The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-15
T II e N A V Y.
What Is Doing at Home
and Abroa
STRANGELY NAMED GUNS

Tho torpedo boat Intrepid, four guns Commander @
T. Huntington has finally completed tho trial of he's
engines, at the dock, and is in the stream,
OF the Battery, preparatory to leaving for the
South as il Is rumored. Tho engines, II is under
stood do not come up TO the speed looked tor, but
like many Others they must do Tho Intrepid Is IN
excellent condition for offensive work If she should
lie called upon to assail an enemy, and the
Navy Department is determined 10 keep her
in commission in view Of the present situation
OF affairs ia Cuba and the possible change In our rea
tions with Spain. Monitors and torpedo boats are
the countrys sole reliance at the outset in any
conflict with such fleet or broadside iron clads as even
Spain possesses Every effort IS therefore being made
TO raise this peculiar OF tho naval service tom
high state of perfection limited funds appropriated
by Congress will permit The Intrepid was designed
by the Chief Of the Bureau Of Construction and is Of
type quite different from
ADMIRAL PoRTERs TORPEDO BOAT,
tho Alarm, now fitting out at Washington. Both ara
OF iron and quite strong and shot proof as the old
fashioned monitors Their offensive weapons are some
what different, but they alike wanting in the ,ms
porant element OF high speed Undoubtedly both will
rate list OF tho officers of the Intrepid Commander
Charles L. Huntington; Leutcnants, f.. r. Woodman
aud T. T. Wood Masters Samuel Coneley and Martial
e. Dimmick; Passed Assistant Engineer John Lowe;
Assistant Engineer Stacy Potts; Assistant Surgeon +.
~ Martin; Assistant Paymaster, Reah Frazier.
The Navy Department is about TO send by the char
tered bark John Gibson quantity OF stores for tho
European squadron at its headquarters, Villaranche
Nice. An opportunity will thus be afforded those
wishing to send packages to the officers or men OF that
SQUADRON The Gibson viii probably SAL IN about TIRES
days, and articles sent TO Perkins Jones, No. y
South street, will doubtless go sale
COURT OF INVESTIGATION
in the Of Civil Engineer Strattons department has
temporarily ceased its abors and has reported to tho
department at Washington tho situation of affairs, re-
questng power to extend its investigation. Enough
has already been discovered to show the least I'M
fortunate and objectionable Irregularities.
system OF time keeping has been developed
which, although not entirely new, is dreadfuly expcn-
sve TO the United States Treasury The Court Is only
getting to the edge OF affairs but Is satisfied that the
interest OF the government demands fuller nvestiga-
ton which will undoubtedly be ordered by the Secre
tary of the Navy, when some startling developments
may be looked for.
CHANGES IN TIE SoRTr ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
The United States sloop ofwar Worcester, Captain
William ID. Whiting bearing the flag of Rear Admiral
j. r. Madison Muany, commanding the North At
lanc squadron arrived on Friday last at the Norfolk
Navy Yard, and will be put out OF commission there
In pursuance orders from the Navy Department tha
Admiral and staff and her officers and crew VIII be al
once transferred to the frigate Powhatan, Captain
ouett and brought TO this port, where they VIII be
placed on the famous sloopoiwar Hartford, which ia
still In commission, and the Commander IN Chiefs flag
will be hoisted ut her mizZenmast The Worcester
will be turned to Captain Cushnan, Of the receiv-
ing ship New Hampshire at Norfolk, and will become
the receiving ship AT that station The New Han2-
shire Of the old fashioned sailing AS viii be con
..
for the use OF the North Atlantic sqCadron.
The Powhatan is expected at the Brooklyn yard dur
ing the present week. and the officers and crew of the
Worcester will be promptly placed upon the Hartford,
which will put TO sea at an early date
Tho Hartford was placed upon tho dry dock Friday
last the purpose of thorough examination of her
and the making of slight repairs about her pts
peller well, where leak had developed itself early In
the old ship will be loatcd out, ready for
ANOTHER THREE YEARS CRUISE
Captain Stephen b. Luce has already assumed com.
A. andar
W. Coffin Executive Oncer, also recently attached.
II is understood that Rear Admiral Trenchard viii
succeed Rear Admiral Mullany MS commander OF the
North Atlantic squadron and that Captain Thompson,
now commanding the Minnesota, flagship of Vice Adj
mira Rowan, will become Fleet Captain, or Chief OF
In consequence OF the sale and breaking up of the
Philadelphia Navy Yard all the paymaster's stores
have been removed the Brooklyn yard, where they
VIII be stored until the storehouses at League
Island completed, which will not be for many years
to come.
since tho advent Of Moody and Sankey an unusual
spirit or zeal has been displayed the Navy Yard.
The chaplans especially those recently appointed are
eager commence labor for the improvement of the
sailors and others connected with the naval service.
One has been greatly stimulated TO effect
CHANGE TONE or THE ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT
since he visited that part OF the yard containing
the heavy guns and shot and shells stored there.
Three immense 20-lnch guns with mouths like the
Giants Cave, snugly nesting in their iron cradles,
bear astounding painted in broad artistic letter.
around their muzzes, which starte the pous passerhy
One named Moloch another Satanic, while third
enjoys the thunderous dcs gnaton OF Beezebub-appro
pirate enough to the minds OF the old salts, but cx
iremely offensive to the taste of chaplain, whs
wrote 10 the Macy Department protesting against tbs
selection of such names being not Only immoral but
thoroughly dcuorazing 10 the sailors, who could no,
be Kept under the influence Of Gospel teaching II such
unchrlsan characters constantly brought before
their eyes He requested change of the names OF the
sbc 'uns, y and received reply from tho department.
which was probably satisfactory TO him; but the text
has never been exhibited by the Jealous chaplain TO any
OF his friends. Meanwhile,
BERIzRBUB, MoLocH AND sArANIA
rruy grin over the OF the East River and zach
* behaving himself in that exemplary manner fol
which he is always noted, while the chapains zeal IL
exhibited IN new and more promising channels.
II Is understood that after many years earnest
efforts the old new market ring has finally induced
the Secretary OF the Navy to consent TO making the
necessary orders estimate the value Of that portion
OF the Navy Yard lying between the Marine Barracks
and the Naval Hospital desired for an immense city
market A board of officers will be appointed to APP
praise the value and report to the Secretary OF thu
Navy the amount well as MS opinion in regard Ia
Whether IL may be Of any service TO the govern
mcnt hereafter The section alluded to is swamp
tIrely unused except in places pond for seasoning
tim6ers and has yet been noted only for its malaria
breeding properties, well known to tho inhabitanu
living around il. II will undoubtedly be sold by thu
government at auction