Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-17
It Will Be Needed in the Coming
Trip Of the Philadelphia.
TACOMA AND SEATTLE RIVALRY
The Mohican Out of Commission
Replaced by the Marion.
THE LANCASTER'S CRUISE

The Philadelphia, flagship of the Pacific
station, has dropped down to San Francisco
from the Mare Island navy yard, prepara-
tory to making a cruise along the north
Pacific coast, including a visit to the ports
on Puget sound. Admiral Beardslee, COM
manding the station, will accompany the
vessel on her trip. 1t will require the ex-
ercise of the greatest diplomatic tact for
him to avoid giving offense to the rival
cities of Tacoma and Seattle. If he should
happen to show the least preference for
one over the other, or should keep his ves-
sci in one port a minute longer than in the
other a merry war would result, and the
matter would be undoubtedly made the sub
ject of municipal complaint to the Pres
ident. An official of the Navy Department
says that the only way in which Admiral
Beardsiee can hope to escape storm Of
indignation from one of these cities is for
him to anchor the Philadelphia at a point
midway between them, with a gangplank
leading to each city; and even then ne can
hardly hope to escape the charge or dis
elimination. For these reasons the cruise
of the flagship will be watched with interest
by naval officers who have been there.
The Mohican Out of Commission.
Reports received at the Navy Depart
ment show that the Mohican has been put
been put in commission at the Mare Is
land navy yard. This result was accom-
plished by the transfer of the entire ships
company, bag and baggage from the for
mer to the latter. The Mohican has betn
in active service for nearly ten years, and
has made an excellent record. She viii be
overhauled and repaired and will receive
a new crank shaft, after which she will be
equal to many years more cruising. She
and the Marion are wooden cruisers of
1900 tons displacement and are regarded
as "old relables." that is, they are always
available for duty and invariably render
good account of themselves.
The Marion to Go to South America.
The Marion will be coaled and provisioned
in a few days, and will then go to sea with
out further delay. Her first service will he
a cruise to Central and South America for
the purpose of relieving the Alert or
Ranger, which have been on duty in the
torrid zone for many months, and are en-
titled to change of climate. 1nasmuch as
the Ranger has been in those waters longer
than the Alert. the probability is that she
will be given the preference. The question
as to which vessel the Marion will relieve
will not be absolutely settled, however, un-
til the Marion reaches her station. The
Ranger is ct Guayaquil and the Alert left
Panama yesterday for the same port, IN or
der to allow the former to proceed farther
north.
Maneuvers in the North Atlantic.
Admiral Bunce, commanding the North
Atlantic squadron, has informed the Navy
Department that after coaling at Tomp-
kinsville, New York harbor, the New York,
Minneapolis, Columbia, Raleigh and Mont
gomery will proceed to sea for exercise in
maneuvers, in continuation of the program
begun at Newport. The Columbia has just
been added to the fleet. 1t is Admiral
Bunce's purpose to cruise slowly along the
coast to the south, with a view to visit
to Norfolk when necessary to replenish
coal bunkers.
The Lnncaster's Cruise.
The old wooden frigate Lancaster. which
has Just been transformed into a practice
gunnery ship, is destined shortly to make
a long cruise. 1t has been necessary to re-
lieve 16O seamen attached to the vessels
en- the South Atlantic station. Their terms
have about expired and the government is
obliged to bring them home. In order to
do this with the least possible expense it
de Janeiro She will take down all the
men necessary to recruit the three vessels
on that station and will bring back to
New York all those who have be~n re-
lieved. In making this long voyage the
crew of the Lancaster will undergo in
struction in gunnery, so that there will he
no interruption in their regular course.
The crew of the Lancaster is recruited
from the more advanced classes of appren-
tees on the training ships Essex and
Alliance, as we'll as from seamen and lands
men in the navy showing special aptitude
in gunnery. They receive final instruction
on the Lancaster, and are then ready for
active service on the warships. In this
way the Lancaster acts in the nature of a
stepping stone from the training ships to
fhsa n