New-York tribune., 1911-01-13

I
canal and is regarded as low rate Of in
surance on so valuable a property. The
garrison called for by the estimates con-
sists OF twelve companies of coast artii-
lery. four regiments of infantry, one bat
TALON Of field artillery and one company
! Of cavalry.
| TRIUMPH FOR WOOD.-The army APP
preparation bill as reported to the House
to-day constitutes a considerable triumph
for Major General Wood in that it carries
an appropriation OF 81 10000 for the accu-
! mutation OF ammunition and equipment TO
he lent to the militia In time OF peace, but
| TO be at the disposal OF the regular army
In time Of emergency. This is the point
which General Wood especially emphasized
IN his so-called confidential report TO
Congress, replying to the MacLachlan reso-
luton. and while that report was never
actually delivered to Congress 1t is sppar-
ont that the Chief OF STAFF found some
method OF conveying his views to the MEM
hers Of the Committee on Military Affairs.
The total appropriation carried by the
army bill as reported is s92Sl2oSl. Another
item IN the bill is 10000 for the equip
nent of coast artillery, which Will. OF
=
of the ammunition, the need of which GEN.
eral Wood has so strongly emphasized All
other interesting item is 10000 for the
purchase OF an appropriate tract OF laru
/ accessible TO the horse raising section OF
Virginia and to be used for the assembling
grazing and training Of horses purchased
] for the cavalry.
/ MILITARY AUTOMOBILES. - General
Wood is greatly interested In the avaiia-
! bility of automobiles for military purposes
and he will probably submit the subject 70
a special board OF army officers for thor-
ough investigation and experiments. n rec
ommendation to this end has been maze 10
the Chief Of staff by Colonel l. W. Ltten,
chief ouartermaster of the Department OIL
the East who served in that capacity
when General Wood was in command OIL
that department The conservative We"
of army officers is somewhat opposed W
any extensive use OF automobiles as 'oo
pndependable Their merits are adu'lt'eu'
brt il is held that they require many ie
nairs and their usefulness Is seriously haih-
pered when confronted by bad roads anu
heavy mud or deep snow. COlonel b''oi'
halieves these obstacles can be overcome
and he has devised the plans for an au'o-
mobile 10 be made a part OF each com
mand using this means OF transportation
which will be equipped with the tools ana
material necessary TO make repairs W ~
Golf and TO others In the command; which
would. in a word, occupy such reia'ioi
IN the auto-eouipped command as does 'i'
renair shin to the naval feet. CORONER H''
tell has also called attention to the heoe'
sItv of omitting from the military autonio-
bile all bright metal parts, Whlch "ou'u
serve az excellent targets for the enemy
WIFI, PROBABLY THANK PEARH.-
The subcommittee OF the House commute
on Naval Affairs has made report 10 lIie
full committee. which recommends 'hat tile
thanks of Congress be extended 20 captain
Peary for his discovery Of the North Pole'
The bill indorsed by the subcommittee
u,ould retire Captain Peary with the rank
and pay Of rear admiral IL is expected
that this report will be approved oy the
full committee, which was greaty I'M !
pressed with the proofs submitted by feary |
at the three days hearing just ended' vi
course Representative Macon VIII con- |
tinue TO oppose the bill, and he may pro- |
test on the floor OF the House. besides hnns
a minority report. but as he is In de-
cided minority little more than waste or
time is expected to come OF his opposition |
The thanks of Congress will carry with 1t
the privilege of the floors Of the two houses |
Of Congress unless the measure specifically !
provides otherwise
TO SHELL THE TENAS.-Secretary |
Never has issued the necessary order to |
permit the use of the old naval vessel |
Texas as a target in naval gun practice |
The opposition Of the Texas delegation in |
Congress has been disposed Of by the prom !
ise that battleship No. %, now building |
shall be named for the Lone Star State |
II is declared that the old Texas is Of no |
military value except as target. She was
the first battleship In the American navy, |
but has long been obsolete, and for two |
years has been i'm reserve commission as
station ship at the Charleston navy yard |
The use Of the Texas as target will occur
early in April, and the firing will be done
al ranges OF eight thousand and ten thou |
sand yards. II is expected that valuable !
information will be gained as TO the effect !
of projectilcs fired against an armored YES