New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-14
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
THE MACHIAS ALL READY TO START
FOR ASIA.

INTEREST ~ THE TRIAL OF THE MNINE-WoRk
GOING FORWARD RAPIDLY on TIE OTHER
VESSEL CHANGES AMONG THE OFFICERS.
The Navy Yard IS an attractive place at any
time but under the bright October sun OF the last
few days II has taken look OF especial IiV-'l-
ness and interest The long. yellow buildings. set or
by the patches Of brilliant greenswarj. the big
white cruisers lying at anchor and the boundary
- the sparkling river beyond have all made a
cheerful combina ton. well calculated 10 excite rhr
admiration OF the casual visitor, ana 10 convince
the officers that their present lots have been cast
I'm pleasant places.
The object OF especial interest in the last week
has OF course. been the second-cass batueshlp
Maine which sailed for New London on an early
tide Yesterday casting loose about 80 o'clock ana
s;eamng mai silcally no the East River al IN
trim for the trial trip tomorrow. The sailors on
the other vessels all watched the progress OF the
new cruiser with great interest, and they VIII give
her a hearty welcome when she returns thss week
with her expected laurels. Captain Bunce IS really
the only one Of the line officers whose assignment
20 the Maine may be called permanent the other
officers being FOR the most part assigned 10 othrr
vessels bu; temporarily ordered 10 the Maine. En-
sign George Madison "a one OF these. lie has been
detached from the Machias and ordered to the Yer
mont. but has been assigned temporarily TO duty
on the Maine
The gunboat Mschlas has been busy place FOR
weeks but now the work H. almost all finished ana
the trim vessel IS ready for duty IN Eastern
waters. She ordered to b. ready - sail TO-
morrow, and the Construction Department pnnctu-
ally finished its work her last night. Meantime
the stores have been taken board. ana there "a
no reason why she should not leave the Yard to-
morrow Il Is not probable. however that she VIII
steam away until Wednesday or Thursday. As
she "a going TO the Asat'c Station II IL necessary
to have everything IN perfect shape. and the Machas
viii probably take little triai run up the Hudson
River or. more likely up the Sound TO GARDENERS
Bay Then she will be Inspected by the regular
board or which Commodore S-fr!dge Is the presi-
dent II H. not generally known that the Mdchias
Will carry quantity OF ammunition. mostly s-inch
and s-nch shells. TO the chicago which il no"
cruising In British waters. The gunboat VIII sc-
cOrllngly make port at some point In Great Britain
or across the Channel. and deliver the needed am
nrnltlon to the Chicago before cruising down the
coast. through The blue Mediterranean. the Su~z
Canal and - on 70 the Japanese waters.
The gunboat Casine. the sister OF jh- Machias. f.
also destined for the Asiatic Station. and repairs
are going forward rapidly on her Everything looks
I'm confusion ON her decks just now. but the con-
s,ruction department Will accomplish much within
the fortnight. and probably VIII have her ready FOR
sea by the last day Of this month. Her officers
have BEEN ordered to report tomorrow. ana sh" VIII
20 into commission IN day or TWO.
ApropOs Of ihe Chinese war, Assistant Naval Ton
structor Richmond Z. IIobson. VINO was ordered 10
japan 10 study there the effect OF heavy airing on
the japan feet IN the battles against China viii
not 60 after an. Secretary Herbert has revoked
the order osteusibly because the Jdpanrs- Govern
rnent would not allow the close Inspection. Bur II
is an open secret that such permission had already
been obtained from the Japanese Minister at wash
ngton and the Inference IS justified that the line
officers who have been unwilling 70 -" a member
Of the CONSTRUCTION Department detailed on such
duty. have Influenced Secretary Herbert TO revoke
the order Constructor Hob-on seems ~ every
way hii~d for The task he has studied abroad a:'i
IL thoroughly cont-rsant with TIE needs OF Ms IL
rhr san Francisco IL another vessel a the S-vy
Yard whore the sound OF the workman hammer
may be- heard all day long They are kh'ills d" AZ
entirely new torpedo system a -" hushins ~
TEN. and Oycrfsi ulng thu whole q: th- HIahsg~
Tor sSne weeks and II is altogether probable that
another weeks VIII go by before she j. TrAy 'or
There has been some talk VI a race ON The Sound
between the twin cruisers Cincinnati and Raleigh.
the first having been bull, at the BROOKLYN Naty
race would De- a mile the speed OF the twin
vessels. Officers at the Navy Yard yrstrf!ay tath.r
laughed this story, ANA hardly thought that th-
Government would amuse Itself b. holding races
between Two pig criuscis on ne SOUND "o"''''
Clyii Engineer Asser-on ha- prepared the plans
lSr the rcnodriny OF h'a n 80 ~ 'f ana
draughtng officer The plans VIII be sent 70 ash
ing,on this week for approval ana "of" Vs." h~g'H
il is rather expected that ihe iraInlng nip oGs.
month or the nrst OF next and turn over the r.
crults who have been learning on her decks % be
lack tars OF the stamp Uncle Sam iikcs - see
There have been few changes In the last week
among the officers on duty In the Yard Lieutenant
L. y COtiman has beer assigned 10 tn" Equipment
IJeuartmeut Past Assistant Pay master q W. Simp-
som VINO was wounIel by an accident The De-
trolt at Rio has come home ana ben assigned ~
du,v under the General S'Or"keeper. Two assistant
engineers John : Porter and Il u. liasbrouck.
hay. been detached 20 60 to Paris and study the
navy wards abroad furnishing many more opiOr-
tunitios than ar - be found In this country.
II Is probable that Commodore T.. r. Potter. VINO
win retire next May. Will become Rear Admiral
befor. that flrn- The plan VIII depend on the CO.
operation ~ Commodore Carpenter who VIII be.
come Rear-A Admiral the retirement OF Admiral
C;hersr!i next month. Admiral Greer Will retire
nnx, February and Commodore Kirkland Will take
his nlace That Will put Commodore Potter at the
head OF the list and II the then Admiral CARPENTER
vii retire at once Potter Will become an Admiral
Ia,,r. f..viug active duty.