New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-11
NATIONAL HUMILIATION.
M HOME DOCK FOR THE coUNTRYs
FIRST BATTLE-sHIP.
..c,rrApy urpprRr's ENprAvoRs TO HAVE
THE pErEcrIvr PORT ROYAL DOCK cSHo
FOR THE INDIANA


IN, rr,ronAru TO rHE rniruSE1
Warrington Sep. io.--secfetary hefpc.' '''"' "
49, become aroused TO the fact that the country
s =. national humiliation the fact tna'
49,. q. No home dock tig enough ana srons
.rouah 10 accommodate the batue-sh'p inu'"na
Tho Secretary 10 endeavoring 20 induce '"' 80
"a nut the ship in the Port Royal dock "h''" M
been reported defective. ana not tahe Nv, ,,,,,.
o., We seems 20 think that there would pe ","e
"a ..v,ne ,ha vessel al the South Carolina
..,,on He "a evidently greatly worried ana ne WIN
.,r,v. earnestly to make It appear that the COUNT
erst battie-ship will not have TO 20 10 MI '1"'''
port ,,,.s,rr tho dry
We,l-informed naval officers In discussihs VIZ
aock question to-day said they could wen u"'e'
~ ,hs Secretary was anxious tina; a nome ooeA
shouh he used by the Indiana, III we" " ~,
fact that there had been so much Pop'NS
into the construction of those at fort hoysi anu "
yo,x These officers DO not agree win the 'ee'e
tary that the Indiana can be repaired a. 800
povs, They would prefer that such was Tue 'Aee'
g.. H., he,ieve that a great risk would De run III
.,,r the attempt They say that they wonio No.
m-,ar,ake the duty without positive ORDERS ana
.vs, then would obey only under protest.
some new facts relative to the condiuoh Oh 'ne
d.. poyal dock have come TO light going 10 snow
that the recent test OF the basin was not co"e'"
-. ,ha, .he construction work Is Imperfect, ana
tina. parts OF the dock are In such damaged con-
a,ton as TO make II unserviceaoe Tor os 'es'.'',
r, .nnears that when the Amphtrite was uOcheu
.t the station a few days ago. she was placer 50
that no great weight rested on all parts OF 'ne oo
The vessel was hauled to the front end OF the dock
ond Jeff there for some time. This portion seemed
70 be sound and strong as was the rear emo "hen
,r,a1 The centre was not tested. and II Is mere
that weakness has existed and propapiy exists To-
day Some time ago there was a no'ceapie ris'ns
IN this section due to hydrostatc causes. Iheh II
was feared that the dock was permanently oafh'
ayed Great weights were employed however, ana
the central section pressed downward INTO iss Ten,
position Experts say there is reason to expect .har
Similar conditions may again arise ana ,ha' siia
occur when ship is in the dock, she would be seri-
ously injured. II not destroyed . - .,a, ,,a
ca NaSa' Of the Port Roya Basin weak and It's
present condition dangerous !, is ,ne ra's f6e
Socki II Is the huge gate so to speak. at the en-,
trance. II It gives way when a snip he 20 wrncked
S,oes KS lives Of the persons on board in jeop-
srdy TIE caisson operates IN huge nper shp ~,
IN inner side of the ends 1t has been found that
the inner groove is cracked 10 considerapie eX.
tent SeT REF Dock wea re aH eondons s
precated when it Is undsrsto9a ,na' the e cssson is
terridc and the consequent strain against the pig
The inner sr SS of o4se w se
inward The caisson would then be carriea awa ;
and the outside water would rush IN The are the
Conditions wh'ch the Cramps have 10 eonsner' IN
addition the point that sscreaIy here heree q s,
hcent water 10 carry the Indiana over the par nsat
the drydock The bar said to have iTeny 'e to
Srew rom tventv-two TO twenty-sx feet There ~
an absence Of definite inf3rmson on 's ibc navy
.houlS want the countrys first bat,e;ship docked
home He has had ampe B SPpTh1 e has permitted
poitics TO control his action TO such an extent una.
the lamentabls fact exists tnat %ou naval stations
Of the country.