The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-23
A NEW POLICY.
The Ships of :he United States Navy will be
Kept Moving.

From all indications Secretary Herbert is
| determined To keep the navy afloat and at sea
during the four years he will hold his office.
At the present time almost every station has
| been depleted in order to secure all the avail.
| able ships in commission to participate in the
| grand Naval Review and make the best ap-
| pearance possible for the United States. I'M
! mediately after the ceremonies are over, the
Ships viii be detached and ordered to foreign
| stations.
The squadron now under the command OF
| Admiral Gherardi will, it is believed, be d.
vi6ei into three fleets. new officers put in CON-
mand of the fleet and sent to the Pacific, South
Atlantic and probably 10 Europe. The Secre-
tary fully alive to the fact that at the present
time it is to the interest of our country to have
as large a number of ships in the Pacific Ocean
| as possible.
The various diplomatic emergencies arising
| ont Of the arbitration of the Boring Sea matter,
| the Hawaiian revolution and the internecine
difficulties in Chilli have been the cause for a
| greater need Of warships in the Pacific All
the available ships now in the Pacific at the
| Sandwich Islands, their presence being made
necessary TO look after the interests of Ameri-
can citizens. In case of emergency there are
but two cid hunks lying at the Mare Island
! Navy yard. These are the Adams and the
! Alert the first named being trustworthy and
! the latter entirely out of repair.
Another drain our warships is at the
| Samoan Islands. Since the revolution there
two years ago the United States is obliged to
have ship there always to keep an eye Oh the
natives and see that no revolution against the
| present Government takes place. This is in
accordance with triple agreement made be-
| tween England Germany and our country, and
in order to have a relief two vessels are con-
stantly kept at these islands.
The Secretary is also DESTROYS Of having our
navy show itself at foreign stations where an
American warship is a curiosity. During the
last 10 years there have been but two American
| ships to visit an Australian port, and the case
| is as bad with New Zealand The Chinese say
of the Asatic station that "the Americans
| have bat three ships in their navy, and they
keep them here all the time" The impression
seems to be derived from the fact that the ships
we send to that station are allowed to remain
indefinitely, and one ship. the old Monocacy,
was allowed to remain there so long that she
became uDseaworthy and was unable to get
back home.
general shaking up of officers after the
Naval Review is expected. Admiral Gherardi
who has been at sea for nearly three years. will
be detached and given shore duty. Admiral
John G. Walker who has been ont three-and-
a-half years will undoubtedly be sent to a
navy-yard. Admiral Benham. it is believed,
will be commander of the " home station" and
his present service as Commander-in- Chief of
the forces of the South Atlantic station will be
given to someone else. Admiral Walker is
perfectly willing TO take command of the Bos
ton Navy yard, but be may be appointed to the
Mare Island Nayyyard TO relieve Admiral
Irwin, who will take charge of the Asatic
Squadron in June, vice Admiral Harmony,
who retires upon his own application.