Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-24

srrysroN, d. c., December ga
r.. f.. tsxt OF the reports on the eau
-5-, AXE question, which was briefly
~--.....tr.7ad in these dispatches TWO
80, is now accessible. The QUeS-
m maintaining war ships on the
axes in contraventiOn OF treaty
s.-,..-i1Ds has had the attention of
..i. sfministration since the fall OF
$50 In that year Lieut.. u. IL. Car
t % the United States marine SER
49, was directed 20 investigate the
..5sse- He made a quiet visit TO Can
,5s .-4 under date OF January, 1892,
--.~,.-sd a report TO Secretary Foster
oftla Treasury department. giving the
s,-.srsi8ps If the sO-Styled new Can
-.,,.- .rusier Constance" which was a
~svsrue cutter in name, but In reality
war ship. This report was trans
~.tr.d TO Secretary Tracy, who, COM
-,,r-.rc on it, in letter TO the Secre-
,-ry 5f the Treasury, under date OF
January, 1892, says;
,.Pevenue cutters would not appear to
come within the limitations OF tue
trs,-v OF 1917, for the United States
-,-.--qirs four revenue steamers on the
g,ss- Iskes, varying in tonnage from
4-9t1 4gg tons each and each carryln
two or three guns" The Treasury De-
r,rrment during the past summer and
Eg has kept fully advised OF the con-
,.rrsi activity Of the Canadian authori-
-ss in bufIding armed cutters on the
Istas Under date of December 9, 1892,
Tiarteuant Garden, VINO spent much
n hi, time in Canada collect
ing Information on the subject, made
s,ar0Dd report 20 the Secretary or the
Treasury. De finds that the hull de-
signs Of three vessels recently construct
a4 or now ON the docks-the Constance.
Cr~'4w aud Petrel-ShOw sufficient
strength ro permit OF the mounting OF
"a p.grIer rapid firing Maxim Norden-
fs,t- -urs." The NOrdeufeldt gun is
, t-a -v1. OF gun, be says, which will en-
tar irtA, armsmentS OF these revenue
enters .ac guu positions continues
tAq-FaIfglls a is;gGrrFaitte Fatte. oi bfurPdda gRG
position in he after portion Of each
sliu give an arc of fire from sharp on
- .onaJ5W, round the stern 10 sharp on
tde opposite bow. The rails amidShip
will permit OF the placing in broadside
Of small, calibre rapid FIRE and machine
guns. The NOrdenfeldt battery men,
toned for the Petrel and her sisters is
more than match for the combined
batteries Of the three United States
revenue cutters on the lakes-the
Perry, Johnson and Fessenden."
Discussing the fighting quality Of
these vessels, Lieut.. Garden says that
"the hull dimensions Of the Petrei, Con-
stance and Curlew will enable them to
uanouvre with ease in the Welland ca
Ha., ard in the event Of any possible
contingency maintain Cn effective pa
,r0l of that canal, az least for three or
four days until additional gun boats
can break from the st: Lawrence river
a1r0ss lake Ontario TO the mouth OF the
WeIaud Ordinary field batteries are
not sufficient 20 stop these ships, where
as she rapid fire guns Of the new craft
viii be expected 10 keep hostile forces
clear 0i the Welland locks until Sufli'
e.eut number Of British gun boats have
entered lake Erie 70 permit Of menacing
the cities Of the Northwest.
In concluding Lieut.. Garden, speak
Ing of the United States revenue cutters
nov on the lakes, says they "muSt
needs be replaced by craft having their
y.,a.s protected and be given rapid fire
batteries, embracing at least one 4-inch
rle for each ship, supplemented by
tp0uuder batteries The present ex-
posed condition OF the Johnson and
Fesse1den courts immediate destruc-
tiOl."