The Washington herald., 1915-10-16
Ry f. B. JOHSS.

! ny II. co"sS.
In signing the order for the trial by
court Of Rear Admiral William
| NJ. Little. l. S. N. retired. the Secre-
,t;ry OF the Navy has inauGUrated Il
policy of "A closer and more thorough in
spection Of all ships that are being built
| for the navy. For some time the SeCre-
tary has been under the impression that
officers on inspection duty have been too
!encnt with contractors and after ex-
| iamining the evidence against Admlra!
| Little. has reached the conclusion that
the officer should be tried.
The neglect charged against Admiral
| Little is in connection with the inspec-
/ tion of the storage batteries of subma-
rine X which was built at the Fore
River ship yards. 1t is alleged that the
deficiency in the batteries was called to
the attention of Admiral Little by Lieut..
| q. gD l.. A. Gardner. When Admira' Lit
tie complained. it was stated that the
contractor promised to make good any
deficiency if Admiral Little would not in
sist upon an ov"rhauling OF the ma
chinery OF the submarine. Later. when
the DEFECTS developed in the trial Of tn"
submarine. the contractor. il is said. re-
pudiated the agreement. hut the Sccre-
tary has taken the position that this
does not excuse Admiral Little. 1t is in
sisted by the Secretary that the admiral
had no right TO enter into srCh an agree
ment and should not have recommended
the acceptance of the submarine until
the batteries were known to he in per-
feet condition.
1t is probable that new: tyre Of ship
will he included in this year naval pro-
gram. The new ship will he designed
for the training Of naval militia on the
inland rivers and will he river gun
boat with n draft of not over four feet.
Such ship could be used on the Ohio.
Mississippi and most of the larger in
land rivers. They might he of some use
in the event Of war. but Sh"y would be
chiefly designed for the training of naval
militiamen in inland towns. There is a
splendid opDortunity for STRENGTHENING
the naval militia in the Middle West. but
this cannot be done without river gun
boats.
The papers in the case Of Lieut. Edison
g Oak. L. s. y. who is charged with
negligence In the accident to the San
Diego. have been referred hack to the
court for a review. The trial of Lieut..
oak has been DELAYED on account Of the
absence OF witnesses from the Pacific
Coast Lieut.. Oak was the chief .engi-
necr Of the San Diego when the boiler
explosion occurred on her which killed
couple Of enlisted men and injured
two or three others OF the engine crew
II is charged that the accident was due
to the effort OF the officers of the ship
TO break the steaming 'rec6d.
The Marine Corps recruit depot will
be moved from Norfolk to Port Royal
and the school for instruction of field
music from the Washington barracks to
Port Royal The officers of the recruit
depot and 7no enlisted men. it is ex-
pected. will be taken from Norfolk on
the Prairie. which leaves Norfoll; on
October % The officers who will be
with the recruit depot are
Capt E. r. Beadle. u. s. NJ. c.: F. I.
Bigler. L. s. NJ. c.: Henry N Manney,
U. S NJ. C.; First Lieut p. A. Cap
ron. L. 8. N. c.: Second T.ieuts David
l.. 8 Brewster. U. s. NJ. c.. and l.. Fl.
Miller, L. S. NJ. C.
It,is believed that the 0aval progra m
will include an Increase Of 500 enlisted
men in the stregth OF n" Marine Corrs
The Secretary has announced that he
will ask for an increass OF Seoc IN
the strength of the navy. and In tho usual
percentage tho Marine CcrEs should have
an increase OF l.Sl.
There will be no chan"n In the physica.
test for the army officers this year
Various recommendations from the pl%m-
bers of the general star and officers,
throughout the service have been laid
aside by the chief Of stafY and will rot
be considered until next year. Acct.rd-
inRly the general order covering physical
tests will be followed for this year.
The ofiicers on duty 1t Washingtoa aIIl
not take their riding test this year In
large parties a. n former years. The
rides will be erranycd 50 a. to interfere |,
as little as possible with the work In
the department. All Of the menbers of
the general stan are busy on reports
connected with the res ecGsMendst tions :or
Hss directed mat ths riding test b sot'