The morning call., 1890-05-23
ARMED CRUISERS.
Turning Peaceful Merchantmen
Into War Vessels.
Plans Of the City Of New York and Sydney as
Bellig erents-Work Of the Board CT
Naval Inspection.

Up in The northwest corner of the top floor in
the Apprai sei's Building is door bearing the in
scription Naval Board OF Inspection" 1t is
seldom that any one is seen going in or out of
lhere and reporters 4 rule never call there for
news.
Ihe door Is very uuassuming In itself, being
small ana in a corner Of The least frequenled cor
rld0r OF The building, and the sign on II Is so
very modest that one would pass by 1t as If the
bureau II heraded was OF little consequence
but there Is Work going on behind The silence
oil that obscure door which, though now given so
little attention TO, would in case of war, cause
all minds 10 be at once and deeply concerned
about its results.
IT, for Instance, the young Emperor OF China
should lake 1t into his still infdntlle head to mi
late The vigorous style of doing things so char
aeterlstlc OF that other young monarch, William
oil Germany, and should demand of the United
States that 1t cease to discriminate against the
subjects OF his Celes. ial Majesty, but that 1t
shOuu, ON The contrary, accord them all the
rights OF The most favored nation. as the Bur
hngame treaty guarantees and If The MongOan
autocrat, by way of enforcing his demand, should
send his really frst-cass fleet OF iron-clads TO
lombard San Franclsco-the city, now prac-
tically without delenses, would be at his CON-
plete mercy.
TWO VESSELS IN OPPOSITION.
Uncle Sam, ii Is tue, could oppose two vessels
to the formidable Chinese feet-one of the mon
itor type, the Comanehe, now lying at Mare
Island and the Charleston. In such an event as
this all eyes would be turned toward the OBSCURE
door IN the corner OF the top floor OF the APP.
pralsePs Building.
The Naval Board OF Inspection at San Fran
cisco is composed OF CAPTAINS j. c. Watson and
j. w. Philip, Lieutenant }. {. Wilson, Chief En-
gineer L. A. Wilson and Assistant Naval Con-
stIuctor A. w. Stahl. The ordinary duty OF This
board Is 10 thoroughly inspect all warships going
In and out OF commission, but the most important
Work upon which II Is now engaged Is an exam
lnalion OF all the merchant steamers under the
jurisdiction OF the United States with reference
10 their adaplabilIty 10 use war ships, and the
changes that would have to be made in them for
that purpose.
their work upon one steamer Will serve To Illus
Irale the work upon all. The board, with other
Wolk, is making all examination oil The steamer
Guy OF New YORK, now III The service oil the
Pacific Mall Steamship Company aud running
between here and Panama.
TRANSPORTATION ON PAPER.
After thoroughly inspecting the steamer her.
self The board prOcures plans OF her from the
owners. From these plans others are drawn,
and then the boaId sets Itself TO The task OF
Transforming, on paper, The innocent merchant
man into man-Of-War. Complete plans are
drawn ofshe ship, as she would appear after The
proposed Chang s. and in these plans every de-
tail OF the change, even to the smallest, is care
fully considered and indicated upon the drawing.
In The City OF New York, for instance. and 10
convert her INTO a cruiser, the department de.
ctdrs that the whole of the hurricane deck
would have 10 be removed. section OF the main
BALLOON converted INTO captains CABIN. ana lie
rear cabin into an officers mess-room The
machinery, boilers and steering-gear would be
protected, Tie space now used for freight turned
Into extra cOal-bunkers and quarters for the
men, hospital, the arsenal, etc.
sX-inch gun would be placed at the bow and
another at the stern. Two more would be placed
on either side. making In all six heavy guns, aud
IN addition number OF rapid-irlng guns would
be stationed at Intervals along the upper deck,
and maehine-guns be placed alOft Ali these
things are outlined III the plans with the sup
| ports for The guns and many other details.
| ADAPTABILITY OF VESSELS.
Alter the plans are all drawn the board
| fills out several blanks furnished by the Navy
Department. These contain formidable lot OF
| questions as 10 The adapta0illiy of the vessel,
both as cruiser and as a transport. what
changes are necessary, how 10 be made, where
they can best be made, aud the time necessary 10
make them.
The list Of questions and answers which refer
TO tie converting OF the City of New York into a
cruiser lie board for state reasons. declines to
make public. Suffice il TO say that when con-
yerted The ship would be like prize fighter
stripped for the arena, with all supernuUus flesh
and clothing removed.
The list Of questions relating to the steamer as
transport, however, the board has no cause 10
keep secret. From these 1t Is learned that the
City OF New York can be converted into trans
port boat IN eight days, working day and hight
that she is best adapted 10 carrying cavalry; That
5I9 men aud 1872 horses, one company OF infau-
Try OF ITO men and 81 officers, besides IA four
wheeled vehicles and twO-wheeled vehicles.
1hls Is for short distance For long dis
lance she could caIIy one troop of cavalry and
the company OF Infantry less. These plans aud
details aie carefully preserved, so that in any
sudden emeg ency Uncle Sam may know Just
hp IN do unH hAk1 ta s.t do IN