New-York tribune., 1891-09-16
NAVAL VESSELS IN CHINA.
SECRETARY TRACY'S STATEMENT OF HIS
POLICY IN SENDING SHIPS THERE.
HOW THE FLEET ON THE PACIFIC STATION HAs
BEEN srRENGTHENED-HISDR TO THE

HOW THE FLEET ON THE PACIFIC STATION hAs
BEEN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO I'll"
USEFULNESS OF THE NEW SHIPS
Washington. Sept 15.-secretary Tracy to-day made
statement respecting the policy of the Navy pep'r
ment in strengthening the U1lted states Naval iooe
in Chinese waters. The repairs on the Marion he
said, were completed, and she was ready 1or Sc"
June 3. She was ordered to China by way Of BehrlhS
sea- and together with the Alert has left the vicinity
Of Alaska, and both vessels should reaeh the Asa'"
station within two weeks. The Charleston mas Oet'
temporarily ordered to China as the flagship OF the
station, pending the arrival OF the Lancaster Sho
left Honolulu september or ., and expected 10 Tacn
Yokohama about the 18th. Upon arrival OF the Ian
caster unless circumstances demsnq that she rcmaih
the Charleston will return to Mare Island THIS VIII
make six vessels on the China station, thus mak'ls
by far the most efficient II not the largest squ'nrJ
we have had at the station for years. in aou''
iion the Peirel has recently been detached frOm
the North Atlantic Squadron and ordered 10 Omna'
The AsIatic station has assigned 10 10 eVerS
small ship In the Navy, except the Essex a'u
the Yantic now on bhe South Atlantic stauoh
The new shlps have not been assigned to CHINA Deeause
those Of 1000 tons or over not AZ available ior te
protection of the American missions ana onr QUIET iu
terests in China as smaller vessels OF Iisht1r ui'
Two gunboats OF about 1000 tons, desieheo ior uii'
service are we'll on their way toward completion H.
in China are to rely upon nboas for their proecuoh'
rather than upon the Chinese Government, the hee'
in these waters must be largely increased Inc DC
partment has also been unable TO send new SHIPS 10
The Asatic waters on account Of the dnicuues WHICH
have attended their proper equipment mp 10 the pres
ent time. Brown powder for eightinch guns was op-
tanned in December $780, and the first armor piercing
proecties passed inspection in last June. Even now
for the eighnch guns, there are only enongh OF tho
latter TO equip the Boston ard the Atlanta Chicago
The Charleston was compelled to sail without them.
orders have been sent for them 10 be shipped by freight
II IS hoped that before the close OF the present year
n successful torpedo will be produced. and that the
shlps can then be completed which at present by
no means in q condition OF normal effectiveness
II would be unwse 10 take a ship from the hands
OF the contractor said Secretary Tracy, and at once
send her to permanent duty on distant station As
was 10 have been expected, many defects have
doveloued in our new constructions since they have
been paced I'm commission To equip modern ship
with modern guns and modern appncances In man
nor thet they can be safely relied upon under all
circumstances cannot be accomplished without many
tests and experiments Gun mounts have been one
~ the greatest stumbling blocks. one Of the best
eyperts OF the Department has Just returned from a
tour through Europe where he possessed himself OF
Tho latest and best results attained by foreign Powers
I'm this branch OF ordnance work.
T-ntU thc new ships fully completed and
equipped and tested by actual experience it would be
foolhardiness to send them TO China. since loso,
the Department has ansierre from me Auauuo 10 % Ilo
sacoa which together with the Petrol ana lOrktoWl
recently ordered to the Pacific Touid make na IN th a
san Frnrclsco the Charleston and baltimore ana VIII
have the Yorktown and Petrel The Naval force % TO,
dsy on the Pacific Is more than twice as effective as
military force as il has been any previous time In
the history OF our Navy