Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-11-02
SHIPS ENOUGH IN TRIM.


SAN FRANCIsCo. Cal Nov. 1.-The
United States has ships enough in fighting
trim at the present momert to handle Chill
With ease. This 10 The opinion of Mare Is
land navy offic,Is. Admiral Irwin. the
commandant, in discussing the question
said:
I'VE can handle Chill easily without ad
ditionsl work or pre- epsration. We have ships
enough in fighting trim to tquelch Chill.
Valparaiso is the key to the entire situation,
and / do no, apprehend any difficulty in cap
turing the key. OF course We shOuid vant
lquique as well, for that is Caili's purse.
say take il. not blockade it The nitrate
exporters do not c,re whom they pay duty
to, and il we did not vsDt ii we could turn
it over to Peru, from whom Chilli took it.
II think this talk about privateers doing
damsge to American commerce in the
event Of war is nonser Sc; il it really had
any foundation j, would mean that the pfi-
vs,eers would be foreign vessels under
the Chilian fl g as certain foreign elemeDt'
have an interest 10 st!Irlpg up strife. As
IA, as Chill alone is concerned, there 10
nothing 10 worry about
The bcsrd Of inspection. OF which l
was formerly at the head, has been most
thorough in its examination and has found
almost sufficient vessels at San Ffar SEQ
to oppose Chill without the rest of the navy
IL we only hsd few modern Guns to put
on them. But we have NOT got q gun on,
here Of the sort required. The merchant
marine vessels would be Of vast assistance,
however, as transports and provision
freighters, and would lessen the number OF
shting ships required to very small NUN
cnuIJ uof 4
there easily by steaming from one coal
port to smother, or going in tow OK one OF
the big twin screw ships. Onbe there, with
the fast merchant marine to keep her sup
piled with coal, ammunition and provisions
she cculd come pretty rear settling the
Chiiisn fighting forces herself.
Two or three smsr. cruisers, which are
alrs ady on hand would give all the ait
needed. Such vessels as the Misntonomah
Monsdnook and Monterey are the real fight
ing chips of the future. do not think VI
will have any scrimmsgs with Chill. Still
| IL we do, there is nothing for Uncle San
| 10 fear for.'
The wooden htes now at Mare Islart
navy yard consists O! six vesseis--th'
Omsha, Mohicsn, Thetis, Ranger, ADAM
and Swstsra. Repsirs are now in progres
| the fret four and they could go to sea in I
short time The Omshs and Swaisya ~,
cut Of commission, and would take lougel
to prepare. The single turretfd monito
Ccmanche, with two smooth bore guns nos
q. the islands. could 90 to ses in few
days. The double-turreted Monadnock. thu
,mpsniou ship Of the Misntonomsh, has nj
srmor as ct, and cannot be completed un
| der six months. The eOast defence vesse
Monterey, now under construction at tn
Union iron works. has no armor at present
but cou 20 into action without it IL nsces
sary. Irving Scott, one Of the proprietor
Of the works, says she could be ready 70
ssa within six months Her guns are nov
in Wsshin gson Navy Yard, completed. o
nearly 50, and could be shipped and pu
aboard by the expiration Of thsg time. Tn
Monterey will be very po~erful vesse
even without srmor, as aha will have 10 iael
| guns.