The Washington herald., 1916-12-21
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column In City.

The War Department has informed
Police Commissioner Woods, of New
York City. that the policemen who
went into camp last summer at Fort
Wadsworth for military training will
be paid for the expense of their food
The police<were in camp two weeks
Tor each detachment, from early in
July until the latter part of August
when the training had to be called of
on account of the trolley strike.
Each policeman paid for his uniform
and for his food. The government fig
ured that the latter should cost $6 a
week per man. but the policemen kept
the cost slightly under that figure.
Through the efforts of the American
Red Cross. which issued an appeal to
Americans to remember the United
States marines in their Christmas CIV
ing. 5000 Of the soldiers of the sea
now in the field in Haiti and Santo
Domingo are to receive holiday gifts,
according to Mrs. Leila Montague
Barnett. chairman of the special COM
mittee of the Red Cross in this city.
Candy, tobacco. writing material
handkerchiefs and other gifts will be
sent to the men.
|
The system OF propulsion being in
Tennessee, superdreadnought of the
largest and finest class, now under con-
struction, differs from any now in use
! by battleships. says the Electrical EX-
pertmenter. Instead of the propellers be-
ing mechanically connected to the driv-
ing engines or turbines. there are two
steam turbines developing more than %.
600 horse power driving electric genera
tors which furnish current to four 6.70C
1 lhr
a propeller
| Electric drive for battleships has been
adopted after a careful investigation by
the Navy Department. to whom it pre-
sented numerous features Of structural
operating and military advantage, among
which are: That the steam turbines de-
veloping the electric energy may be To-
Gated In any desired portion Of the ship
that the propelling machinery may thus
be better protected from injury, that full
power may be available for reversing
and that greater rapidity in maneuverine
lis made possible, compared with existing
mechanical systems Of control.
| In addition to the main generating
equipment and rropelling motors, tine
contract includes the auxiliaries for the
main turbine generator sets and smaller
AUXILIARY turbine generators supplyine
light and power throughout the ship. The
Tennessee will have several hundred
electric motors for doing nearly all the
work on board from raising the anchor
to steering. Electricity will also be used
for cooking. Ice making. refrigeration
and numerous other purposes. In al
about "7.GOo horse power of electricity will
be needed. the amount required for a city
Of about 100000 inhabitants.
"sss
Army officers have been OFFICIALLY
notified that the Lewis machine CUR
has been condemned by Secretary of Wal
Baker and that the controversy on the
subject must be dropped forthwith. The
Secretary has issued a statement .ir
which he says that the War Department
and not the Bureau of Ordnance is re.
sponsible for the rejection of the weapon
as an arm Of the national military equip,
ment.
The statement sets forth in detail the
technical reason for the refusal of the
War Department to purchase the gun
which is reported to have been used with
excellent effect by the British and French
| armies.
Friends Of Col Lewis have charged
| that Brig. Gen. William Crozier, chief oi
| the Bureau of Ordnance by personal op.
position. was responsible for the failure
Of the United States to adopt the gun.