Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-26
AN AUXILIARY NAVY.
The Plan OF Building Merchant Vessels
Suitable for War Purposes.

The recent order Of Secretary Whitney, direct
Ing the board Of inspection Of foreign vessels to
make careful inquiries into the adaptabiiity OF
ships of home production as an auxiliary for
war purposes, meets with great favor among
naval officers. They regard It e. . move ia the
right direction. lit is impossible at present to
carefully build up . navy capable of protecting
the shores of this country, the next best thing,
they think, 10 to make provisions for improvis-
Ing navy In case OF necessity. Naval officers
are not SO confident of the future security Of
this country from an invading force as the gen.
erality OF the public, and predict that the gov.
eminent will eventually regret its shortsight-
edness In not preparing for war In time Of
peace.
LITTLE CLOUD THAT NAY GROW.
A naval officer, in speaking on this subject to
STAR reporter the other day, said: "The nsh-
cries question may yet prove to be the little
dark cloud in the horizon which will bring de-
vastation and ruin. When the day comes, as
come 1t Will some time, when this country will
be invaded by u foreign foe, we will be practi-
that will enable US to meet th. enemy with
some show Of success. Tue perfected men of
war or almost any foreign country could bonn.
as matters stand now. The fisheries Question
Is practically settled this time, but am of the
opinion that the Canadians were wholly in the
right, and that the matter has been so amicabiy
sinoothed over Is due to the cOnciliatOry policy
that Great Britain has all along adopted
easy the next time"
VESSELS ALREADY AT HAND.
Another naval officer in conversation with o
STAR reporter about the wisdom Of Secretary
Whitney's order looking to the formation Of
an auxiliary to the navy in case of necessity
said: 1.-The action OF the Secretary is certainly
wise. By knowing the capacities and capabisi-
lies OF our merchant vessels, and by assisting
IN building future vessels In q certain way, "
give them required strength, the government
al Il moments
without waiting to learn what ships will do
and what ones can be secured for government
tinued, sailing out OF New York harbor a large
humber OF steamers OF varying tonnage, some
nuinoerless tugs, some OF them very powerful
and capable oil carrying y high-pOwered gun,
besides torpedoes, all OF which would tend TO
make tnem sufnclent In measure to defend
themselves against torpedo attack and cruise
against the enemy's commerce. Builders Of
high-speed steamers and tugs should receive
encouragement from Congress to construct
their ships with a view TO their ready adapta-
olllty Tor war purposes should the occasion
require. Unless aid be given, however. it il
futile to think that the needed changes which
demand an increase in the number Of water
sigas and pumping power be-
signed 10 carry heavy weights, will ever be
accomplished. small appropriation would
Suf1ce to make beginning, TO be exDended
by the Secretary Of the Navy upon the approved
recoinm me ndation OF the inspection board. This
would tnen lie one step accomplished toward
make nigh speed u deSideraLuIn, US well as
cafSo-carry ing capacity.
These Vessels could then be placed upon the
auxiliary navy list, with the conditional
requirement. that at any future time tue gov
ernmeuts right to take possession was para
mount 10 all OLnerS.
The leading powers have all awakened TO the
necessity OF an efficient auxiliary marine tor
War purposes and inciLe their builders by Offer
been informed AS to what England is doing In
tnis direction in the naval eng ineering report
Oh Passed Assistant Eng ineer john A. VObln u
>. NJ, published in 1865"
ENGINEER TOXINS REPORT.
In this report Mr.. Tobin says that since the
trials made by Mr.. Baruaby, director of naval
construction Of the English navy, TO test the
resistance offered by a mass or coal with thin
iron plates interposed protection to the
vital parts oi unarinofeo vessels, the English
admiralty have given the subject serious
thought. The trials were made y few years
before the report Was made. zone OF the war
She contained from to 10 feet Of coal in
breadth, WlLuIn which were Introduced several
three-eishth inch iron boiler plates. Sue was
then 1ieu at with u seven iUcn gun. The snOt
famed to penetrate the coal ;luu Tue iron plates
tu any great ueptu. Shells also were fired with
different charges, but iiiied to set the coal on
IRE. In view ., the satisfactory results obtained
from coal when placed along tue sides Of tile
ship as projection " lhe machinery. Tue
lut not only In their ialest desigus of ms .a.
armored cruisers, but more especially In uii
merchant steamers CONSTRUCTED in accordance
VITA the admiralty rsquirsnlsnts. Tue leading
features vi
THE REQUIREMENTS
are that ships shall have u speed of not less
than twelve knots per hour, and he properly
divided by water-tight bulkheads, aud nave
double bottoms; the water-txht subdivisions
must De sucu Llat the vessel may float in safety
wnen any single compartment is b,lxed, TO
meet the above conditions in ships SO con.
structeu, the water.tight ami hre-prouf doors Of
W.
Der. and, wnen practicable, are arranged as
to he operated from the deck above At short
partllents are Greater than Is usual In mer-
cnant ships, the divisions are carried up to the
upper deck, aud In some the arrangements are
sucn that they can be still iurtuer divided,
which quality Will be OF service ia the event Vi
the vessel being hired into and damaged be-
low the water line. The decks OF some Of
the higll-speed ships are composed of heavy
iron or Steel, aud built sufficiently strong
To carry neavy guns, anu the bows also
rangements render the vessels very valuable
Tor offensive and defensive operations. .
II Is lair to suppose THAT among the many
objects kept In view by The English govern.
meut in the ready fitting out Of merchant
steamers Tor war purposes are Included the
projection afforded 70 the machinery ny coal Or
other substances; the greatest number Of guns
that can be carried with SAFETY; the introduce
uon OF wider coal buukers, sLeL proof xraCiuxs.
x Wa, pow torpea1 TUBES Tor ia.scliarsing Tue
liability OF ships on their list ior special purposes,
such
CARRYING STORES AND TROOPS
from distant ports, as dispatch vessels for the
commander of the feet, while the larger and
swifter ships would be employed TO act ON the
offensive as we'll as to protect themselves on
the ocean In carrying on regular trade. And In
connection with this important question It is
SAFE 10 say that England possesses to-day In her
merchant marine alone navy which, were
she called upon TO defend herself, would aston.
isil the world from the number Of high-speed
IL AI md hat
converted ~ the shortest notice Into powerful
DOUBT that the government are eognixant Of the
degree OF fitness Of every vessel built in the
Kingdom Tor any duty that may be required OF
IL in time oI necessity. IL would seem that our
own government might find subjects for serious
cOnsiueriitiUn IN the questions here limited al,
AS well III II model Tor imitation in the studied
manner In which II Is certain that The English
admiralty are working up u system by their
careful attention TO The details OF construction.
arrangements and adaptabiiity Of every mer.
chant steamer built"
THE BUFFALO PASSING AWAY.
One Of the Last Of His Race Now Tied
70 SmitlhsOnian Tree.
The buffalo calf tied 70 = tree In the Smith.
sonian grounds attracts much attention. The
calf is quite bald having worn the hair from his
mat rnpIH xts,rw l.. L., t.<.,1 4,