The Washington herald., 1915-04-11

! state OF, progress in the fleet assembled
at Guantanamo during the winter.
| A definite schedule Of employment of
the fleet has been made out until June
.. when 1t is planned to assemble the
/ fleet at Hampton Roads preparatory to
| the cruise to the Pacific. Prior to going
| to Hampton Roads. at a date to be fixed
this week after Secretary Daniels con-
fers with Admiral Fletcher. there will be
a review of the fleet at New York. The
President is expected to SO to New York
| to review the fleet.
about NAV 9 for recreation until May II.
| On Nav Is the fleet will proceed to sea
| for extensive maneuvers In Narragansett
| Bay and around New York. They are
being planned by the general board anu
| the War College. These maneuvers will
! be completed on May 30. when the YES
| sells of the fleet will dispense to their
home Yards fer. docking and stores. pre-
| paratory to proceeding to San Francisco
via Hampton Roads and the Panama
| Canal.
Coast artillery officers are profoundly
Interested in experiments which have
| been in progress in connection with
shore-to-tuG signaling. and especially in
some recent demonstrations of an Oscii-
Iator used in transmitting sound under
water to considerable distances.
The oscillator is a very efficient gene
rator and motor. 1t Is very rugged in
construction and has the appearance OF
being expected to stand rough handling
| from unskilled operators. 1t is SO de-
signed that it may not be easily thrown
out of adjustment. which is not affected
by water or great changes in tempera
! ture.
With the amount of energy available
and under normal conditions. it is re-
ported that the instrument should be able
| to transmit the Morse code under water
at a rate OF twenty-five words per minute
to a distance of nine or ten miles. Sub
marine signaling is regarded as Of spe-
| ciel value in connection with the commu-
nication between shore and the tug.
Radio-telegraphy. while ideal. is handi-
capped by the amount of interference
| Underwater signaling has the advantage
| of being free from the danger zones OF
silence. which occur when signals are
produced in air: of less absorption OF
sound; Of protection against diversion or
the sound, as in the case Of radio-teleg-
raphy.
The first session of the advisory
committee for aeronautics, established
\ by a clause in the naval appropriation
act and composed OF twelve members
recently appointed by the President.
will be held in the Office of the Secre-
tary of War on April 22. Considerable
interest attaches to the sessions OF
\ this committee in view of the diner
ence of opinion which evidently pre-
walls concerning its functions and tho
extent Of it's authority.
| There really would appear to be no
! occasion for much discussion Of that
question, inasmuch as the law limits
| the duties of the committee to the SUI
pervision and direction of the scien-
tific study of the problems of fight
| with a view to their practical solution.
| and the determination OF the prob
lens which should be experimenta1ly
attacked ard the discussion of their
solution and their application to prac-
teal questions. incidentally. the COM
mittee may direct and conduct re-
search and experiments in seronautics
| If a laboratory is placed under the di-
rection Of the committee.
There is an appropriation of $4,000
year to defray the expenses of mem
bers, otherwise serving without COM
pensation.
Before announcing the appointment
| to tho new Office of chief of naval
operations, Secretary Daniels intends
ton Roads, probably some time early
this week. 1t is understood Mr.. DAN
iels is DESTROYS that Capt. A. G. Win
terhalter, aid for material, will con-
| sent to serve in that capacity until
| such time as he may choose to fly his
nag as a rear admiral, to which grade
| that officer shortly will be advanced.
In the meantime, the Secretary OF
| the Navy is receiving from various
&c 81 he 10
tions prescribing the duties devolving
upon the chief of naval operations.
1t is evident that the authority re-
posing in the new chief will follow
closely the provisions of the law Gre
ating the office: that there will be no
attempt to enlarge upon the powers
of the officer; that there will be the
strictest adherence to a policy which
will require cooperation between the
chief and the bureaus. with an avoid
ance of anything which will operate