Evening star., 1909-01-24
Distribution of Atlantic Fleet.


Plans have been completed for the ships
of the Atlantic feet when they shall have
returned to home waters at the end of
February. 1t was originally intended that
these vessels should proceed to the target
ranges off Guantanamo, Cuba, but it has
now been decided that on arrival ,at
Hampton roads and following the view
by President Roosevelt and President
elect Taft the crews shall have liberty.
Half of the enlisted force will be brought
to Washington to take part in the in
augural parade. The vessels will then
proceed to their respective navy yards
for repairs and alterations and the in
stallation of new appliances, Including the
fire control systems and magazine re-
frigeration. This is expected to take
two months, following which the ships
will engage in battle practice under un-
usual conditions which are being planned
by the naval authorities. The vessels VIII
then engage in record target practice Off
the New England coast. which Will prob
ably occur In August and September. On
that occasion the ships will tire at NOV
ing targets which are being specially
designed for the purpose. These targets
will be built of heavy timbers, the plat
forms being narrow and long, resembling
the nautical type known as English cut
tiers. 1t has been decided to have only
one record target practice a year and two
battle practices, the latter TO take place
in the spring and fall The reports re-
ceived from the target practice of the
ships at Manila, which was held III No
vember show that naval gunnery has
improved by about 1G0 per cent over the
best previous records, which is most
gratifying 10 officers interested in the
encouragement of target practice.
Traction Engines for Army.
The military authorities have been Civ
ing some attention TO the possibilities OF
using heavy motor cars in army trans
portation This has been tried TO some
extent in the foreign armies, and it was
believed that the traction engine could be
utilized to advantage in carrying military
stores of great weight. The general stan
has taken up the question, and has report
ed that il is not advisable TO depend too
much on this method Of transportation.
There would be question were the
roads In good order in ali parts OF the
country. but with the inituenc OF weather
on roads to be rechoned with, and the
fact that an eVenneSS of country IS not 10
be depended on, the experts have decided
that II Is not safe TO go very far from the
horse and mule as means OF uanspor-
tation. The army wagon therefore ~ Ces-
tined 10 remain, although TO some extent
the motor car and the traction engine Will
be utilized.
Col. Maus' Sharp Protest.
Col. Louis NJ Maus, U.sA.. chief sur
eeon of the Philippines division, has sent
a protest 10 Washington against the ms
tory OF the Cholera in the Philippine
Islands" recently published by Commis
sioner Dean c Worcester, The secretary
of the interior OF the islands. Col. Maus
Genounces the work mis- eading and
'scieuiificaIly yaluelcss." He declares.
moreover, that il IS "a malicious attack
Uuoa mis- administration AS commissioner
OF health I'm 1902" and "untruthful and
unnecessary" In AN interview he eN-
presses surprise at finding after a. alb
sence of five years tAaL provincial SANTA
ron is IN q deploTIbe condition. lie
cbaraC:erizeS WoTcesters regime an
expensive failure" ami considers 1t pri
marily responsible for the irns contln-
uance Of the recent cholera epidemic.
Modernizing Cid Guns.
The Navy Department is carrying out
the tests in naval ordnance made pos
sible by the appropriation by Congress
at the last session OF $3.50 900 fer replac
ing S-inch guns with newer model of
that caliber. and OF $4,000 for refining
and converting 12-inch guns. II was con-
sidered necessary To replace all S-inch
and 12-inch guns now in the service
which are not hooped TO the muzzIe. by
guns Of later and stronger design
These guns were designed, some Of them,