Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-04
NAVAL REPORT.
The Pacific SquadrOu Improve.
ments at Mare Island.

WASHINGTON, Decem Der 3.-The re-
port of the Secretary of the Navy, OF
which a brief synopsis was telegraphed
a few days ago, contains several inter
esting features which could not be en-
bodied at that time. OF the work of the
Asiatic squadron it says: Owing to the
cootinued unsettled condition of affairs
in Corea, part Of the force on that station
has been kept during the year constantly
in Corean waters. In June last an out
break OF the populace in Seoul was threat
ened, and at the request of our Minister
an armed force of twenty five seamen
and marines from the Essex, under COM
mand of Lieutenant Galloway, was land
ed in that city to protect American resi-
dents, and were Withdrawn few days
later upon affairs becoming again pacific
The Brooklyn and Juanita have been de-
tached from the squadron and ordered to
the United States, the former via Homo
lulu and Cape Horn and the latter by
way of Suez canal and the Mediterranean
sea. The Juanita joined the squadron
from the Pacific in March last.
The Pacific squadron continues under
command of Rear-Admiral L. A. Kim
barly, and consists of the Trenton, Van
dalia, Mohican, Adams, Alert, Nipsic,
Dolphin, Pinta and the store ship Mo-
nongahela. The Trenton, Nipsic and
Dolphin have joined the squadron dur
ing the past year, and the 1roquois and
Juanietta, the former needing extensive
repairs, were ordered to the Mare Island
navy yard, and in March last was put off
to the Asiatic station. The vessels OF
. ,-,,,,a,J 81
year the principal ports on the
west coast of Mexico and Central and
South America, but owing to the political
disturbances in the Hawaiian and Sa-
moan Islands, and in Peru, almost the
entire force on this station have been
kept constantly in the waters of those
countries for the protection OF the lives
and property Of our citizens. The Mo-
hican having been over three years in
commission, has received new officers
and men and is now at Mare Island
yard, refitting for service. The Monon-
gahela is there undergoing repairs, and
when they are completed will receive
stores and supplies for the Pacific squad.
ron and return to her station. The Pinta
is still employed in Alaskan waters.
Of the steamer hetis, The report says
The Thetis has been employed during
the past year Oh special service in the
North Pacific. She has been actively
engaged in visiting the principal settle
ments on the north and west coasts OF
Alaska, and has rendered valuable SER
uices to our whaling feet in the Arctic
and to numerous destitute mariners in
Alaska. Through the exertions of her
commanding officer and crew, the Ameri-
can schooner Jane Gray, abandoned in
the Arctic, was foated and repaired suf-
ficiently to be sent to San Francisco,
where she was turned over to her owners,
the officers and men of the Thetis gener.
ously waving all claims Of salvage.
Recommendations are renewed to build
large proving and testing machines at
the New York and Mare Island navy
yards, and to establish central steam
and electric generating plants in the navy
yards, which should supply all points
where steam power and light is required.
Chief Constructor Wilson reports that
the navy yard at Mare Island is being
fitted with complete outfit of modern
ship building tools. Mare Island is the
only yard on the Pacific coast and is par
ticularly well suited for ship building
purposes,