The Washington herald., 1915-04-04
Army and Navy lettings

The army test. conducted at the
Signal Corps aviation station at Sar
| Diego, Of bombs or drop grenades
suitable for use with aeroplanes has
been pronounced satisfactory in the
matter of safety and certainty of &C.
ton. Some of these bombs were a
pear-shaped variety procured from a
private manufacturer. and some were
an elongated cylindrical type manu-
featured at frankfort Arsenal.
The weight per bomb was Is pounds.
except that a few Of the cylindrical
types were Of so pounds and Of 100
pounds weight. The results with all
types were satisfactory as regards
safety and certainty Of action. Tho
pear-shaped type was, however, I'M
stable in flight, webbing more or
less in dropping, with corresponding
| inaccuracy in point of fall. The Sight
Of the elongated type was very regular
and the target practice excellent.
Numerous inquiries have been ad-
dressed to Capt. Mark L. Bristol. d.
rector Of naval aeronautics, from firms
which evidently intend to bid for the
contract for the new naval dirigible,
and there are indications Of desirable
competition. The criticism which has
been made in some quarters. obviously
inspired by prejudiced persons. apply
ing to the alleged defect in the size
Of the dirigible. does not in the least
disturb the naval authorities.
The dimensions Of the dirigible
were determined wisely, with the real
ization that all tho purposes Of ex-
Fermentation and development could
be realized without the trouble and
expense Of acquiring larger type of
dirigible. The arguments advanced in
favor of the larger balloon are in d.
rections which do not in any way at
feet the opportunity for investigation.
which will be conducted at Pensacola,
to which place the dirigible will be
shipped when 1t is purchased.
The naval aviators are making
flights Of from 1000 to 1900 miles
each week in all kinds Of weather at
Pensacola, where there are nine Off
GERS under instruction. in addition to
the five regular aviators and about
seventy five men under training. No
attempt Is made by the naval aviators
to break records. the work being con-
fined to service training along lines
which are of a practical character. A
new class of student aviators and stu
dent mechanicians, composed of on
GERS and enlisted men, probably will
be organized at Pensacola in the near
future.
There is much speculation in naval cir
cles as to the officers that will be Sc
lected to command the next new battle
ships to be placed in commission. 1t is
expected the Oklahoma will be placed in
service about September l next. the
Nevada about January l, 1916, and the
about June I, 1916.
1t has been the custom to announce the
Of new battleships several
in advance Of their being placed
in commission, and to assign them to
duty in connection with fitting out the
1t had been expected that the
of the Oklahoma and Ne
vada would have been selected before
this time. However, no indication has
come from the Navy Department as to
who will be given these important COM
mands.
Victor Blue, now serving as chief Of the |
Of Navigation. with the rank of
rear admiral. would be assigned to COM
mand the Oklahoma. While his four
year term as chief Of bureau will not |
expire until March 2S, 1917. he now 10 due |
for sea duty. his last cruise having ended |
IN May. 1911. Tho rumor does not include |
\ prophesy as to who will be made chief /
IF the Bureau Of Navigation II Capt. |
Blue is sent to sea in the fall.
Another important naval billet for the
Of the Navy soon to fiil Is
hat OF superintendent Of the Naval
Academy, 1t being understood that the
present superintendent. Rear Admiral
William r. Fullam, who has not been at
yea since November. 1911, will be relieved
Ind given duty ahoat at the end Of the
present academic term.
The sinking of submarine F-4 at Homo
ulu has given rise to many denuncia-
DRY newspaper articles. One story was
o the effect that the failure to rescue
he submarine was due entirely to lack
Il intelligent effort in Honolulu and the
bsence Of proper cooperation in WASH
ngton. Another sought to attribute to
he "small navy" faction in Congress the
responsibility for the loss Of the boat,
With other equally absurd assertions.
The naval authorities here necessarily
ave the officers In Honolulu a free hand
n the matter, the first consideration be-
ne unrestricted effort to save life. Since
he hope Of rescue in that direction has
'een abandoned. the department has
ought diligently. as elsewhere related.
o have the submarine raised in order |,
hat full information of the cause Of the i
isaster may be acquired.
No expense will be spared to accom-
lish this. All example being afforded by
he dispatch OF the diving crew. accom- ,
anied by naval surgeon, from New :
fork to san Francisco to go thence by
he L. s. s. Maryland to Honolulu with /.
complete equipment and a determina-
ion on the part of the volunteers to
reak, II necessary, their previous diving
ecords OF 30 feet by an additional 100 {
eet. :
An additional vacancy has been Gre
ted In the corps Of naval constructors Z
y the acceptance Of the reslSnation Of 7