New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-29
WAR VESSELS ON THE GREAT LAKES.
THE NEW BRITISH REVENUE CUTTERS ARE NOT
A VIOLATION OF THE TREATY CLAUSE.

THE NEW BRITISH REVENUE CUTTERS ARE NOT
VIOLATION OF TIE TREATY CLAUSE.
Washington, Nov. 2s.-The fact that the British
Government has Just launched at owens Bay SOUND
Canada, q modern steel revenue cutter winch may
easily be Transformed into an effective war vessel.
doe. not create apprehension In Washington. All the
facts In the case have long been known 10 the officials
Of the Department OF State and the Navy Department
They have satisfied themselves that there has been
no breach OF the treaty stipulation that there shall be
hut one war vessel OF each OF the two Nations on
the lakes.
When the Constance the first OF the new Canadian
lake vessels was building Inst year an officer o. the
I-,,,ed states NAVY visited the shpyard and closely
examined tho new vessel He reported that the YES
sci was exactly what she was represented 10 he--a
revenue cutter OF modern type. In her CONSTRUCTION
martial protective steel deck was embodied, but TINS
s n necessity In view Of the possibility OF disabling
nm unprotected boiler b. even small rine hho' N'Ao
regard was had 10 the possibilities OF the fhtnfc ana
Tho vessel was 50 built tina, she might carry cannon
md Thus become q servIccable runbOat. But inns i
exactly what tho Treasury Department has done ia
tho case of all the revenue cutters built I'm recent
veors Captnin Shepard, the chief OF tho revenue
marine service saws that 10 he's always been gov
erning Tea that the revenue cutters should b" capable
O. easy transformations into Hight ynnb0ats ana ais
pstch vessels TO form an adjunct 10 the 'nlted
states Navy The propriety Of this course has been
hstory that the revenu, cutters have been the nrs'
NJ the vessels of the United States to take part IN
active hosiites, and tho cutter Harriet Lane hr'd
the first offensive shot the beginning Of the iHSt
The United states now has three revenue cutters
on the great lakes They ar" the Andrew JOhheoh'
on old wooden sidewhcccr. ~ Milwaukee,: the Perry,
q, similar type at Eric. and the FcSscnd"n AT De
,roi, The latter was rebuilt in 17'2 and now has
., iron huU and effective machinery. There was
onoth,r-thc George II. Dibb. stationed on IA"c
Ontario but she became useless and was sold INC
.ccretarv az the Treasury recommended ~ inc
urescrt Congress that authority be given for th'
construction n two modern steel cutters on Inc
lskcs one TO replace the Ilb5 on Lake Ontarl" ana
one 70 replace the Johnson, which II IS propo'en
70 sell The Senate passed a bill To tlat "ho' D''
tbc House Commerce COMMITTEES reduced the number
OF cutters 10 one in spit, Of the urgent representa-
lion of Captain shepard. and the bill as amended IS
now on the House calendar. , =,
If Inc vessel is ever constructed there nccd D'
M fear tina; She will compare laNOaiY WIN
mo now Canadian cutters, and De as rcaullN IRAN
forunblc into a gllnJoit, Though the intention 10
make IL primarily revenue cilltcf inc ph''"i'
al the Si1t' Department do nO' care 10 ~ ~,
treaty stiplatOns publicly but u may Dc h"''u wa.
the provisions of the treaty OF lsl' relative 10 war
vrCstt;s ON liz. lakes have never been strictly Oh
srrvcd and that rs matter OF fact The lhit'u Sl''a
self has failed hat In that respect by pii''
a battery OF hOwitzcIs the Michigan ihs''"u Va
fbe sinfic lS-pOIndcr specified by treaty