort and protection against
climate characteristic of the present long
oyercoat.
LESS WORK AT ARsENALS.-Ths
army ordnance officers are much wrought up
he ar
at Watarvliet. n. Y. That plant has for
long time had a large part OF the work
OF building guns for vessels Of the navy.
1t has been Of great assistance to the arse
nal IN keeping employed. a force OF expert
wor4men who are not easily replaced once
discharged and who are most valuable in
the fabrication OF seacoast rifles, which
is the principal function of the Watervliet
arsenal otherwise known as the army
gun factory. 1t will become necessary
in short time to suspend a number OF
the employees. While this is partly due
to the approach toward completion OF the
guns intended for the seacoast defences
Of the United States, il is also and mainly
attributable to the change OF policy on
the part OF the naval ordnance bureau In
the building Of guns for the navy. Guns
for the navy which the gun factory at
the Washington Navy Yard has not the
capacity to turn out have been placed
under contracts with the Midvale and
Bethlehem Steel companies. and the naval
patronage has been withdrawn from
Wateryliet, probably to encourage private
manufacturers to be ready to manufacture
war materials in time OF need.
The Watervliet arsenal has manufactured
for the navy number OF rifles of Pinch
and smaller calibres. In view OF the ex-
tensive pruning OF the War Department
estimates to be submitted to Congress, in
Guiding those for the manufacture OF
ordnance material, work at the Springfield
arInory in the manufacture Of small arms
is destined 20 fall off gradually until there
Is a reduction of about 40 per cent in the
daily output
No one in authority in Washington makes
any attempt TO explain why the change has
been made in favor OF contract built guns
as against the guns produced at the Water
vllet arsenal. 1t is asserted that as good
time could be made and certainly less cost
Iy work could be done at the army gun
factory than will be represented in the
work done under contract. The officials of
the Navy Department do not regard the
situation as one which requires explana-
ton. 1t is made known that the contracts
awarded for the manufacture OF guns are
justified by public interest. One phase Of
the situation, naval officers say, IS that
which takes into account the desirability
OF encouraging private plants to do this
sort of work for the government.
ORDERS ISSUED.-rhe following orders
have been issued:
ARMY
Captain MARION WEEKS, 9th Infantry to
home, preparatory to retirement from active
service; leave to February ., 1910, granted.
Captain WILLIAM w. MCAMMON. Jr.. 9Th
Infantry. to recruiting service, to Wichita,
December l. vice First Lieutenant FRANK
GEERE, coast artillery.
Captains JOSEPH +. SILER and HENRY J.
NICOLS, medical corps. detailed attend
national conference on peilagTa at Columbia,
s. c.. November and l.
First Lieutenant JAMES b. VAN HORN, medi-
cal reserve corps. to Fort Mackenzie
First Lieutenant OTTO BURRI. 1st Field Artil-
iery. Minnesota National Guard, TO garrison
shoot. Fort Smelling
Resignation OF Chaplain II. PERCY SILVER,
18th Cavalry, accepted to take effect ex-
Diration OF three months leave.
Leave OF absence: Lieutenant Colonel HIRAM
CHITTENDEN. corps OF engineers leave
extended to include November 80
NAVY