Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-10

Artillery Materis, Short.
The most serious feature of the pres
ent military situation. and one which
should be corrected Immediately. IN
the opinion of Secretary Dickinson, Is
the shortage OF field artillery male
|4ial. There Is q very inadequate sup
ply OF guns, carriages and amman iop,
due ,ai gely to lack OF appropriations.
The types needed have been devef
oped and some OF each are ender man.
afactare, but the appropriations do not
permit OF the production OF any con
siderable quantity.
The chief OF ordnance. already mas
called attention to the fact that much
time IL required TO manufacture TINS
material and II would be Impossible
10. obtain enough To supply the army
n time of war unless provision were
made accommodating the stock far in
advance. &seeE
Raising Of the Maine.
Touching the progress OF the work
Of uncovering the wreck of the Maine
! In Havana harbor. the secretary states
that the plans for the construction OF
cofYerdam of interlocking steel piling
around the wreck have been approved
and are now under execution. II is
proposed to draw of the water as
soon as the dam Is tight and remove
the everything mud and other material
in order to permit, IL desired. OF
thorough examination OF the condition
of the wreck In present position 10
determine the cause Of the explosion.
The appropriation, of 100000 AL
| ready made will accomplish all OF the
preliminary work contemplated at pres
! ent, but the actual removal OF the
wreck and the restoration Of the har-
Dor TO its original condition will re-
quire "a further appropriation. The
| amount of which will depend upon the
| disposition to be made of the struc-
| gre SIS a whole In this connection.
the secretary says that It is desirable
hat congress should indicate the dis
position to DE made Of the wreck upon
l completion OF the work OF removal
Need 81 offcers.
Little more can be done than al
I ready has been done in the very i'm
| ,ortant work Of instruction of the or
ganized militia until some provision
8 made by congress which will allow
the department TO assign officers on
| the active list of the army to duty
with the militia, which Is now inn
possible owing to the pressing need
Of officers for regimeEtal service.
Success has attended the efforts OF
he department to secure one-half OF
/ the personnel necessary for manning
the coast Notifications. from the
militia of the seabosrd states. All OF
| he coast states have provided for
u orfil1nrv
New Jersey, Delaware and Louisiana.
and it is hoped that those states will
all in line next year.
Unfortunately. the secretary points
gut the existing law does not declare
distinctly The exact extent to (which
the militia NAV be employed Ia the
service of the United States and leg
islation should beshad that would en-
able the war department to deter
mine in advance Of war st what Of
icers and troops of the militia can
be depended upon for service and
l their suitability. The present law
was built up piece meal during and
since the Spanish-American war and
Is at best only temporary measure.
Volunteer Army.
The secretary saws that q compre-
hensive act providing for the organ
izatton of a volunteer army only
| after congress has made decIara-
tfon would be CT inestimable value
v the country ever again is confront
ed With foreign wer Such legisla-.
ton would permit OF the preparation
IN time OF peqce-of all the necessary
plans for The organization. equipment
and supply Of volunteer army and
the selection of pisces for mobiliza-
lion. thus. avoiding delays that might
be almost fatal to defense. The ma
ton. he insists. should lie ready with
complete system for passing from
- peace 10 war establishment In
Sorder to avoid the waste inseparable
from going to war without full prep
\ aratioa.
The total estima<es for military
purposes for the next year asgre
agtes $1SS,s74,27s. which is $3,257.
eN less than. the appropriations for
the current fiscal year. the decrease
being due 10 the fact that the de
usrtment Is asking Cor less money
l or accidental expenses, post ex.
chsnses. transportation and supplies.
public works at posts, clothing ana
camp 'equipsge, arms and expenses
at the military academy. On The
other hand, slightly increased appro-
priatiops are asked for Notifications
and other works OF defense.
The Philippines.
The secretary rsfers to i1ls recent
Insp to the Philippines and declares