New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-01
IN ARMY AND NAVY
Claims for Damages from Fire
Of Big Guns.
from The Tribune Bureau
VA eI1fu-t MsrCi


Washington. March 81.
WAR DEPARTMENT CANNOT PAT
The Jar from the discharge OF big rifles
in coast artillery practice continues TO be
a source OF complaint on the part of peorle
who live in the neishborhood OF the FORTH
ations. and the Var Department finds IL
self without authority u pay damages re-
sulrin- thcrefrol. II some instances they
have exerted influence with the War De
partuert 70 have the gun FIRE stopped, and
such cornulaints have been uniformly re-
ferred to Major General Leonard Wood. in
command oc the Department Of the East.
lie has reported that no attention should
be paid 10 the requests, as = is most
important that tie coast a~tiilerists have
every opportunity TO acquire accuracy 81
the FIRE OF heavy guns. The disasrecabie
feature can he remedied TO some extent oy
adopting what is known as sub-Calibre prac-
tice. which means fitting into the guns
lining to reduce the caibTe and enabfe
smaller projeCtiie 10 be used with the same
effect. so far as hitting the target IS con
Cerned. At the same time, there is do
cided advantage. the coast artillery officers
point out, il 6ischaTgiug these guns under
conditions which would obtain in time %
war II is considered that the easiest way
b. the military authorities. The principal
complaints come from the neghborhood of
Forts Hamilton and vacsworth, in New
York Harbor. Other claims come for
the most part from the neighborhood Of
the forts in Portland IIarbor and Boston
Harbor. The amount Of these claims for
the last year is S5.2oo. part Of which.
however is for damages 10 fences and
growing crops h troops engaged in ma
rceuvres
II anticipation of tre claims Of the latter
character in this years Joint army and
militia manceu-res, the War Department
has arranged for a board of officers st each
camp 20 make inspections OF damage
wrought on the ground and a. the time Of
the movement Of troops, u the end thzt
disputes NAV be settled and damages de
termined without more formal negotiations
and the expense to claimants of subsequent
proof, with its opportunity for nlisrepresen-
tation and controversy. OF course, due care
Is exercised by commanding officers in pre-
serving the property, bur II the rnaneuvres
are to include anything like the element of
surprise. II is impossible 10 arrange in ad-
vance for the occupation OF a farm or
cultivated field. In such instances the dam
age will be determined and the War Depart
nent will recommend an appropriation Il
vas expected that this would be done ia
the sundry civil bill, but the House Appro-
priations Committee has decided that claims
for damages from coast artillery fire more
properly come before the Claims Commit
tee. Some consideration has beer. given a.
the proposition Of having a regular fund
from which claims may be paid witho1lt the
present delay.
ASKS s2.coNc00 MORE FOB NAvY.-An
additional estimate of s2n1n 600 on ac-
count Of increase in the navy was sub
mitted TO the House to-day II embraces
81 100000 on account OF hulls ard outfits and
steam machinery Of two GOLFERS in the
proposed building progra mme. the amount
required for the first year. and s.. 00o. 600 on
account Of submarine torpedo boats. the
amount required for the first year for five
boats.
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders
have been issued:
ARMY
Captain DANIEL ". HAND, quarterulazter.
from transport Thomas, report depot
qusrtermaster. san Francisco. for tenn
Captain ELMER }. WALLACE, coast artil-
lery, detailed in signal corps. 70 report n
commandins general Department of Cal
Hornia. for assignment 10 duty IN Hawaii
IN connection with fire control instals-
Captain JOHN Z. BOND. both Infantry de
tailed an acting quartermdsfer in army
transport service - san Francisco, report
- superintendent army transport service.
for assignment as quartermsstsr OF trans
Second Lieutenant WILLIAM \ PORTER.
coast artillery. attached 10 4lst Company,
Leaves Of a6seHee. Major BEEcHER
RAY, raymaster, four months from April
u. Captain JAMES r POCRIE. coast
FTRLONG. General STAFF. two months
Frs Lteutenant kELToN /. PETER.
Esd Infantry, fifteen DAYS
NAVY.
Lieutenant }. H COMFORT detached the
Connecticut. home. wait orders.
commander in chief. Atlantic feet on the
Connecticut. to naval proving ground,
,fidshipman r. n JAEGER. detached the
hagle. - naval hespiLs = A eric
recruiting station, Baltimore. 70 navy
Medical Inspector ? ". WEBER. 70 re-
cruitiny station. Baltimore.
Surgeon G z SMITH. detached naval hos
piral. New York. 10 naval station, Hawaii.
Surgeon I Y. KITE retired. detached navy
Psynas:ers 6 J PEOPLES c. Y EL1Asox.
2 o,LEARYY y, = 2, RoBNErT -R R
iAN and c. W REEvEs. Jr. commits
Naval Constructor Q. a. BIssET, detached
navy YARD. Norfolk; 10 duty as inspector
svlI ania, a Pittsburs
MOVEMENTS OF WARsHTPs- fol
lowing movements Of vessels have been re-
ported 70 the Navy Department.
ARRIVED
March ca--The Justin. a. California City. the
pes MonAs q Norfolk
March S0-The Prairie. at Philadelphia
SAILED.
March 2a.-The Des Noines. from Hampton
Roads for Norfolk
March 3n-The Scorpion. from Alexandra.
EEvpt. for CouStanriuople. the Brutus,
from Boston for Newport News
March 3i-The Birmingham. from 81. Vim
E..r AFn.arr