The Portland daily press., 1889-04-02
MORE ABOUT THE DISASTER.
Naval Officers Think IL WIN Give
Them New Ships.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-The loss Of the
United States ships at Apia will hasten the
building Of the new navy and the establish
ment Of coaling stations all over the world.
Naval officers see this silver lining in the
cloud. They think that Congress win give
five times the S9.5O0,OOO in appropriations for
new ships. Only less important seems to
them the necessity for the establishment
and maintenance Of eoaling stations. This
country acquired the harb0r of Pago PagO
with the right TO make cOallng station out
OF 1t. In the 20 years which have since
elapsed, less thai. 200 tons Of coal have been
stored at Pago Pago, and the last OF IL was
used long ago. Had the 600 tons Of coal
started for Pago Pago during the excitement
last winter been sent year ago. naval Off
GERS generally think our ships would not
have been lost.
The mother Of Georse Callan OF Washing
ton, a seaman On the Nipsic who was
drowned, Is so prostrated by the news that
her friends are In great distress about her
Queen Victoria cabled through Lord Sails
bury to the British legation In Washingtsn
yesterday, directing that her earnest sympa-
thy be expressed to the President Of tho
tune at Samoa, and the deplorable loss Of
life. Mr.. Edwardes, In charge, accompanied
by the secretary OF state, waited upon the
President yesterday afternoon at O'Clock.
ane read 10 him the Queens message. In re-
ply the President expressed his warm appre-
country, IN tibat the whole people Of this
thy In the calamity that had overwhelmed
our naval forces at Samoa. A more formal
reply to the Queens message would be made
the President said through the department.
Of state.
Secretary Tracy OF the navy, has cabled 20
Auckland that the men of the wrecked yes
sells who are sent home are TO come TO San
Francisco
Renewed instructions have been sent TO
San Francisco to hurry forward the preparn-
tion OF the Charleston and every effort will
be made to get her guns and carriages trans
ported overland at the earliest possible mo-
ment
Mr. Walker Blaine says concerning Samoa
that 1t Is understood the German govern
ment have ordered three war vessels to pro-
eeed at once to the islands from Zanzibar.
The disaster will not affect the Berlin con-
ference.
The inability Of the American vessels TO
get out Of Apia harbor and thus avert being
forced on shore by the hurricane was yester-
day the theme Of speculation with naval Of
fcers. Speaking Of the disaster, Admiral
Porter said: reference has been made %
the fact that the English man-of-war had
steam mp and was thereby enabled TO get out
| Of the way. My experience has been that
neither steam nor sail would avail much n
| such storm and the probabilities are that
/ the Calliope was some distance from Apia.
/ headed for Sydney. There are no explicit
rules laid down by the Navy Departments re-
/ garding the question Of keeping up steam or
| the supply of fuel on board vessel, thai
| being a matter to be decided by its CON-
mander, and the rule might be changed even ,
| month or every week, according 20 eircum-
| stances. There seems. however, 10 have
| been a shortage In the supply OF coal and the
/ recent shipment Of that necessary article
| from Philadelphia will probably require
| three months for delivery at its destination,
| for 1t will have to 60 around Cape Horn In a
whaling vessel, too.