The National tribune., 1894-04-12
ARMY AND NAVY.

The Senate aud House Committees on Ammo.
priation have decided that there shall be no
more large premiums given to shipbuilders for
excessive speed over and above the contract re-
quirements. conference WAS held the other
day between Chairman Sayres of the Honse
committee and two members OF the Senate COM
mittee, in which it was determined that the
policy OF awarding premiums should be ended,
and that the Government could no longer afford
to pay for reaching high stages of perfection in
war ships, en- induccment held out by Secretary
Whitney and Secretary Tracy to encourage
American sbipbuilders to compete for the con-
struction of the new naval ships. Estimates
submitted to the House committee show that
nearly Sl.O0O,000 have been paid out to con-
tractors for exceeding speed and horsepower
called for IN the requirements.
A cut OF s., 600 600 has been agreed on by the
House Committee Oh Naval Affairs in the item
for armor plate aud armament in the Naval
appropriation bill. The Navy Department
estimate WAS S6 500 900. This was to wind M
large outstanding contracts with the Carnegie
and Bethlehem concerns for armor for the new
war vessels. The subcommittee first cut the
allowance 100000. which was the amount of
the fine realized by the Navy Department. from
the Carnegie Company. Now the full COM
mittee have made this additional heavy cut
carrying the item down to $4,000 900.
Acting Secretary of the Navy McAdoo has
requested the State Department to direct the
United States Consul at Kingston Jamaica, to
keep sharp lookout in Jamaica junkshops for
the bell and memorial plate of the Kearsarge
which were taken from the wreck Mt Roucador
presumably by wreckers from Old Providence.
who would probably try to dispose of them at
Kingston. While no special intrinsic value is
placed on the articles they are of considerable
historic interest, and no effort will be spared
to find them.
Unless Great Britain withdraws a number
of war ships from the China and Australian
naval stations, it is likely that the United
States will practically patrol Boring Sea alone.
The remarkable fact is developed. from for
nation secured by the Naval Intelligence Bu-
reau of the Navy Department. that there are
at present only six seaworthy British ships on
the Pacific station, which embraces the whole
North Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii aud the
Central American coast. All the United States
vessels which were on patrol duty last season
are on the same duty this year. and in addition
the Yorktown, Bennington, Adams and Con-
cord have been ordered to join them. The new
cruiser Olympia and the Boston will be held in
reserve at San Francisco and the Monterey at
Puget Sound.
Three more ships available for service were
added to the Navy last week by the placing in
commission OF the Atlanta at the Norfolk Navy
yard, the Alert at Mare Island, and the Marble
head at New York At the same time orders
were Issued to have two more in commission
on April II. These latter are the Columbia,
the first three-screw vessel constructed for the
Navy, and the Raleigh, the only warship built
at navy-yard for many years. The Cincinnati,
sister ship of the Raleigh, will follow shortly
after
The whaeback steamer would be of little use
to the Navy, thinks the Board of Experts which
have been considering the suitability of this
class of vessels as auxiliary to the regular Navy
1t was claimed that the whaleback offered ex-
ceptonal advantages as warship, especially as
coast defender. A large rife at the bow was
represented as giving it. with its curved deck,
an efficiency warship which would easily
adapt 1t to the service. The Board finds that
the only use to which the whaleback could be
put, is that for minor defense.