The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-07-13
Several Matters Of Importance to
That Branch Of the Govern
ment Service.
Secretary Herbert Issues Ordere
Relating to Commanders OF
High Positions.
Arnor Plate Must He Harvsyized-DIs.
posal Of Vessels In the Rendezvous
1t New York.

ancs concerning navy yard demands. He
decided TO make permanent the suspension
OF orders to Commodore Kirkland TO take
command Of ths South Atlantic station,
and will allow him vemain - eommandant
Of the League Island. Pa, navy yard. This
will probably rssult in sending Commodore
Stanton to the South Atlantic station.
The secretary also to-day issued IN order
making Capt. Howisen commandant Of the
Aare Island, CAL, navy yard. Tho captain
has bssn In temporary command for some
time. and II was fully expected hs would be
relieved BY : naval ofhosr Of the rank OF
commodore. in view sf the importance Of
the command and the dssirability Of the
place. but Secretary Herbert WAS deter
mined BY tive facts in reaching The sonolu-
sion 10 keep Capt. Howison In command.
In the first plass ths people and newspapers
On the, Pacific soast united IN the desire TO
have him retained; and In The second plscs
the report Of the Matthews naval beard.
which made . close examination Of the
workings Of ths yard. spoke 20 highly Of
The efficiency Of the comm andant and Naval
Constructor Taylor % TO justify what might
be regarded % departure from the prscs.
dents In the case.
One important result Of the srnoR plate
tests yesterday will bs 10 extend the use Of
the Harvey process. Secretary Herbert is
satisfied with the tests - far a. they went.
but he has Tsaohsd the conclusion that
while the plates are - COED 20 could bs ex-
psctsd frem plain nickel steel. they did not
show The resisting power Of the Harvey
nickel steel plates. Tho contract under
which the plates are made permits certain
pieces to be made Of plain nickel steel. The
reason for this 10 that the Harvey process
ID . very difficult application to curved
plates or pieces OF irregular form. But
Notwithstanding these practical difficulties,
Secretary Herbert 10 determined that the
armoT protection of our new ships shall be
Of the highest resisting qualities. and be-
lisving that American ingenuity can meet
the rsquiremsnts Of the case, hs will insist
hereafter that all plates shall be treated BY
the Harvey process.
In the naval review continues, a1d % fast
a. they can be made ready the white ships
are being sent to the four quarters OF the
globe. The latest TO receive orders to sail
10 the Yorktown, now at the New York
navy yard. She 10 in dock, being painted,
| ana 06xb Wccks II everything ~ IoAoy, 80G
will proceed to the Paoihc station by way
Of Cape Horn. Tho voyage will take nearly
three months, under ordinary cruising
power, and it ia probable that the ship will
bring up at San Frsncisco, unless events in
Peru seem to require her to stop there.
she will then be cleaned and put In shape
for service to relieve ono OF the vessels at
the Hawaiian islands. probably the Boston,
which has been a long time on the station
and ia in need of an overhauling.
The Yorktown will 60 out under new
commander. for an order was issued at the
navy department. to-day detaching Com
mandsr Harrington from duty as inspector
of the fourth light house district. and Or
dering HIM to the command of the York
town, relieving Commander Frank Wildes,
who 10 detached and granted one months
leave.
The cruiser Charleston. which has beer
undergoing repairs at the No folk navy
yard. 10 now ready for sea and will leavs
for the Pacific station in few days. Sh<
will 20 from Norfolk to Valparaiso, Chilli
and If no orders await her there. she will
proceed TO Callso. Peru, whers instructions
will be sent her.
Secretsry:H Herbert to-day accepted the
resignation of Commodore Wilson as CHIEF
constructor of the navy and appointed Con
structor Philip Highborn to succeed him
Commodore Wilson resigned on account o
i'll health.