New-York tribune., 1891-01-30
THE NAVY IN THE PACIFIC.
CONDITION AND STATIONS OF VESSELS IN
THOSE wATERS-No INCREASE YET PROPOSED.

coNDyTIoN AND STATIONS OF VESSELS IN
THOSE wATERS-No INCREASE YET PROPOSED.
Washington Jan. 90 (SpeciaD.-There has been
surprisinr amount Of msinformaOn published in tho
last few weeks concerning the number OF naval Ves'
sells available for service on the Pacihc Coast ana
the statement made few days ago by the correspond
srt ~ The London Times in relation to this SUD
iect that he got his information from a Ne"-io'A
newspaper was amusing. to say the least II was
at first said that the Government had feet of
e-even war vessels and five revenue cutters nearly
ready 10 pounce upon the pOachers on the seaI hsi
cries and Yesterday the report was printed tha' 'ho
Navy Department had no vessel available TO sehd 10
Chilian waters protect American interests ana tha'
nrobablv the old wooden corvette" swara would bo
sent there. .
The actual condition Of war vessels in the racine Is
nc foows: The new cruiser Francisco. which was
first selected 10 be the flagship Of the Asiatic squadron
after having made short Official trial at sea- Is 10"
ready FOR service on the Pacific Coast The reason
for thi, change Of station is that some of her guns di"
not vet ready for her. Then, too the Paclhc squauioh
needs at least one ship. and 1t is probable that
the san Francisco will he sent TO the west coast %
south America.
The cruiser Charleston. the flagship of the Paclho
squadron sailed from san Francisco few days ago
for Honolulu with the body OF King kalakaua' iI"'
vessel has been in service few months oN' ou' H'"
.he was taken into the dry dock at Mare Island,
OF
all sorts of marine growth covered the entire surface
~ ,he hul from the keel 10 the water ne ana IL was
so thick that the steel plates could not be Inspector
untu tbe Growth had been removed. something VIII
have Ia be done TO remedy thi, trouble ana also u
nr.vent corrosion of the bottoms of the new ships
The Iron gunbOat Alert s at Mare Island ana oiuers
bave becn sent 10 her commander TO prepare Tor sea
with all possible dispatch Her destination i The coast
OF Guatemala.
The wooden cOrvcttes lrOquos ana Mohl'" oo"' Vi
past Az, and practically useless for wa purposes aio
he only other vessels Of the Pacific squadron proper
The former i, at samoa. and the Mohican Is al HOMO
ulu where she will remain for several mohths' making
occasional trips TO IIilo and Labaina.
The swatara which recently returned rom 'ho
Asiatc squadron. will b. repaired and receive ne"
crew preparatory for another cruise The ohaha' 'ho
flagship OF the Asiatic squad on Is not at san iran
cisco aS ha, been reported but was last reported Al
Yotobama she has been ordered 10 proceed to ram
ana where she will receive a new detail oi Objects
and crew and then return 10 the Asatic station.
The Ma ion. another of the small wooden cop'clr''
is AT Mare Island, preparing for sea she VIII proo-
aby go To China unless the situation In thiH ocooncs
more serous. In which she may be sent 10 tto
south Pacific. The Ranger, another wooden NesSel,
carrying one gun only. l. at COrtutO. Nicaragua: on
snrvcyinr duty The wooden vessel IlctlS fOrlnery
sealing vessel which carries only two small nachno
Gns is M san Francisco being fitted for surveying
duty The iron gnbOat Pnta, OF only ooo tons, Is
armed with four howitzers. and IS doing duty at stAa