Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14
Plans for Better Scouts.

Plans for Better Scouts.
Naval constructors are working out ten
tative plans for new scout cruisers for the
consideration OF Congress. It is probable
that authority will be asked for the con-
struction of more vessel of that type II
Is proposed to have the new scouts. II
authorized, of greater displacement. high
er speed, and more steamfng radius than
the three scouts now In service. IT lis
probable that the new scouts VIII be OF
at least 5000 tons displacement. or 1.25O
tons more than that of the Chester and
sister ships.
That would provide a speed of twenty
seven knots as against twenty-four knots
of the present class and also admit of
greater steaming radius by virtue OF In
creased coal-carrying capacity. Naval
engineers favor heavier machinery on the
new vessels than has been installed In the
present scout ships. They are convinced
also that they should have turbines in
stead of reciprocating engines.
Reduced Cost of Officers Quarters.
1t has been decided by @. NJ. Gen.
Aleshire that II shall be the policy
hereafter in the planning of quarters
for army posts to limit the cost of houses
for brigadier generals TO s15.UO for field
officers to $4,000 and for company Of
ficers to $4,000 At most of the larger
posts many large and costly houses have
been constructed and the anomalous sit
uation has been presented of company
officers occupying houses that a few years
ago colonel or brigadier general would
have been very glad to get. The average
double house at a regimental post costs
about $4,000. The result is a house that
few officers find themselves willing or
able TO furnish, with the attendant ex-
pense also of employing more servants
than would be necessary In smaller quar-
tiers
Fixed Rank Of Civil Engineers.
In accordance with a recent act of
Congress the President has fixed the rank
of civil engineers Of the navy as follows:
Two to have the rank of captain, two to
have the rank OF commander and the re-
mainder to have the rank Of lieutenant
commander, lieutenant or lieutenant
tunior grade). and shall be advanced in
rank to those grades with the line officers.
with whom they take precedence in the
same manner officers in other staff
corps OF the navy.
Improvements at Indian Head.
A detachment Of marines is encamped
on the Indian Head reservation. Mary
land. where the rife range for the Marine
Corps. on Stump Neck. is being estab-
lished. Work is progressing satisfactorily
in the preparation of the range and in the
opened for digging a we'll and the con-
struction of one frame storehouse and two
frame cottages.
Typhoid From Frozen Meat.
Medical Inspector l.. w. Curtis OF the
navy has expressed the opinion in an Of
fetal report to the Navy Department that
the recent epidemic of typhoid fever on
the battleship Connecticut was due to the
unevenness In thawing out the frozen
meat taken from the refrigerator. That
meat was taken out and thawed one day,
but was not used until the following day.
He believes the danger from such prac-
tice could be avoided by cutting the meat
into small pieces.
Big Ships Nearly Ready.
The battleship South Carolina has been
delivered to the government. Capt.
Fechteler has been assigned to command
her. She will be placed in commission
early In December. The Michigan, which
is to be commanded by Capt N. r.
Usher. will be put In commission the lat
ter part OF this month. These are the
first American battleships of the all-big-
gun and heavy-armor type. The Della
ware and North Dakota, being of q newer
and still more powerful type. will not go
into service until the late winter. The
Delaware will be commissioned the lat
ter part Of January, and the North Da-
kota about March I. The commanders
of these vessels have not yet been an
noW1ced.
Amending Physical Tests.
Surgeon General Torney's Forthcoming
annual report Is expected to contain some
interesting comments concerning the
annual physical tests for officers Of the
army. His recommendations and COM
ments that have been made by other off,
GERS may lead to a change In the present
system. established by Pres dent koose-
welt. requiring an annual demonstration
of physical fitness. The impression pre-
vaiis that. If MIR. Taft takes up the ques-
ton. II will be to require that the exer-
else. whether riding or walking. shall be
constant and regular. and not simply an
nual. with the provision that command.
ing officers shall certify to this perform
ance of duty. By that means it Is be-
lieved that the object of former Presi-
dent Roosevelts orders will be accom-
plished in greater degree than Is now
the case.
Temporary Commissions to Officers.
The Navy Department will probably
ask Congress to authorize the issue of
temporary commissions to assistant pay
masters and second neutenants Of the
Marine Corps appointed from civil life.
The plan Is to appoint such officers for
a probationary period Of about six months
or one year. in order to determine their
efficiency. A similar scheme Is now in
operation in the Medical Corps Of the
navy.
Army Orders.
Leave Of absence for one month. with
permission to go beyond the sea. 10
granted Lieut.. Col. Stephen M. Foote.
Coast Artillery Corps.
Capt Dorsey Cullen. I'd Cavalry. will
proceed to the Preside of San Francisco
General Hospital for observation and
treatment.
The leave Of absence granted Second
Lieut. Henry c. Pratt, 4th Cavalry, Is
extended twenty days.
First Lieut.. Benjamin D. Foulois. Signal
Corps, will proceed to Sandy Hook. n. J..
for temporary duty pertaining to the pro-
posed tests Of firing on captive balloons
at that place.
Leave Of absence for three months u
granted Maj. Harry G. Benson. 9TH Cav
airy.
Capt z. Holland Rubottam. 9th Cav
airy, will join his regiment.
Capt. Frank c. Jewell, Quartermaster,
IL assigned to the 9th Company. Coast Ar
tillery Corps.
Capt Stanley d. Embick, Coast Artil-
lery Corps. will proceed to Fort Munroe.
Va, for consultation with the Coast Ar
tillery board on proposed notifications in
rapid-fire batteries.
Naval Orders.
Lieut.. Commander ]. b. Patton. from
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