Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06

remarkable exhibition of naval eff
cheney is disclosed in the report from
Rear Admiral Schroeder of the recent
speed trials of the vessels of the Atlantic
fleet 1t used to be true that naval YES
sci rarely equaled her contract speed,
after her acceptance trial, which is al
ways conducted. under the most favorable
conditions. with selected coal and espe-
ciaily trained crews But, according TO
Admiral Schroeder's report, no less than
seven of the battleships in their recent
trials exceeded their contract speeds a.
though some of them had been commits
stoned for several years. These ships
were the Connecticut Minnesota. New
Hampshire, Kansas, Georgia, Nebraska
and Mississippi. The flagship Connect
icut in a four-hour run made 1.O2 knots
in excess of the IS knots for which
she was designed. The Idaho a'so ex-
ceded her contract speed, while the Mis-
souri,, in continuous service since 1903,
came within one revolution of her ac-
ceptance trial speed.
Exercising Torpedo Destroyers.
The seventh torpedo division of the At
lantic torpedo fleet, consisting of the new
turbine torpedo boat destroyers Smith,
Preston, Flusser and Reid, has been In
training for service, with Charl ston S.
c., as a base. These vessels make fire.
quent runs to give the crews experience
in handling tn new type of machinery
with which they are fitted, and other
exercises, preliminary to joining the feet
for the summer maneuvers
Awards for Battle Efficiency.
Not gunnery alone, but general all
around seamanship-engneeri signal
ing and other qualifcations-are heretofore
to form the basis of the award of naval
trouphies for battle efficiency Secretary
week in connection with the award of
the pennant for gunnery to the battleship
Vermont. as the result of the competition
and speeds. The Tennessee and the
Maryland are rated as star ships. having
made more than So per cent of the total
score made by the Vermont. The officers
OF these ships have all received com
mandatory. letters.
Americans in Foreign Armies.
The Secretary of War has decided that
an American citizen who serves in the
British army does not thereby forfeit his
American citizenship. but does forfeit the
right of protection by this government
while SO serving. He holds also that such
foreign service is not bar to subsequent
enlistment in the United States Army.
A Soldier of 1912.
1t is reported to the War Department
that in removing the bodies from the
abandoned cemetery on the military res
ervations at Madison barracks at Sack
etts Harbor, n. Y, the remains of Lieut.,
Col Timothy Dix. 18th United States In
fantry. were found That officer lost his
life while serving under Gen. Wilkinson
in the atttmpt to capture Montreal dur
ing the war of 1872. He was the father
of Mai. Gen. John A. Dix, author of the
who attempted to haul down the Stars
and Stripes. and the grandfather of the
late Rev. DIR. Morgan Dix OF New York.
The body was found in cast iron casket
and the grave was not marked by head
stone.
The gold medal of the Naval Institute
composed of officers of the Navy, award
ed annually for the best essay on a
naval subject. was won this year by
Naval Constructor I. G. Roberts, whose
sssay was entitled THE Merchant and
the Navy" The award carries, besides the
medal. life membership in the institute
and 500 in cash. Honorable mention
with SO in cash and life membership
was won by Lieut. Lyman a. Gotten.
United States Navy, whose essay was
entitled Naval Strategy of the Russo
Japanese War