New-York tribune., 1911-02-21
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Plans for Construction of 10000
Ton WarShip May Fail.
[From The Tribune Bureau.
Washington. Eehrna

I
TO carry out, as result of legislation at
this session, the improvements they have
incorporated In the latest design for a
battleshp tentatively approved by secre-
tary Never. It is desired that there shall
be in the next vessels authorized an ap-
preciable advance In fighting power. An
ticipating that Congress would provide the
means. plans have been drawn, as mas
been stated in these dispatches. for what
will amount in the end TO the O,OO-ton
battleship This vessel is 10 use oil as a
fuel exclusively. 1t is 10 carry twelve II
inch guns. or two more guns Of that cahore
than will he carried by the new battle
ships. the New York and the Texas. au-
thorized at the last session of Congress
There will be heavier armor TO protect the
vitals. and there will be greater protection
OF submerged portions as a defence against
torpedo attacks. The chief characteristics
will be an increased steamng radius,
heavier hitting power. greater protection
against attack by gun or torpedo and pos
sibly greater speed. although the last
named feature will not be materially al
tered as compared with the battleships oil
| 1910.
produce battleship which shall surpass
anything OF its type are destined to be
frustrated by the dsinclination of Con-
gress to increase the limit Of cost for the
ships authorized at this session. There is
determination in both House and Senate
10 oppose expenditures on battleships IN
excess Of s6,0O00oO, exclusive Of armor and
armament. 1t is quite evident to the ex-
perts of the Navy Department that such
ship as they have designed cannot be oulit
by contract with the eight-hour restr,c-
tion. and certainly cannot be built at
navy yard under existing conditions. WITHIN
limit Of cost OF ss,000,0 900. The prospects
are that Il will be necessary TO revise the
plan and cut out some Of the improve
ments which have been regarded as OF
great Importance in keeping the batteships
UP to date. There will be difficulty IN du-
plcating the battleships authorized at the
last session within the limits Of cost I'M
posed, so that naval officials foresee the
impossibility of obtaining a batteship
which may be regarded as an improve
ment on the prevailing type. The officers
who have been giving some study TO this
question are in favor of placing all infor-
It will be possible TO amend the naval ap-
preparation bill in this particular In the
Senate. where the sentiment is more favor
able than in the House. II this is not done
new plans must be drawn, with insignil-
cant improvements upon present ships.
CAPTAIN BEACH L. S. A.-The Presi-
dent has signed the bill which places War
rem c. Beach known among his familiars
as Sissy Beach" on the retired list OF the
army as captain. This is the end or an
| effort covering period of several years on
| the part of the beneficiary TO obtain an ap-
! pointment to the army retired list Mr..
Beach entered the army as an enlisted man
| in 1865. He was later commissioned. but re-
signed some years q so under circumstances
| believed by some Of his fellow officers to
! have been little short of persecution He
has since lived In New York and Washing
| ton. in which latter city he and Mrs. Beach
have been prominent in social circles. The
legislation as originally proposed appointed
him 10 the army retired list in the regular
way. but so much opposition developed that
! he b 4 the form of the bill so changed
as TO carry no pay or emolument5 OF any
kind. and this was made so specific that
|
| asked Some army officers entertain the
belief that Captain Beach will appear event.
| ually with request for the pay attach
| ing to his office, and there is much opposi-
tion on general principles to the appoint
ment of any one TO the retired list without
pay. That makes II an honorary position,
representing nothing more than title with
the right 10 wear the uniform. Captain
Beach is wealthy man, however and his
friends say he will not ask for pay and
simply desires the appointment as dis
tinction TO which. presumably, he would
have been entitled by this time if he had
remained IN the service. The President was
advised by some officers to disapprove the
bill. and it was expected that this un-
friendly view would prevail AZ the White
House.
There is one precedent for such an ap-
pointment. the case OF former Surgeon
General Hammond Army officers gener-
| ally are jealous of the rank and title at
| taching 10 the military personnel, and there
has been much criticism Of the effort made
| ing a precedent which seems to make pos
| sible these appointments when there is
really no military reason for the distinction.
| The President. however. after investigat-
| ing all the facts. determined that the cir
cumstances in this case were peculiar and
that there was some measure Of justice In
the bill.