New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-11
WORK AT THE NAVY YARD.
GUESSING ABOUT THE CRUISERS.
SPECULATION ABOUT THEIR DESTINATIONS

STESC bAIAON |tDOOI 1hEih Or>>A1NATl0NS-
NOTES AND COMMENTS
IL ebraed Lord Dundreary had story sbout
how A some "widdles' at time; Of course
he told them Incorrectly and therefore spoiled what.
ever point the poor, innocent "wiidles, ever did
have But even Lord Dundreary could hardly In
vent any riddles to which would be harder to give
the true answer than OF the riddles about the
departure and destination OF the ships now In the
Navy Yard. II Is known whore some OF the ships
going. AM one guess In general way where
tho Others going because there are only few
stations where they would be likely TO be sent, and
only few squndrons anyway. There Is nothing
decisive known, however, about the destination Oh
several Of the ships.
From hints dropped in orders to officers. or from
rumor, It is commonly supposed that the Chicago
and the Philadelphia TO be ready for On
next THURSDAY. but neither vessel has received SAIL
Ing orders. These vessels have been repaired and
put in order for cruise, and will undoubtedly be
the first to leave the yard OF the vessels now there
The Philadelphia Is to 60 to the Pacific station to
join that squadron. Before sailing she is tn lose
large part Of her present crew. but their places win
be supplied by whose term OF enlistment is not
nearly over; large number OF the officers win
likewise relieved by others a longer
term OF sea duty before them. The Chicago has
come out OF the dry dock. and the work Of fitting
her for foreign cruise still goes At her mast
head flies the pennant OF Acting Rear Admiral Henry
Erbcn who has been appointed to the command OF
the newly formed European squadron. For sveral
years there has been no European Squadron, and
many will rejoice that this squadron is to be re-
vivci, ard Is to have OF the most beautiful as
well as most comfortable Of the new vessels for its
flagship. The Chicago probably could sail this week
If the orders should come but when her sailing Is
spoken about, the question comes up to what
ship ships Will go with her. viii 1t be the
Bennington or the Concord the Yorktown Then,
will the Chicago start alone for her station, or will
she be ordered to wait for her companion'
Any one of the three vessels might be- sent as the
Chcago's companion Europe. The Concord Is at tho
Norfolk Navy Yard, but the Bennington and the
Yorktown are in the Brooklyn yard The Yorktown
probably will BE- ready for first: the work Of
tubing her condenscrs is yet finished and other
work has been going on. but she will be ready
D. sail. Tho work the Bennington Will, 1t Is
likely, keep her here three four weeks LONGER at
the least; she has been OIL q foreign cruise and has
not been to navy yard he repaired for bong time,
that now there Is much 10 do 70 her. new pilot
house Is being built new dynamos are to be put In,
and other Jobs to be done which will require some
time.
OF the other vessels NJ the yard there eight
new steel vessels In commission now there) some
will remain there a considerable length OF time and
some will depart comparatively soon. The little
cruiser Bancroft is to be put into the dry dock ~
morrow or next day to have her propeller smart
straightened and after this she is ~ go for her final
Official trial she then may go TO Annapolis TO Do
used as a practice cruiser for which purpose she was
hul) hut thi, is not certain. The Dolphin has been
Gown South along the coast within tho last week
to blow up the wreck Of schooner, which wns
danger to nayigatl'n and returned TO the yard
on Thursday While she is in the yard her bow,
where the plates crushed In Is to be repaired,
II is said. The work the san Francisco, the new
flagship Of the North Atlantic squadron, is about
completed. She will, 1t Is most likely. follow the
plan that is customary for the flagship Of this squadron
I'm the summer: that l., she will make a cruise up
along the New England coast stopping at some o. the
principal places In the manner of the cruise 10 inc
West Indies which Is made In the winter. Ihere u
much To be done the Baltimore before she can START
for the Asatic squadron, Of which she Is 70 D. tas
flagship She has been away on long foreign cruise
and Just as the Bennington. now needs TO lie IN q
navy yard awhile and be- put In condition Tor announcer
long term of active service. The repairs on the
baltimore probably will keep her here until some
line In August september.
Within the last few days steam has been raised
on the cruiser Maine. which f. lying In the granite
dock in the yard. There Is some rumor about
her having dock trial. and Naval Constructor Fer
nald has sent to the department at Washington IN
estimate Of how much 1t would cost to take her
out OF the dock for that purpose The contractors
who built the engines being kept waiting for
their money about $4,000 being yet due long
after the engines might have been tested ana ac
ccpt,d. not through any fault Of theirs nor OF inc
government but because the delivery Of the armor
plating hy the contractors who are making IL mas
been much DELAYED. II tse engines are tested for
Horsepower in n dock trial. II Is thought that part
Of the money can be paid to the contractors the
rest TO be- paid when the engines have been hnahy
tried and accepted. At the same time the armor
plates are Just beginning 10 arrive, ana the ha'A
constructor will feel sorry to take the ship out OK
the dock now. The report that the Maine VIII %
sent To sea for the steam trial within the next month
IS probably a mistake. for the vessel would naray
lr sent with great hollow pace Oh eaeu 'us
" here the armor beltplating Is 10 90. A.. A.. =.
1t Is said that there Is po,.loy h sn"t the great
l;arrarut. viii once more be repaired and sent 70
:, rv. her country in the element where she so e;,
some, alterations in the old wooden ship by modify
nc her sail power and 10y arming her WIN IioueI "a
ro,on row" a, Mare Island and Is gradually decay.
ng and sinking OF into that state where she VIII %
ndit,irc Of money although it might exceed the
~ nrr cont limit imposed by law. she could again De
"! rb orr a, The Savy Yard have again up
the subject Of the dynamite gun as na W. b %ai
subject that M DT View OF the fact that
here is a law upon the records of Congress proVIins
Ss Vrs1vn Shall prove satisfactory vessel for the
purpose, for which she WAS built The majority ~
have argued ildt tn' uNnilull'
'ectvr war weapon upon a stationary PLATFORM put
ire NOT confident that il would prove effective upon a
,o,tinc rla form q vessel. because to train the gun
b' iotform or vessel itself must be trained. IN
,thcr word, the theory of the system Is generally &C
,cp able. but has not yet been found 10 WORK ,hls-
actorIly ON the Vesuvlus. and Commodore SAMPSON
'hIcf Of the Bureau Of Ordinance in his report to Soc
ct1ry Herbert Wednesday, points out that the
recent tests nj Port Royal showed no advance over
h, trials with the system four years ago one me-, Oh
no principal faults il with the valves, WIN Wnsn
horc IS an uncertainty of action that might prvve
disastrous I'm time OF action. II Is found thar .ne
na ximum range but the difficulty is In modifying
he distance The valves set for certain rcsni,s, vi
irinc on on" day will make shots materially alnsr
,praling Of the tests soon to be made at SANDY Too
MIN the three dynamite guns ordered for the ooas
defence ~ ,ic recommends that the Navy DepartnIrns
- nothing until these results are known wv
II these are 15inch guns. like those on the lesuNs.
md one l. S-inch and l. to be operated on te
anne principle those OF the Nes,vfuS. An arraisS
ncnt has been fitted to these guns for eevaung ANY ANY
II fire. to overcome the objections no" rai,eo