New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-13

master George A. DeeriDg from the Sapine, fifs'
Assistant Engineer John Lowe and Second Assistant
John =. Smith from the Washington Maynard
and Second Assistant Ii. E. Rhoades from the
Juniata.
WASHINGTON Nov. 10. - The MahOpac and the
Manhattan ordered to be put in commission, and
IN which officers are assigned, arc fourth-class
screw steamers iron-clad Of $50 tons burden. and
carving each two guns. These vessels VIII JON
the North Atlantic Squadron. The vessels OF the
navy have been much reduced In NUMBER
that it has been found somewhat difficult promptly
TO reinforce our squadrons IN cases OF emer-
eency: but In the course of few days all that
can be made available will be sent to Cuban waters,
In accordance with the determination OF the Capi-
net meeting yesterday. The Secretary OF the Navy
was to-day in consultation with different bureau
officers the subject of preparing the vessels Tor
sea- The Government seems TO be more earnest
than heretofore in protecting the waters between
the United States and Cuba-the great highway OF
all nations-frorn Spanish molestation. The Madrid
Government being unable to enforce its authority in
Cuba, that o. tho United States will be compelled
to assert its power in all where the interests OF
the citizens Of this country and It's own
honor require decisive action. The President
and all the members OF his CABINET are
in accord on this subject. 1t is not DeheVed
IN official quarters that the contest In Cuoa
has at any time assumed the conditions winch
amount to war in the sense OF international law OF
which would show the existence OF de Jdcto poht-
cal organization of the insurgents sufficient to justify
a recognition of belligerency. But, as PRESIDENT
Grant said in one of his annual messages, the prn-
cpe is maintained that this nation is its own Judge
when to accord rhe right of belgerency, either to
people struggling to free themselves from Govern
ment they believed to be oppressive, or to Independ
emf nations at war with each other.
NO ORDERS RECEIVED AT THE BROOKLYN NAVY-fARp'
The officials at the Navy-Yard say that no orders
have been received by them from the Navy Depart
ment 10 fit out any vessels for special service IN
Cuban waters. 1t is not believed that any DECIDED
action can be taken unless an extra SEES
sion of Congress is called and larger
appropriation made for the Navy Depart
1nent. The authorized number of enlisted officers
and men at the present time is $500, and about this
number are now serving on the vessels III the
various fleets. Nevertheless, considerable
number of iron-cads and wooden men-of-
war Of the various grades could be col
lected in few weeks if the emergency
were deemed pressing. The Roanoke, the most
powerful iron-clad i'll the navy could be htted out
for sea in month. She is lying at the BROOKLYN
Navy-Yard partially dismantled This Is the only
iron-clad now at the Brooklyn Maryland.
There are several men-of-war lying at the
Nayy-Yard which could soon be made ready II an
appropriation were made for that purpose. The
Spanish iron-clad Arapelis is in the dry
dock at the Navy-Yard, undergoing repair.
She cannot be made ready for sea for three
or four weeks Her stern-plates have been removed,
and extensive repairs must be made before
she is ready for service. The powerful ron-clad
Dictator is lying at the New-London Navy-Yard.
The larger number of irOn-clads are LAID up at
League Island in the Delaware River a
few mules below Philadelphia. There are
a number of men-of-war at the Navy-fards
of Boston and Portland which could soon
be made ready for sea service. Many OF the
officers at the Navy-Yard said they would desire
nothing better than brush with the spaniards but
they did not believe that the recent massacre OF
Cubans would be made the pretcxt OF war between
the United States and Spain.
The iron-clad Manhattan ordered into service is
one OF the secondsclass. She is single-turreted
monitor carrying two fteen-nch guns. She is of the
same class as the Saugus. She participated Iii the
fight in the Bay of Mobile, under Admiral Farragut
and other memorable naval battles during the late
war.
Admiral Rowan of the Brooklyn Navy-Yard said
last night that he had received dispatches from
Washington in relation to the Virginius. In fact he
bad received no official information on the subject