Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-23
WARSHIPS ON THE LAKES.
The Canadians, However, Call Them Reve-
Cutters.

The Canadians, However, Call Them Reve-
Cutters.
The question of maintaining war ships on the
great lakes In contravention Of treaty stipula-
ton has engaged the attention of this admin
istration since the fall of 1891. In that wear
Lieut.. G. L. Garden, United States revenue ma
rine, directed to investigate the sub
ject. He made quiet visit to Can
ada. and under date of January, 1892,
he submitted report to Secretary
Foster of the Treasury Department giving the
dimensions OF the so-styled new Canadian
cruiser Constc nce.' which was revenue
cutter at home but i'll reality war ship. This
report was transmitted 70 Secretary Tracy. who
commenting on it in letter to the Secretary
OF the Treasury. under date Of January, 1892
Gays:
Revenue cutters would not appear to come
within the limitations OF the treaty of 1917 for
the United States maintains four revenue
steamers on the great lakes. varying in tonnage
from 4l9 to 499 tons each and each CARRYING
two or three guns. The treaty provides that
neither party shall maintain on the lakes a
greater number Of vessels than a. follows:
On Like Ontario, one vessel not exceeding
100 tons, armed with one lS-pound cannon; on
the upper LIKES two vessels Of the same descrip-
ton; on Lake Champlain, one vessel of the
sape description, and that other vessel Of
war shall be built or armed on these lakes
THE TREASURY on TIE Alert.
The Treasury Department during the past
summer and fall has kept fully advised of
the Canadian authorities in building armed
cutters on the lakes Under date of De-
cember 9, 1892, Lieut.. Garden, who spent
much OF his time in Canada collecting in
formation on the subject. made second report
to the Secretary of the Treasury. He finds that
the null designs of three vessels recently con-
structed or now on the docks-the Constance,
Curlew and Petrel-show sufficient strength to
permit OF the mounting Of fourteen-pound
rapid-fre naxim-Nordfeldt gnns."
The Nordenfeldt gun is the type Of gun, he
says. which will enter into the ornaments OF
these revenue cutters. "The gun positions"
continue the report, permit Of the placing
Of two guns, one on each bow, for an
position in the after portion of each ship
gives an arc Of fire from sharp On one
bow, round the stern to sharp on the opposite
bow. The rails amidship will permit Of the
placing in broadside Of small caliber rspid-fre
and machine guns. The Nordenfeldt battery
mentioned for the Petrol and her sisters is more
than match for the combined batteries Of the
the three United States revenue cutters ON the
lakes-the Perry, Johnson and Fsssenden."
Discussing the lighting quality Of these vessels
Lieut.. Garden says that 1.-The hull dimensions Of
the Pstrel, Constance and Curlew will enable
them to maneuve-e with ease in the Welland canal
and in the event Of any possible contingency
maintain an effective patrol of that canal. at
least for three or four days, until additional
gunboats can break from the st. Lawrence
river across Lake Ontario to the mouth of the
Wsiland. Ordinary field batteries are not
sufficient to stop these ships, whereas
the rapiG-fre guns Of the new craft
will be expected to keep hostile
forces clear OF the Welland locks until a suffi-
Gent number Of British gunboa.s have entered
l.ak IN of fho y
the northwest"
DETER VESSELS NEEDED.
In concluding his report Sir Garden, speak
ing of the United States revenue cutters no
now on the laks, says they must
needs be replaced by craft having their vitals
protected and be given rapid-hre batteries, en-
bracing at least one four inch rifle for each ship
supplemented by six-pounder R. F. batteries.
The present exposed condition Of the machinery
of the johnson aud Fessenden courts immediate
destruction"