Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-25
M ASSING OUR VESSELS
In the Vicinity Of Rio for the Protection
of American Interesta
The Newark Left Today and the De-
trOit Will BE Ready Soon
Other Vessels There.

After many weeks Of preparation the
cruiser Newark finally started today on her
long voyage to the South Atlantic. She is
the flagship of that station, and Is fitted out
for three years cruise. Acting Rear Ad-
miral Stanton, who Is in command OF the
naval forces in the South Atlantic. flies his
pennant from the Newark. The Charleston
and the Yantic will be subject to his orders.
The first named vessel belongs to the Pa
cific station, but she will be retained ON the
east side until the present small force on
that station can be reinforced with at least
another vessel. 1t Is not improbable that
the gunboat Concord, now In European
waters, may be ordered to the South At
lantic, in accordance with the original pro-
gram Of the department. The Detroit will
undoubtedly go there as soon as she has
fulfilled her contract requirements. The
gunboats Machias and Castine and the
cruisers Montgomery and Marblehead will
also be available for foreign service in a
few months. 1t Is likely, however, that
four ships will be regarded as sufficient for
the South Atlantic station for some time to
come, In which event none Of those just
named will go there.
Ready IL Needed.
In case Of great emergency the crack
cruiser New York can also be utilized for
service on the South Atlantic. but there Is
very small probability Of her leaving home
waters for many months yet, ind the San
Francisco and Kearsarge would undoubt-
edly be called into requisition for foreign
service before the New York.
According to present indications the New
ark and the Detroit are the only vessels
at all likely to join the Charleston and
Yantic In Brazil within the next month.
IA rk iS nn6or nrdara tn rroCo,a6 IN
Rio with all possible dispatch and will un-
doUbtedly make a quick trip. She is one Of
the largest and fastest cruisers now In COM
mission and will unQuestionably acQuit her
self with credit. Her main battery con-
sists of twelve six-inch breech-loading rifles.
which throw an armor-pierctng protectile
weighing 100 pounds. In addition to the
main battery she has a number Of rapid
fire guns Of the six-pounder and one-pound-
er Hotchkiss type and also Gatling guns.
The Newark will proceed under full speed.
1t is announced. for Barbados. where ad-
ditional coal will be taken on board. and
then the cruiser will steam straightaway
for Rio de Janeiro. The run 20 Barbados
will be made in about four days from New
York The cruiser will stay at Barbados
not more than thirty-six hours. The pas
sage thence to Rio de Janeiro will. It il
calculated. not occupy over ten or twelve
days. At this rate Of steaming the Newark
should reach Rio de Janeiro about the 10th
or 18th proximo.
Ahc Detro1t Gett1n8 Ready.
The Navy Department took active steps
today toward getting the cruiser Detroit
started for Brazil, or to whatever place the
department yiay desire to send her. 1t will
be remembered that the Detroit started for
Rio JaneirU from Norfolk week before last
ana was signaled at Cape Henry to return
TO ner starting place. 50 that regulation
which provides that a vessel must have a
forty-eight-hour trial trip preliminary to
nnal acceptance by the government might
De complied with. The Detroit had not
been given this final trial, and as 1t must
take place within four months from the
time she was turned over to the Navy De-
partment by her builders, and two months
only remained to complete the limit, 1t was
decided to call her back after she had left
Norfolk, in view of the probability that the
service In Brazil might extend over a larger
period than was expected. Some surprise
was expressed over the delay Of the depart
ment In appointing the trial board, so that
the vessel might not be obliged to remain
IN this country more than a few days but
1t was not until this afternoon that action
was taken IN the matter by the appoint
ment Of board Of officers with Rear Ad-
miral Belknap as president, to conduct the
nnal trial trip. Other members Of the
board are Capt. Philip and Lieut. Com
mander Hemphill
The Detroit will leave Norfolk Wednes-
day and proceed outside Capes Henry and
Charles for the forty-eight hours sea run
and on her return to Norfolk will be order
ed to proceed Immediately to sea, II she is
In good condition. While there is a possi-
bility that the Detroit may be ordered To
Nicaragua or to Argentina, the present dis
position Of the Navy Department Is to send
her to Brazil soon as possible to protect
American interests there.