The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-24
4 rwELrEm0yrn,s CHANCES
How They AGsot the Vessels 90 the Nav,
sad the rromotion of Omcer-.


WASHINGTON. Jan 22.-Many points In the
new Navy Register are Of interest, espe-
elnlly when used as the basis Of COM
PARSONS. Attention has already been called
to the fact that now for the first time in
many years we have Illustrates on the list OF
ships, the two now there being the New York
OF 4. $50 tons and the Columbia OF z, $50. Under
the new system OF rating. all vessels exceeding
5000 tons In displacement nro first rates, all
from 1000 to 5000 are second-rates. all from
1000 to 5000 are thrd-rates. and those under
1000 fourth rates. We have really all along
had the old Franklin Of 5.l7O tons. but she
could not be put among the frst-rates. in
spite OF her displacement. being only a receiv-
Ing ship When the next January Register
comes out It will show great accession to the
Illustrates. for the fast Olym pia OF $500 TONS
will be in commission In few weeks or months
and will be followed by other big vessels
II nothing but displacement were required
for rating. our second-rates would have been
headed long ago with the Minnesota. 400
tons. and the WabasE 1850; but like the
Franklin and the big Vermont. they are only
receiving ships. We therefore find the second
rites led of by the Baltimore, 1900 tons. and
the Chicago $500 tons; while tho Phlladel-
phia, 1924: the coast defender Monterey
4.l3S; the Newark and San Francisco. 4oS3
each; the Charleston, 1910. and the monitor
Miantonomoh. 5000. closely follow. Then
comes drop to the wooden cruiser Lancaster,
$3.50. and the list is closed by the Atlanta and
Boston OF 3. 1870 tons each. 1t will probably be
reinforced before the Issue Of another Regis
ter from the double-turret monitor class. as
we'll as BY the Cincinnati and Raleigh.
The third-rates are headed. as OF old, by the
Eve single-turret monitors OF 2. 100 tons. form
Ing the Ajax class. the eight Of the Comanche
displacement 1875. following a littlo lower
down. Between them are the fast new 2 O0O-
tonners Detroit and Marblehead. which will in
q few weeks be joined by their sister ship. the
Montgomery; and there also are the wooden
corvettes Marion and Mohican. OF 1900 tons
displacement The 1.700-ton gunboats Ben
nington. Concord. and Yorktown come In this
rating. as do the steel vessels Dolphin. ]. 4S5.
and Castlne and Machias. 1850 EACH Here
also belongs the gallant old Eearsarge. 1850
tons and the Iroquois. 1875 while four ]. 375-
their day. the Adams, Alliance, Essex and En-:
terprise. together with the Thetis. l.2oO. and
Alert and Ranger fo3U each Iii out t Geo l is
The fourth:rates are miscellaneous lot
comprising the pneumatic g9nb9at Nesuvius,
S3V the cruisers lantic and Michigan. 800
croft $50 and s2s: the transport Fern. $40.
Our torpedo boate number three. including
the Alarm. a slow old to5pedo ram OF 800 tons.
son will come to reinforce them. Eleven tugs,
seven sailing ships. mostly used for soho Dol and
seven Vessels Of WHICH n nns a the
new machinery and modsrn battery make up
soon be Increased BY. three new gunboats.
Tsey nclads .ame oa Sefa ne %s shps 81 many
An Interesting feature Of the new list Of
year the highest indicated horse. power shown
was IL. 400, that Of the San Francisco then the |
assest S5 our cruisers Nth the Bst%Grss
have 1880 recorded. and In the Columbia |
y 900. The column relating to guns is not |
number in the main battery. without indica-
ton Of calibrs and to the general reader the |
guns whereas the MonocAcy carries six. that |
the Miantonomoh ALSO carries four and the |
and the MoRean TEN NO Vsss
accurate idea OF the relative battery powers OF |
Another column which Is not quite self. ex- |
planatory Is the one devoted 70 tyres. The |
dinerence between an pnprotected and pro- |
the difference between cruisers all OF which |
are protected. and may. fairly be so set down, |
than others, has led to curious results. Thus
We find the Baltimore, in the, present list. put |
caeo as partially projected; the Charleston as
and the San Francisco. Atlanta, and
Tn.s}eehs a. only BA.tiSby PTSteTted Il
out the word partially" since no unarmored
cruiser can be called absolutely and impreg-
ma bly, protected. and the amount OF protection
Is only one Of degree. Apparently. also. there
are some mistakes In the foregoing;
The personnel shows some Interesting
changes The lowest OF the Rear Admirals.
George Brown. was third on the list OF Com
was published Admiral Hickman has been re-
tired and Commodore Walker becomes Ad-
miral In few weeks Admiral Irwin will
retire. causing another promotion.
, The Junior Commodore. l.. + Potter. was
bird on the list OF Captains one year ago.
The Junior Captain. G. w. Coffin. was only
fenth on the list OF Commanders one year ago.
The junior Commander. II. w Lyon. except
Dne under suspension. was thirteenth among
he Lieutenant Commanders one year ago
The Junior Lieutenant Commander. 7. J.
Drake was No. Ia among the Lieutenants.
The Iunlnr Lieutenant. W. H. Rush was No. ~
among the junior grade Lieutenants. The
present junior officer Of the last grade was No
% among the Ensigns two years ago These
acts will be looked upon with some satisfac-
ion, showing that there is a certain Amonnt
II promotion in a year. although there 10 now
nope that, through the leg islation Of Congress.