New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-16
NAVAL NEWS OF INTEREST
AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF THE ENIEh-
PRISE-FOR TORPEDO EXPERIMENTS.

PRISE-FOR TORPEDO EAfEhlMENi0'
The arrival of the sloop-of-war Enterprise from
the European Squadron, it is expected VIII iui-
nish some interesting developments in the way
of naval discipline as interpreted by some oncerS
The statements as contained in the washington
| DISPATCHES about the trouble OH board that SNIP
the assertions of seventy or more sailors, 'ne
| placing under arrest of Chief Engineer oanie'
| Entwistle and Ensign George W. Kline by Com
mander Is. II. McCalla, were not new to Objects
of the Navy generally, as these and other matters
of official administration on that vessel, In au-
dition to a scandaous affair that is reported 10
have occurred at festival at Tunis attended by
some of the officers have been interesting topics
of discussion for several weeks at the Navy Yard
| When the vessel arrives, as she is expected 10
do within the next few days, even If she is re-
turned to the European Squadron, as has been
given out in the Washington dispatches, she Will
probably not go back with any of the officers
and crew now on board, and it is anticipated that
for few weeks at least after her arrival details
of officers will be busy with courts OF inquiry
and courts-martial for some Of the officers and
men.
Commander McCalla has the reputation OF being
"a strict discipnarian,' but some of the officers
characterize his Interpretation of discipline as
tyranny He is the officer who was with the
revolt there in 1885 His charge against En-
sign Kline is sleeping on watch and denying
it, The charge against Chief Engineer Ent-
wistle is INSTRUMENTATION In that when the two
were in conversation Chief Engineer Entwistle
" talked back to Commander McCalla when the
latter was administering reproof II is also said
that several of the men who deserted from the YES
sci are In this city, awaiting the arrival of the
vessel with the intention Of giving themselves
up pleading an eXtenuation OF their offences,
and appearing witnesses to the harsh treat
ment of the commander. II was rumOred at the
yard that one man who had charged the com
mander with brutal conduct intended to have
him arrested upon arrival. But, as II is so well
known that sailors are constitutional pessimists.
public opinion should be held in reserve untu
tile facts are officially reported.
DELAY TO THE NEW CRUISERS
The centre keel-plates, the non-arrival
Of which have delayed the work this week on
cruiser No :, have come. and now about three
quarters of the keel have been laid, and the work
Of LAYING the vertical keel has been begun. The
first Of these was twenty feet long II the material
arrives without further delay, this work can he
rapidlv advanced. and soon some of the frames
| can he nut in place. The work on the new
forge and machine shops and on the railroad is
| advancing and by the time these are needed
for use they will be ready.
4 rang of sailors was busy yesterday in tho
ward. hammering merrily away at the bottom
! Of the torpcdo-boat Alarm, now in the drydock
This work Will probably be finished some time
/ this week. but it has been found that the Alarm
/ bottom plates are not III as bad condition as tne
+ first INSPECTION showed. \ little plttng or cOrIO-
sion has been discovered but II Will probably
! only be necessary 10 scrape and paint the bottom,
/ which is to be done when the chipping Work is
/ nrtah ad Ref b-lN
| her bow, 10 take the place OF the Dlg lo-lhch
muzz!e-loadLng gun now there II VIII ne neces-
| sary to do some lifting work .
The EsseN is approaching competition, and IL
will probably not be many weeks before she VIII
be ready 10 90 into commission Her engines
| are about ready Tor dock trial.
Commander Bradford, of the Bureau or Equip
| ment in charge OF the electric Lighting depart
meut, at the yard yesterday, and the WORK
| Of putting an elcctric-light plant into the Navy
| Yard goes on The lower part OF the building
in which are the offices of the Naval Constructors
is being cleared out. and into this the engines
| are 10 be put.
A large amount Of condemned Navy stores,
! comprising ninety three lots, are TO be- sold at
! public auction AT the Navy Yard on February 20.
The stores consist OF provisions and clothing which
! have been cOndcmned because they are no longer
suitable for use on American naval vessels Among
them are 74,637 pounds ot sea biscuit. or p0o
| bread. or, the sailors call II, hard tack ;
| 1850 pounds OF salt pork In barrels; several
barrels Of salt beef. large amount OF vinegar,
a number OF barrels Of -four, 1882
I
aucous lot Of Arctic clothing. comprls-
inS sleeping bags. shirts, trousers, coats. boots.
! shoes blankets, etc. small stores, such MS but
| tons needles, shaving-so0p, thmbles, ribbons,
combs etc. 800 pounds Of tobacco; large
amount OF assorted canned meats.
The yard was brilliant yesterday afternoon with
the uniforms of both Army and Navy officers and
/ the costumes OF the ladies who attended the re-
ccpton given by Rear-Admiral and Mrs Braine
and their daughter.
FOR SUBMARINE TORPEDO EXPERIMENTS
When the repairs on the Alarm are completed
and the vessel is ready for service, she will he
put into commission and sent 10 Newport for eX-
perimental purposes by the Torpedo Board. One
Of the newest devices of submarine torpedo. TO
which the attention of the Secretary of the Navy
has been called, and for the experiments upon
which Senator Chandler has introduced an appro-
priation bill is the improved submarine gun and
detachable explosive ram, together with suitable
floating steam carriage for testing the same, OF the
/ Ericsson Coast Defence Company. II the report
Of the trial board is favorable, the Secretary OF
the Navy is authorized 10 purchase the same ut 4
cost of not more than 81 1900, equipped com
plctc The bill of senator Chandler also provides
that " i'm case the report of the SAID board OF
Naval officers upon the trial tests be favorable,
the Secretary of the Navy is authorized 70 con-
tract for ten or more steel submarine guns and
rams for the use of the Navy and the sum Of
81 500 600 is appropriated for that purpose.
| Paymastcr George II. Grifiing has reported AT
the Navy Yard. and relieved Paymaster George IL.
Read i'm charge of the Navy pay Office. the latter
being in poor health. Paymaster GrilIng was
on duty on the receiving shin Independence, at
the Mare Island Navy Yard whGn he received his
orders TO come TO New-l ork, an was ready TO
come East inside of forty-eight hours.
Passed Assistant Engineer Charles +. Maggie has
been ordered to duty at the yard. His last cruise
was on the sloop-of-war Quinncbaug, In the Euro
pcan Squadron
pOpvT1PTTY OF INDOOR B4SEB1LL