New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-11-19
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Capps to Make inspection Trip
Around World.
From The Tribune Bureau.
Wa shin, yrop Nox-at,,ya.

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| CHIEF CONSTRUCTORS MISSION
| The detachment Of Chief Constructor W L.
! Capps from his present station in PhiladeI-
/ phia and his assignment 70 duty which will
carry him around the world on an fnspec-
| ton tour, which was ordered by the Score
tary of the Navy to-day, IS certain TO
arouse lively comment In the service. II is
no secret that the naval authorities had
! expected the chief constructor 70 ask for
retirement when he resigned. on the re-
quest of Secretary Meyer, as chief Of the
Bureau Of Construction and Repair, fol-
| lowing the controversy over naval admins
! tration which involved the head Of the
! Navy Department the chief constructor
and Paymaster General Rogers. Mr.. Rogers
promptly applied for retirement, but Mr..
Caps asked TO be assigned TO duty. much
TO the surprise OF the departmental officials
He has lately been on duty IN Philadelphia
as senior member of the board on changes
in hulls of ships building on tina Atlantic
| Coast It was expected that he would be
retained for some time on this duty
HIS inspection trip will include a range
of observation which has rarely been
equalled by any assignment 70 such duty
under the Navy Department. He will leave
Philadelphia on November 70 for the Pa
ciic Coast and take the first steamer for
the Asiatic station. He has been instructed
TO investigate the conditions prevailing at
the naval stations ar Cavite and OIongapo.
10 ascertain the facilities for naval repair
work on the AsiatIc station, to report
whether there Is need of further expendf-
ture of public funds, TO examine the ships
of the Pacific feet and see how much work
must be done to keep them up to date, and
then return to the United States by way of
the Suez Canal, visiting the navy yards and
dock stations of foreign governments and
foreign ships wherever possible, making
notes OF new features OF repair stations.
etc. Incidentally. he IS 10 Investigate the
use of the aeroplane in connection with
warships abroad When this duty is COM
pleted Mr.. Capps will return 90 Washing
ton and report to the Secretary OF the
Navy
Special interest IS impaired TO this incl
dent on account of the gossip it is likely to
excite AT the Capitol, where the friends of
the chief constructor may construe the
order as a desire on the part of the Navy
Department TO send Mr.. Caps as far away
from Washington as possible at the coming
session of Congress. in order that he will
not be SO accessible to those who desire
ammunition with which TO oppose the
Meyer plan OF navy yard control and de-
partment reorga nization. The naval au-
thorities insist that there is no such pur-
pose in this assignment to duty, and point
out that the Information he VIII gather will
be of great value. and that Mr.. Capps is
the best officer in the service for this i'm
portant task II is understood that Senator
Hale, who was strong champion of Mr.
Capps IN the difficulties Of the last session.
was fully advised by Secretary Meyer be-
fore the orders were issued. OF course, II
the chief constructor is desired by the
House or Senate naval committee as a
witness, there will be no difficulty in bring
ing him back TO the United States
ELLIOTT RETIRES NOVEMBER So
Major General George Frank Elliott. com
mandant of the marine corps will be re-
tired on November 30, by orders issued to-
day. The Navy Department is considering