The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-14
50 Says Her Commander, Capt. Henry Glass
In His Report to Washington.
POSSESSES GREAT MAN0EUvRlKG POWER
Onictnl Trial Scheduled for the iSth
far Serviee-wilI Join Admiral
Buuee's Squadron : minneapolis
Slow Trip Causes Surprise.

Washington. ID. c., Dec. 13.-Thc trial
Yesterday of the Government built bat
tleshp, Texas, whose several misior-
tunes have given rise to many conflict
Ing opinions as to her capabilities, Ie-
suited In an entirely satisfactory per
fornancc, according to Captain Henry
Glass. her commander. Captain Glass
says:
with moderate wind and sea on how
or quarter she Is very steady ana speed
OF 10 to lIi knots We're made with ell
gine revolutions from Ia 20 l2j. At
these speeds the absence of excessive
vibrations In any portion of the hull
Is very marked. The ship handles
with perfect case ut any speed and pos.
scsSes. think, great manocuvcrine
power"
The engines of the Texas were run
ai full speed for four hours, excepting
several times when IL was necessary
to slow down or stop them for Il few
minutes because the journals became
over heated. The trial wns finally dis
continued on account OF this and Cap
l;lin Glass says that certain journals OF
the main engines Will have to be over
hauled and put In thorough order
tie recommends that as the Texas mas
had two days of sea trials. no further
preliminary trial be directed until tho
board of Engineers has been appointed
to conduct the official trial as in his
opinion. when the work on the Journals
has been completed. nothing further
need be done to put the engine. as now
arranged. In condition for service
Orders were issued by the Navy De-
partment this afternoon directing that
the official trial OF the Texas should lake
place OF the 18th inst.
The nrmored cruiser Maine Is prac-
tlc;Ily ready for service. A telegram
10 the Navy Department dated at New
Bewts St fFR@ s Sseaain Sssasl nSsF5 SSe
on Inspection, says the Maine is c,,-
tireiy ready for sea and II Will moi br
necessary to send her TO any navy yard
,"r repairs for anything of that na-
l,ire. i'ad weather has prevented her
from leaving Newport. CAPTAIN Dewey
says that the Board have completed tho
inspection of the vessel Including n s,lc-
ce$sful iull-speed trial cycept OH
tanning her tactical diameter. firing IN,
tufrct guns and testing her hydraulic,
nachlnerN Tho telegram leaves n
doubt as To whether tho torpetlocs were
Tested. and Acting Secretary McAdoo
mas wired Captain Dewey on the sub
!trt' III II me torpedo test has been made
me Maine viii hc ordered to coal and
JON Admiral 8unccs squadron of cvo.
luton at Hampton Roads without de-
lay. The squadron Is scheduled to saiI
December 2lSt
The Itinerary OF the fleet. subject IN
such changes as Admiral Bunce NAV dc.
sire to make, is as follows:
Hampton Roads. St Thomas Santo
Cruz. ST. Kits. Qua daulope. Martinauc,
81. Lucia. Rarbadocs ST Lucia. Porto
tica, San Domingo, Port An Prince.
kingston, Colon. Port Limon, Grey
da Bay; Key West, Hampton Roads.
arriving at the latter port ON NAV l2th.
Coal VIII he taken at St Thomas
81. Lucia. and Key West During tho
stay at Trinidad. the squadron will
nave drill and target practice in the
bay OF Iaria.
Much attention has been drawn to
thlS squadron by rumOrs that It's vow
age to the tropics hinged on the Vcnc-
%ucian controversy. and the warnings
OF the British newspapers that visit
oy thc squadron to any Venezuelan
port would be locked on with disfavor
by Great Britain. The Itinerary shows
,hat Trinidad, n days sail from the
Venezuelan coast. will be the nearest
approach to the territory in controvcr-
sN and II may he of significance that
thirteen days will be spent there on the
down trip, and six days in returning
Admiral Runce's squadron will consist
OF the New York. the Columbia. the
Raleigh. and the Cincinnati. all crus-
ers. and the Maine. sometimes dcscrib-
cd as an armorcd cruiser but more fire.
quently as q second class battl.ship
The cruiser Minneapolis. under orders
to proceed to Smyrna. Syria. in con-
ncction with the protection of Amcri-
can interests. arrived at Gibraltar to-
day
The Minneapolis passed through the
Virginia Capes outward bound on No
vcmber 27th. and was therefore sixteen
days in making the voyage. As she is
considered the fastest ship Of the
navy. her low average speed Of about
nine knots an hour causes some sur
prise. although the vessel was not or
dcred To proceed with dispatch.
The training ship Essex sailed vestcr-
day from 81. Thomas. West Indies for
Yorktown Va. The torpedo boat Cush-
ing arrived a. New York to-day from
Newport.
Naval orders have been Issued as fol-
lows:
Lieutenant C. a. Calkins, from the
branch photographic office. Port Ore
gon. Ore, TO Rcston; Ensign G.. w. VIII
lians. from the naval proving ground
TO tive Washington navy-yard: Iieuten-
ant J. O. Nicholson from the Mon, gom-
cry to examination by the retiring
board, then to be placed on waiting
orders.
The Civil Service Reform League to-
day reelected all It's present list Of Of
tjCcrs and approved the budget of the
Finance Committee for the cNpend-
ture of $500 during the ensuing year.
The report of the special Committee on
Pensions. of which Charles a. Roma
parte is chairman. showed n great mum
Der OF additions to the classified service.