New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-11
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Iron The Tribuns Bureau


LARGER DRYDOCKS NEEDED-Ths secr,
.arv OF the Navy = considering several plans FOR
the Improvement Of the drydocks OF the govern
roant A recommendation has been made that TIA
structure which IS TO be buiit under contract
a, the navy yard at Bremerton, OK Puget Sound
shau be 1000 feet long. Is VIII make Il ths
largest government ar-'0ek II Il posEssd out that
action - advisable provide for the demand which
is likely TO be made ucon dryGces IN time Of war
n, large ships whict VII be incorporated Into NJ
,,,a,nrnent service a. transports. Some Of sasz.
vessels will be peSse niger steamers $50 feet louz
and ST present the government has nc dock IN this
country which IS czs.z=ste Of receiving vessels q
that size Secretary SeSherry - also giving soma
attention 70 the condition Of the docks New York
With a view TO a plan Of ultimate Increase In that
service There those IN the navy who believe
that there must be restrictions on the facilities
BROOKLYN on account OF the local conditions. Tbs
drydock construction there has been carried on n
spite of many delays and work which has proved
anything but profitable TO the dock builders II ths
huge dock 1000 feet long. Is built on The Atlantic
Coast therefore It is not likely 70 be at Brooklyn
say the experts
REFLECTION ON THE WAR DEPARTMENT
The bill which is pending in Congress 70 provide
six hundred additional officers to take the place u
line officers detailed 70 detached duty does not
meet with the approval Of many officers IN
vice and they are sending 20 the War Depart
nlent petitions which request amendment Of the
bill so as require that the appointments 70 bs
made under the pending legislation shall be in pro-
norton 70 the existing vacancies in and grade
This would be restriction on the War Department
in The matter Of appointments. and the military
thorftIes are disposed 10 approve the Petitions
which are coming IN. This Is a feature which
doubtedly viii engage the attention Of Congress.
and It is appreciated - the War D7FSE71e1t that
II any questions are raised cOncerEinz Ems provisions
81 the bin Il will Ds sufficient interfere with shs
enactment One OF the oricsrs on Gaty N the Fze
Department in commenti7g on the petitions say5
that these applications fo- s-nenduSent O -
law constitute a reflection Gz17 the War Depart
-nsnt and imply that justice may NOT be done CT
that the best interests Of the army not % b
intr1sted to the administration. With such an at
tiude assumed toward the petitioners It Is doubtful
If the requests for amendment OF the pending
legislation reach the Capitol
IN LINE OF DUTY-Ths War Department au-
thorities are in much OF qaandary concerning the
decisions which must be made "a paying benefits
to those designated to receive the allotment OF six
months pay in the case OF army officers and en-
listed men who die in line Of duty II has been
constantly serious question to determine whether
the deaths, especially OF enlisted men, may De
garded as having occurred in line Of duty. which
is one OF the conditions imposed by the legislation
authorizing the benefit The War Department
has decided that In cases where such doubt exists
the question should be submitted to board
posed of army officers who have access 70 ala
the facts. and in position TO ascertain the
circumstances attending the death Even under
such conditions It is found that there will be
difference Of opinion. The policy Of the War De-
partment. especially TO enlisted men, Is ons
of great Hberality and the decisions have been
the effect that deaths occurred in line OF duty
when they attributable to accidental causes.
CONTROVERSY OVER COLLIERs--The award
OF contracts for the golfers authorized az ths
last session OF Congress- and for which bids were
recently opened st the Navy Department. has been
postponed pending what the Secretary OF the Navy
hopes may be the enactment OF legislation
authorizing him withdraw the order for the
struction OF one OF these Golfers the Mare Island
(Cal) Navy Yard. The bids received FOR the
struction OF one collier at private plant under
contract were low that they would enable the
government to build four GOLFERS The work az
which the Navy Department can obtain the collier
Mare Island, Mr. Newberry informs the House
Naval Committee. the department viii be in pos
SO as TO give the government four instead Of TWO
efye5 80 sdv e ee FOR bs AN ito9 . sD
eial arTangernsnt may De made with the present.
OF one.
DELAY IN BUILDING SUBMARINES-Ths
Navy Department has encountered some difficulty
In coming to terms with the three firms which bid
for the construction of submarines OF the eight
boats OF this type which were authorized ar the
last session OF Congress it decided 10 build two
at navy yard This work VIII be done ar the
plant at Norfolk. Va, but a special arrangement
must be made with one OF the three bidders for tire
right the part OF the government 10 certain
features embodied IN plans and protected by pat
ents Naturally the firms entertain decided views
of the value Of these patented features which are
necessary in constructing any type OF submarine
| The correspondence between the Navy Department
| and the submarine boat builders promises TO %
protracted and volumInous before a satisfactory
agreement is reached
PHILIPPINE TELEGRAPH LINES - There
promises TO be some trouble the appropriation
Of money for the War Department for the pay
Of fele and is
sages IN the Philippines. The lines OF telegraph
communication established by the army slgnai
corps will be formally turned over 70 the ciFh
government next October after which time a sPe-
cial fund will have be provided Tor deTrayins
the cost OF messages sent over the system y .
possible that requirement viii be made thar
In consideration OF this valuable acquisition On
the of the civil Manila miiltar
messages may be sent without charge for period
at least at special rates
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