New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-28
ACTIVITY IN THE NAVY.
WHY Is WORK ON ALL UNFINISHED
VESSELS BEING PUSHED 80 HARD?
LARGE FLEETS IN COMMISSION noi Al"
ruoRIrlEs SEEM ANXIOUS TO IN
f,x rrIronApU TO THE TRiBrNE.I


my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBrNEI
r.,nn,or A,s y7-Unusual activity is being
.,owr nv the Naval authorities In preparing "'u
,,onaI vessels for service and there Is much Sp.0a
lation here over the reason. Withn ~" 80.
Acting Secretary McAdoo has diree'eu ' ,,,r
ships undergoing repairs be placed III Vo''' ,hn.s
n, the earliest practicable date. and worN VI -,
~ 80. re-, hastened TO the greatest eN'"'
,oss,b,e The vessels are the Lancaster W" co.,
ton and the Adams Instructions nav ,s,S xavv
wardcd to the commandment OF '"o 80 .,,rrai
Yard 10 push work on the Texas NJ" 90 Gail
Brown has ordered the ship 10 DC TO-, com.
., Saturday next The Maine, uhoe'evs ,
"" Now.york Navy Yard. VIII be p"'
a., orn,n,ss,on soon and II Is possible ina. :.
sufficient number OF seamen cannot ~ .,nnh,.
for her before the end OF septe"pe' w ., ,rorn
,rite will be put out OF service anu 49,, ., the
-, .,or,sa 10 New-York for duty o" '"e
Maine .,. aoos no, end
bore Bv order of Mr.. McAdoo' Chiei .o"s'
Hichborn has visited the Cramps satu " ,",,or
tain the condition and probable date Oh eo'''f 49,,
:, ,ho Indiana The big batteship mas
found TO be nearly ready for a trial. anu WI. 49,
-, has 90 reported to the Acting Secretary N'
oor os the vessels sea trial has been heid worn
~ hsr will be advanced with all haste cons's'e,''
with good workmanship. In order tha' s'e mag ~
pressed into service. ,.ss
Nv NcAdoo Is also interested in the progress
~ tho work of gunboats Nos. 4 ana ~ 49,
Nsws He has directed Naval Constructor "oo'-
yard in charge of the building OF the gunooa's ~
report to the Navy Dcraf'in' -'t '.-~ -..- - ,
when those vessels can be relied upon .o' 80,
The Boston and the Adams are pracucaiy ie"r.
for their officers and crews. and the commahdan'
NJ the Mare Island Navy Yard has been ordereu "
mn, tbero in commission as the repairs '"e'
ore receiving have advanced to such state as u
warrant the step.
WHAT Is THE EXPLANATION?
There is some for all this ACTIVITY! anu
speculation is keen as TO what IL Is Hed' % ,"''
kind Is unusual more especially in View oil the iaO'
tina, the home squadron and the Pacific coast
souadron are both reasonably large IN NUMBERS
and otherwise efficient. The North Atia'luc
souadron now comprises the New-io rH' 'he "
lumbia the Minneapolis the CINCINNATI the AZ
lanta the Raleigh. the Montgomery ana the Am
nhitrite The New York. the Minneapolis, the
Raleigh and the Montgomery are on the New
England coast "manoeuvring" from one pleasure
resort to another the Cincinnati Is looking out TOT
Cuban flibusters. and the COLUMBIA, the A'iai''"
and the Amphtrite are getting ready Tor CRUISE
The Texas is at the Norfolk Navy Yard preparing
for service She will join Admiral ounces fleet
next week Before october the Maine VIII also
ranort 10 the Admiral for duty. BY that date the
feet will consist of ten modern ships OF various
types all of which. except the Atlanta are In eN-
eellent condition.
Special surprise is manifested that inquiries should
readv The contract for their construction was
pne-l January e. 1884, and the specifications pro-
vide that they to be completed within twenty
four months Satisfactory progress has been made
and II is thought that Mr. McAdoo Is OF the opinion
that with some haste they may be advanced to
state Of completion before the time fixed. January
% Of next wear II Is evident that such Is his
wish The Pacific feet consists OF the Philadelphia
the Remington. the Monterey. the Mohican. the
Ranger and the Alert. AS stated. 1t Is TO De IN
creased by tie Boston and the Adams The Marion
which has been ready for cruise for some time
may also be added to Admiral Beardslees command
This would make his squadron include nine vessels
Four of the ships. the Philadelphia the Benhins
ton. the Monterey and the Boston, are modern
cruisers. carrying heavy batteries and capable Of
reasonably high speed The fleet is divided at pres
ent but II reports are trustworthy, II Is soon to be
concentrated and have rendezvous at some point
on the Western coast yet to be determined upon.
OFFICIALS GIVE NO SATISFACTION
The authorities vouchsafe satisfactory expana-
ton OF their present activity. When asked to-day
why the North Atlantic feet Is to be so materially
augmented officials at the Navy Department said
that II was thought necessary to add TO the number
OF Admiral Bunce's fleet In order that manoeuvres
on a bigger scale than has been proposed could be
carried out. In view OF the fact that the squadron
has engaged In practically no evoutons since II was
consolidated early this month. this explanation Is
not taken seriously. Ii would seem to have no
bearing In the Of the batteship Indiana. at
least As to the gunboats. IL Is said that uneasi-
ness IL felt over affairs In China. and that the
presence OF the three vessels in that quarter is
urgent. BY the exercise of all possible dispatch II
would be impossible for the contractors to turn the
gurboats over TO the Government before December
l. however and by that time the situation In the
East Is likely TO be more quiet. Therefore. II H.
thought that there IL some other reason for the in
quiry sent TO Naval Constructor Woodward.
As to the haste In the cases OF the Boston and the
.H&,l.f
signed and the current report that Admiral Boards
lees command is have rendezvous either at
some point on the Mexican coast at Panama is
neither affirmed nor denied.
DOES IT MEAN "JINGOIsM?"
Is the Administration TO indulge in "Jngosm 30
l. II TO display unwontel vgor in some pending
international auestlonsY IL so. what particular
question has aroused President Cleveland and Sec
rotary Onoy? 1t IL evidently the wish of many Of
the subordinate officials now In Washington TO
have the impression 20 abroad that the Admins
tration Is to put on holder front. These officials
In discussing the matter are frank enough TO say
that In the past the course of the authorities has
been entirely too meek to satisfy popular de
tnands, and that At the first opportunity a change
of policy Is to be shown. II demand Ii made
upon this country ~ IN not promptly TO be acceded
90. and when the United States finds II necessary
TO make a demand upon any foreign country, II Ia
promptly 10 be followed by a display OF naval
me onlclhlf temper thcif remarks with IN" init.
nation that no quarrels are to be picked but that
the future course IL To be one OF much nrnness.
Reference IN Of course made To tho Mora claim,
and the intention that Spain shall exhibit pro-
s5as'.,nsion in esecuting her latest agreement.
zuean boundary matter. and II what is heard is
needed. France IN to be required to give freedom
TO the ex-Consul. and England Is not TO encroach
upon Venezuelan territory Significant silence Is
maintained with respect 20 Nicaraguan affairs
especially the canal question.
In The opinion OF well-informed naval officers
one prominent officer said this afternoon that he
believed the State Department had received ex-