New-York tribune., 1910-04-09
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Prospect of Wholesale Retire
ment Alarms Naval Officers.
FFrom The Tribune Bureau
VE,-t,f-, A.


their discovery that a bill introduced by
Senator Perkins and now pending in the
Senate. and presumably coming from the
Navy Department. viii affect them adverse
ly This is the measure originally intended
10 place on tho register Of commissioned
officers as additional numbers those line
officers who were formerly members or the
old engineer corps abolished some years
ago in order To merge the engineers with
the line officers. As matters stand at
present naval officers who are known as
'additiorals." being those who were pro-
NOTED and carried as such on account of
gallantry in the war with Spain, do not
have the privilege Of applying for retire
ment with advancement 10 the next higher
grade nor are they subject to the annual
'plucking out process The old engineers
objected to going on the list as 'additionals'
without the former benefit which they
now enjoy. The original project for legisla-
ton Of this character has been amended in
a way 20 cause a shock to the old addition
ais" among whom there are many proni-
nent officers. BY the provisions Of the bill
the ''addiuonals' are 10 be retired ''in equal
numbers" when IL comes to voluntary or
involuntary retirement with those OF the
line who are not additional officers. II was
expected that the retirement would be
merely proportional To make the retire
ments equivalent will practically serve to
put on the retired list within the next two
years all the former engineer officers. and
they are accordingly protesting IN advance
against this distinction. With them are the
heroes" who now find themselves con-
fronted with legislation which by July 1.
1872. VIII serve 10 place on the retired list
every additional commander, Lieutenant
commander and lieutenant. with only a few
additional" csptains surviving.
j This discovery has created a sensation
among the officers. who believe they are
adversely affected. They are preparing 20
resist this scheme 70 retire them. and 1t is
/ possible the proposed legislation will be
/ defeated, although many line officers, who
are desirous OF creating all the vacancies
/ possible, are in favor OF It, When the actual
/ condition is known in Congress, however
4 It Will probably lead to opposition. for the
reason that it would unduly increase the
retired list by the transfer thereto OF off,
! GERS still in their prime and who should
be available for duty for some years. With
! this conflicting view entertained among OIL
GERS, the feeling has become acute.
/ MEYER CHANGES REGULATIONS
After having worked for a year to develop
the system Of one-man control of the
great fleets Of the navy, Secretary Meyer
/ has come 10 the conclusion that the abili-
Z ties of the individual have reached the
I breaking point and that it will be neSes-
sary TO subdivide the responsibility. Their
/ fore he has approved a number Of changes
4 in the naval regulations concerning the ad-
ministration Of the Atlantic and Pacific
fleets The main purpose OF these changes
I IS TO relieve the commanders IN chief Of
the fleets OF much Of the details OF admin
istration which occupied a large part OF
their time This is to be accomplished by
transferring 20 the rear admiral IN COM
uand Of each division OF the fleet, COM
prising four ships. a large measure OF au-
thority and administrative power. which
will have the beneficial result OF fitting
. them &c succeed readily 70 the chief com
mand 10 which they are eligible. At the
( same time the commander in chief will
/ exercise supervisory authority over ell the
/ divisions instead Of over single ships as
/ units. Extending the idea, the command
T ers OF divisions Will have an opportunity
10 sail with their four ships 10 different
parts OF the world on detached service.
with the understanding that the various
. divisions will at certain periods be gath
cred for target practice and general feet
exercises. So the American battleships
hereafter Will be seen oftener in foreign
waters and II Is believed this Will do much
&c promote the contentment and interest OF
the sailors.
KIMBALL ORDERED HOME.-Rear
Admiral ". " Kimbau, who has been N
command Of the naval vessels on the west
coast OF Central America. has been ordered
E.gy r-nT vrFF1 re
sumo his duties as a member Of the retir-
ing board. OF the vessels in his command
the Albany has heen ordered 70 proceed to
san Francisco for two weeks for liberty.
and thence 70 the Puget Sound navy yard,
preps ratory 70 proceeding 10 Asia. The
! Princeton will remain the west coast Of
! Central America and viii be Joined as soon
as practicable by the Vicksburg. The Pa
/ ducah will remain on the east coast Of
4 Central America. and viii be Joined as
soon as practicable by the Dubuque.
/ THE CHARLESTON EXPLOSTON.-The
. House Committee on Naval Affairs wants
. 10 know all about the explosion which oc-
/ CURED a few days ago on the cruiser
4 Charleston, resulting in the death and in
1 flrt Of several sailors. To-day 1t favor
ably reported a resolution introduced ny
REPRESENTATIVE Rainey. Of Illinois, calling
on the Secretary Of the Navy for full in
formation regarding the disaster The res
4 olution requests information as 10 the cause
4 ~ the explosion, whether there was any
1 defect in the gun which exploded, where
the forgings and castings OF the gun were
made and where they we're assembled
ORDERS ISSUED-The following orders
{ have been issued.
ARMY
Mao, GEORGE B. DUNCAN. Il Infantry. to
I Walter Reed General Hospital, District oil
Nil P0RErT = WOoDSON. medical corps.
( Fr4lud tucauacitated. Is retired
/ rartair JAMES A COLE from 9Th TO Sth cav
captain am FRED E. BUcHAN from eth to 9Th
r., Ita,iiena7t OTIS r COLE 25th Infantry.
1 4, -a~r-litinz service JEFF arson Barracks
E-f-e, Lieutenant CHARLES G. NINNLA. 5th
4 cavalry detailed temporarily In charge OF
construction work at general hospital, Fort
-.-.e91 surgeon ROBERT M HOLIINGS-
/ WORTH from san Francisco % his home
for anulI I-leur of contract.
res-es ~ absence. captain CHARLES b
Clark f4th Infantry. two months and rf
tfsu oavs. captain GEORGE r. " MAJ -.
7 cast artillery. one month an1 uit""n days
Nasor GEORGE @. SQJIER. signal corps.
-, months from Nav I. CAPTAINS -AMl tsls
y ppf-Fg ESBACH. 18th CaNalry. ana LIS
lie a l. CHAPMAN, ID cavalry two
months ...
I Pasr,a Assistant Surgeon NJ E L.ANDo, De.
] gufr a