The Washington herald., 1916-10-09
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Best service Column In City.

The new i.ooo-foot dry dock at Balboa,
Canal Zone, and the 4SS, S,Ooo-ton cosling
plant at cristobal, now are in full oper-
alton, according to advices received here.
Both are being used for commercial
ships passing through the Panama Canal.
The cruiser Charleston. which had been
stationed at the Atlantic entrance since
the last German crisis. now is being over
hauled and given extensive repairs in the
dry dock.
The dry dock is 1000 feet long by 10
feet wide. having the same dimensions
as the chambers OF the locks. 1t will
accommodate the largest ships in the
world, and even at this stage of compile
ton has handled one vessel drawing
thirty-three feet Of water. II has g
depth over the blocks of thirty-fve feet
at mean tide, or forty-flve feet at high
tide. 1t is an integral part OF the ter
minal shops and foundries. Together
they can do practically any sort Of ship
repair work.
The new coaling plant at cristobal,
which has an emergency storage cspa-
city Of nearly 10000 tons, which may be
increased indefinitely in connection with
land storage alongside the plant, has
been designed with especial regard to
naval uses. Its ability to deliver 1000
tons Of coal an hour to q ship will make
it theoretically possible for a whole feet
to coal there in twenty-four hours for an
extepsive cruise.
The Sane & Triest Company, which is
erecting q lighthouse on Navassa Island,
of the coast OF Haiti, for the United
States Lighthouse Service, has estsb-
lished a radio station and Il is expected
that the lighthouse service will continue
its operation after the light is placed in
use.
Navassa lies of the coast Of the Pc
ninsula, forming the southwestern ex-
tremity Of Haiti. directly on the course
Of ships plying between the Isthmus and
North Atlantic ports by way OF the Wind
ward Passage, to the east OF Cuba II
is usually the first land sighted by ships
from Colon making direct for the pas
sage. but, having an elevation Of only
approximately go feet and being with
out distinctive features It is hardly
visible at a greater distance than twenty
miles. Ships pass on either side of II,
although generally to the eastward, and
with the increase In traffic in the Carib-
bean. the light will be a valuable aid.
The establishment OF the light marks
the beginning Of the execution Of a policy
on the part Of the United States to erect
suitable aids where needed at some dis
tance from the canal to assist ships gotng 9
to and from the canal
Naval officers are interested in the
report that the British government con-
templates mounting 1s-inch guns on its
newest super-Dreadnoughts, at least one
OF these powerful weapons having been
built under direction Of the ordnance ex-
perts OF the admiralty.
This reported move on the part Of the
British government, considered IN con-
nection with the decision OF the Navy De-
partment TO mount 16-inch guns on the
four new battleships in this years Ameri-
can naval building program, accentu-
ates the rapid strides that have been
made in naval ordnance and gunnery
during the last decade. II means that
with better shooting among the world 8
principal navies, and longer battle ranges,
1t has become necessary to adopt bigger
guns to deal effectively with Dread
noughts at the distance at which sea bat
ties are fought today.
Examinations for Marine Corps officers
to whom promotions are due. are being
held now at New York. Philadelphia, and
Norfolk. Promotion examinations also
are being held In Haiti, Santo Domingo,
Guam, the Philippines and China
Former Second Lieut.. J. D. Nevtns has
qualified for reappointment as a second
lieutenant in the Marine Corps, under a
provision OF the naval appropriation act.