The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-29
WARSHIPS ON THE LAKES.
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT IS vIo-
LATING THE TREATY.
1t Has Three Large Vessels Now on Docks
Designed For First Class War Vessels.
The United States Will Meet
the Emergency.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Z3.-full teAl
of reports on the Canadian lake ques-
ton is now accessible. The question
of maintaining warships on
the great lake, in contraven-
ton of treaty stipulation has
engaged the attention of this ad
ministratian since the fall of 1891. In
that year Lieut.. G. l.. Garden OF the
United States reserve marine service,
was directed to investigate the sub
ject. He made quiet visit to Canada
and under date of January 1892, sub
mtted report to Secretary Foster OF
the treasury department, giving
dimensions o. the so styled "New
Canadian Cruiser Constance"
which was revenue cutter
in name, but in reality a war ship.
| The report was transmitted to the
secretary of the treasury who com
mented on it in a letter to the secre-
larry of the navy under date of Janu-
airy, 1892, says: "Revenue cutters
would not appear to come within the
limitation of the treaty of 1887 for the
United States, maintains four revenue
steamers on the great lakes varying
in tonnage from 419 to 400 tons, each
carrying two or three guns" The
treaty provides that neither party
shall maintain Cn the lakes a greater
numbehof vessels than as follows:
"On lake Ontario one vessel not ex-
ceeding 100 tons, armed with
one 18,pound cannon; On upper
lakes two vessels of same description,
On Lake Champlain one vessel OF
same description, and no other vessel
of war to be built or armed on these
lakesn
The treasury department during
the past summer and fall have kept
fully advised of the continued activity
of the Canadian authorities in bring
ing armed cutters on the lakes.
Under date of Dec 8, 1892, Lieutenant
Gardner, who spent much OF his time
in Canada collecting information on
the subject, made second report to
the secretary of the treasury
He finds that the hull designs
of three vessels recently con-
structed or now in the docks,
the Constance, Curlew and Petrol,
show sufficient strength to permit OF
more than fourteen FOUNDER rapid
firing maxim Nordenfeldt guns. The
Nordenfeldt gun is the type of gun,
he says, which will enter into the
ornaments OF these revenue cutters.
The gun positions, continues the re-
port. permit of the placing of two
guns, one on each bow for almost
direct ahead fire. The third
gun position is astern. A
portion of each ship gives an
area Of fire from sharp on one bow
around the turn to sharp opposite the
bow rails amid ship and will permit
of placing in brOadside of small cali
bre rapid fire and machine gul g. A
Nordenfeldt battery is mentioned for
the Petrol, and her sisters are more
than a match for the combined bat
teres of the three United States rev.
enue cutters on the lakes, tie Percy,
Johnson and Fessender.
Discussing the fighting quality of
these vessels Lieutenant Garder Gays
the hull dimensions on the Petrol,
Constance and Curlew will enable
them to manOuveur with ease
in the Welland canal and in the
event of any possible contingency
maintain effective patrol of that Ca
nal at least for three or four days I'M
til additional gunboats can break from
the s.. Lawrence river across Lake
Ontario to the mouth of Welland. Or
binary field batteries are not sufficient
to stop these ships, whereas, the rapid
fire guns of the new craft will be ex
pected to keep hostile forces clear of
the Welland locks until a sufficient
number of British gunboats have en-
tered Lake Erie to permit of menanc.
the cites of the northwest In conclud-
ing his report Lieutenant Garden,
speaking of the United States
revenue cutters now on the
lakes, says they must needs be
replaced by craft having their vitals
protected and be given rapid firing
batteries embracing at lea-t one four
inch rifle for each ship, supplemented
by six FOUNDER batteries. The pre-
sent exposed condition of the
machinery of the Johnson and Fas-
sender courts immediate destruction.
This report of Lieutenant Garden
has occasioned much comment in the
treasury department and emphasizes
the need of new revenue cutters OF
modern type upon the lakes capable
of coping if need be with those now
being constructed by Canada.