New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-25
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
CAPTAIN SUMNER TO APPEAR BEFORE
COURT.
THE QUESTION OF THE cor.,,Mp,rs vr,xxrss
TO BE sErrLED-NorEs ABOUT
NAVAL MATTERS

TO BE sErTLED-NorEs Apor-r
NAVAL MATTERS
For the second time within a vsar p.ar .d,,ra,
John c. Walker is to preside over a naval court in
the Brooklyn yard. The last time no nerformed
that duty ne was president OF the court which had
before 1t Medical Inspector Edward Klrschner who
was trial for violation OF Article No 2s5 OF
the Naval Regulations the final decision in the
matter still being In the hands OF the President
The case now in hand is that OF Captain George w.
Sumner. of the cruiser Columbia and his officers
who will be called 10 explain how the injuries
70 the snip which were received in the dock at
southampton were caused. In view of the report
Of the board of inspection which examined the
vessel when she was locked in BROOKLYN the au-
thorities were at first disposed to let the matter
drop. but Captain Summers answer 70 the Depart
ments request FOR an explanation differs radi-
cslly from the views entertained by the Bureau OF
Construction and other authorities that the Depart
rent has determined 10 get the exact facts In
the and find out whether the vessel IS struct-
uraly weak as has been asserted BY the captain
or whether the damage was due TO improper dock
Ing and lack OF supervision by the officers OF the
ship as Is maintained by the constructors depart-
nent When the report Of the board Of survey was
received by the Department ii was submitted to
Captain Sumner with request for an explanation.
His reply reiterated his previous assertion that had
Il not been for the structural weakness OF the ship
no damage would have followed the docking at
Southampton This is also the assertion made by
the owners Of the dockyard. The Construction Blu
reau in an elaborate report the Secretary shows
that the vessel vas not locked in accordance with
the docking plan with which she was equipped The
court Will meet In the court-martal room in Build
ing No. :, on Tuesday. \and will be composed OF
Rear-Admral Walker. Captain Albert Kautz OF the
receiving ship Wabash and Captain Frederick Rodg-
ers captain az the Brooklyn yard. with Lieutenant
Herbert l. Draper of the Marine Corps as judge
advocate.
Inc Work OF repairing the cruiser so nearly COM
pleted that she will b. ioated the high tide Of
Wednesday. and after taking on coal and stores
VII be ready 10 join the feet OF Rear-Admral
Bunce at Bar Harbor wherever Il may happen
10 be Her departure. however. is likely to be de-
layed by the detention OF her officers during the
sion OF the court unless matters are hurried TO a
finish.
The Atlanta which arrived in port on Friday
will sail eastward on Tuesday unless the present
programme is altered. II expected at the yard
that she would be placed in the hands Of the Steam
Engineering ard Construction departments for ex-
tensive repairs. and probably be put out OF COM
mission along with the Chicago. This will not be
done now. however. until the so-caled evoutons
OF the squadron over, and although she will be
more Ike lame duck than warship In good con-
diiion, she will at least help swell the number Of
vessels on exhibition at Eastern seapor,s In con-
nection with the parade in Boston Harbor during
the conclave Of Knights Tempar there. there will
be an occasion OF much interest board the Min
neapols. The silver service given TO the cruiser by
the citizens OF the city after which she named
will be presented TO the ship the afternoon OF
August 81 delegation OF Minneapolis people COM
sng on from that city to the affair.
CHIEF ENGINEER AYRES RELIEVED
Chief Engineer Samuel L. P Ayres was relieved
Thursday OF the control OF the Steam Engineering
Bureau. by Chief Engineer Edward Farmer for
merly Of the Boston yard. and becomes a member
OF the Board OF Inspection and Survey. in Phila-
dephia Chief Ayres. who In the yard from
June. 1891. until his transfer. OF the hardest
working and most ski.ful men in the corps. To
him is due in great measure the great increase in
the efficiency OF the yard shops and the excellence
of the work turned out The shops have grown in
fhe last four years into one OF the completely
equipped plants in the country, and the organization
OF the force is Of the peculiarites of the place
The various shops under the direction OF the
zoremen and their quar;ermen and the work in