New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
AEFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
WAITING FOR MEN-OF-wAR TO COME TO
PORT.
,ucu ACTIVITY EXPECTED WITH THE COMING
OF WARM wEATHER-NoTEs AND GOSSIP
ABOUT NAVAL MATTERS.

MICH ACTIVITY EXPECTED WITH THE COMING
OF WARM wEATHER-NorEs AND GOSSIP
ABOUT NAVAL MATTERS.
cbrouded in a mantle OF moist sticky snow. and
boating in a constantly shifting sea OF ice the ola
wooden hulks at the Navy Yard yesterday looked
more Ike the ghosts of departed naval glory than
,,ke parts useful. however humble. of the sea-
,ower of the Nation. The oldtimers are in the
,o,oritv at the yard now. as OF the new. modern,
.yitt and high-powered Navy. there are only two
omnles ahoat in the Wallabout Channel-the
Castne and the Terror
,rba former IL was expected. would haul ont into
h stream yesterday. but was delayed by the
-, Her departure for East African waters.
.no,-sr Will not be long delayed. as she is ready
g., sea and go at short notice Commander
Pr called Commodore Sicard yesterday, and
4, is more than likely that she will set away by
tomorrow
1n,orest now is chiefly centred on the expected
r,yal here of the Columbia for short clean
nm. before joining Rear-Admiral Meades feet in
fbe West Indies. The Minneapolis is also expected
at the yard soon. and then the Chicago will be on
her way homo from her long stay the European
station. and her arrival means lots of work for all
tho bureaus. Tho Steam Engineering Department
Is at work her new engines. Naval Con-
struc;or Fernalds forces will have plenty TO do
in repairing and replacing weak spots. and this.
with the return Of the fleet from the West Indies.
will keep things bumming for some time. SO that,
although there is present particular activity,
the prospects for the future are encouraging.
Speaking about the return of the Chicago, the
question &c what disposition Will be made or
captain Alfred T. Mahan. her commander. has
been freely discussed at the yard The sugges-
ton that he would resign from the Navy to take
the Professorship of Modern History at Cambridge
University which has been made by a London
journal Is laughed at by those who know him. 1t
IS not at all Likely that Rear-Admiral Ramsay
will give up the comfortable billet he now holds
a, the head of the Bureau of Navigation. that
Captain Mahan cannot be considered in line for
that place. The general opinion seems to be that
IS Lieutenant Frederic Singer. now at the head Of
the Bureau OF Naval Intelligence is near the end
OF his term Of shore duty. Captain Mahan will be
assigned to that place which is ONE for which ne
is eminenty ht1
There Is a great deal OF satisfaction expressed
over the fine performance Of the Cincinnati on her
trp South This is natural. as the vessel is
product Of the yard and the fact that she can give
the New-York the liveliest kind of tussle when
speed is at issue is accepted as a vindication of
the belief that tie navy yards of the Govern
inent can build ships speedy and effective,
weight for weight. as those turned out by contract
and do 1t as cheaply. all things considered.
The report that Secretary Herbert intends to rec
onmend 10 the President nominate to the Senate
Commodore George w Melville to succeed himself
as Engneer-in-Chef of the Navy is not only
compliment that officers ability but seems to
meet the general approval of both line and staff
despite the fact that that officer has incidentally
antagonized the bills of line officers by demanding
that they should be amended as not TO do injus-
tce TO the Engineer Corps as we'll as other stan
officers. Commodore Neville vas first made chiet
OF the Bureau OF Steam Engineering on August 3.
1881. at time when he had barely recoVereu Ilo,n
his suferngs in connection with the Jeanette
Of that bureau throughout the years OF building up
the new Navy. and he and his able corps OF as as
sistants have only designed the machinery Tor
the Observation-Disclosures Columbia and Minneapolis.
and Of other vessels but they have had something
10 An wifi he
have been much improved and as the efficiency . Of
dependent upon the machinery, the importance Of
the bureau and its personnel cannot be overesti-
Mr.. Melville entered the Navy in July 1851, and
Was actively employed DUNG the b G sbe Wan
the prvateer Florida in the harbor of Bahia. Brazil
Prior the capture the commander Of the Wae l,
sett desired nformat!On regarding the FlSridas bat bat
duty but managed vase d4 TO get on board
had Ii nearly completed when the captain decided 70
the captain a and the ehxineer fear
pressed lest hs rammins would dsod s NE boilers
and scald ali hands IN board. Mr.. Neville thought
ennss and eee and the risk being
ecalded. After the capture he was sent on board
@ Fs se "a h her anos time
tailed on special duty with admiral Por'eTs TORPEDO t.
ing torpedo htting ships il isis he chief
the &c the TO oes a hs T he
Search Expedition: A few years later he was chief
wiser on the Jeanette Expedition. and those who
remember the history Of that expedition Will recall
FOR relief and back again when he discovered the
bodies Of his comrades who had starved and frozen
Mr. Mevire's ability was observed by Secretary
weS from ea q days
while he was chairman ana member OF the s. house
rssSs9ssd %6 sSo iSa
head OF the Engineer corps OF
the Navy. II is only few months ago that Com
se ae 5r
he noae and 81 VINO
He has s BEEN an earnest advocate e improving
stea men and solely for the benefit Of the entire
service and the country In his last report ne nged
upon the Officers as JUST and proper RECOGNITION
the service psETormsa BY for In this sS,hoy
outside Of THEN % tn nnv ny Hny Should
battle. and who directs the operations OF men dur
nafslze . the functions they now perfoTm also
gdd nat n sSa 5e oe s
specific regulations about the drilling Of men OF ,b me
essn nxs Be- DONE
aa meow saa that sss% n to e srs at the yard WIZ
protest against the payment OF me income tax wnch
G ns sYsa ana sva u" Officer is Liable for
when his salary. mileage fees etc, amounts TO
Court or Of CLAIMS Claims for "a" test est
Among the recent MAYA Graers ameesns o ,n
n Jordan detached from the Union Iron Works
and ordered to the Vesuvius on FEBRUARY 10 re,
ilev,ng lieutenant Frank E. Beatty who is ordered
to the Naval Academy ,,,.,, co.o, Ia
Passed Assistant Engineer Franklin =. scns sn me
Naval Hospital at Norfolk ,..ua ,o tho
IJeutenant Custavus G. Hams detached from tne
ward and ordered TO duty in the Coast survey
Lieutenant Conn ander Charles A. Adams' OF tne
stan Of Commodore Sicard. has been lad up ioT
the last week. suffering from an attack o, IN, ue
grin. and some OF the other officers Al the stsuoon
are taking extra precautions to avoid touch OF the
prevailing maady