Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-03
THE KATAHDIN REJECTED The First Vessel to Fall Below
 Requirements. CURIOUS POINT WILL ARISE Should She Be Sold to Some Foreign Gov
 ernment
A COMPROMISE MAY BE EFFECTED
Contracts for Six Composite Gun Boats Have Been Awarded-In an Encounter Be- tween Cubans and Spaniards the
 Cubans Were Defeated.

Washington, Nov 2-The official speed of the Ammen ram Katahdin is 16.lo knots, as reported to Secretary Herbert today by the trial board, and the vessel stands rejected under her contract, bear ing the distinction of being the first yes sel of the new navy failing to reach con tract requirements. Unless special pro vision is made by the next session Of con gress the Bath Iron works of Maine, which built the hull and machinery, must rely on selling her to some foreign gov ernment to recoup their expenditures, in which case a complication would arise, as $400 000 worth of armor belonging to the United States is fastened in place on the vessel and is valueless for other pur- poses.
 Secretary Herbert said he was power less to waive the specifications of the contract, which stipulated that unless the ram developed seventeen knots, or over, the vessel should be rejected. After a long conference with General Hyde, the builder, the secretary, however, con- sented to take care of the vessel at the New York navy yard pending further consideration of the matter by president Cleveland. No effort will be spared to effect some compromise before congress meets if President Cleveland decides that a modification of the contract speed re- uuirement would not be injurious to the governments interests. Unlike contracts for other naval vessels, which provide for certain forfeits if certain fixed speed were not secured, an iron clad clause was placed in the ram KataEdin agreement compelling her to show seventeen knots under penalty of rejection. The vessel xuh nf pYnQrimpnt1l character and for this reason few of the builders of warships responded to the ad- vertisement issued for proposals. Sec retary Tracey finally induced President Hyde of the Bath Iron works to under take the contract, giving assurances. 1t is said, that the department would be dis posed to be lenfent if it were demon- strated that the vessels design was de- fective. The keel was laid in 1891 and ever since that time frequent modified tions have had to be made in the plans because of defects The ship was de- layed two years by the fault of the ar nor contractors to fill their contract, and in the past year four different sets of propellers have had to be tried on the vessel as the result of many experimental runs.
 Naval officers still adhere to the belief that under favorable conditions in smooth water, for which the Katahdin was designed she could easily make the required seventeen knots. Her contrac- tors, however, prefer not to run the risk of forcing her higher than they did on Thursday and prefer to leave the whole matter to President Cleveland, relying on his fairness to suggest a just settle ment.
 Contracts Awarded.
 Secretary Herbert today awarded the contracts for the six composite gunboats authorized by the last congress Two of the vessels, the Twin screw, will be built bv the Union Iron works, San Francisco; i; one by Dialogue & Sons of Camden, N. J.; one by Louis Nixon, the Crescent Ship Building company Eliza zabethport N. J.; and two by the Bath Iron works, Bath, Me.
 The Cuban War.
 News is received here of another en- counter between the Spanish forces and the insurgents in Cuba in which the roy alists gained a substantial victory against overwhelming odds. The details came through unofficial sources today The insurgents, to the number of 1200 men, headed by Rego Ignacio Suraez of Ojio de Agua, met at a point near Cien- fuegoes on the southern coast of Cuba battalion of sixty soldiers of the Cana rias regiment and two civilian guards A sharp fight of nearly an hours dura- tion ensued resulting in the routing of the insurgents with several killed and many wounded. The loss of the Spanish troops was six killed and eleven wounded in cluding their commander. General Cam DOS has issued an order congratulating the troops upon their success and bravery.
 The Japanese Position Explained.
 MT. Kurino, the Japanese minister in Washington, has communicated to Sec retary Olney an official statement from mt nir1O hn Japanese position in the present aspect of Korean affairs. The statement, which came by cable, is as follows
 "Lega ton of Japan. Washington:
 'In regard to our attitude in Korea you are authorized to declare to the follow ing effect to the government Of the United States
 Japanese troops are now stationed in Korea to insure tranquility as we'll as to protect our legation, consulates and sub jects; and also to maintain the indispen- sable lines of communication with our army which is still in occupation of Liao Tung peninsula; the troops intended for the latter purpose are much larger in number. The necessity of keeping such troops will, however, cease at the same time with the evacuation of Liao Tung peninsula and so much of the troops will then be withdrawn from Korea. The Japanese government hopes that the Ko-
 
 upon the work of reforms, may suc- ceed and be able to maintain order and even protect foreigners, though our troops withdrew. We should be extreme ly gratified if we were relieved from such obligation. In our relations with Korea the policy of our government is one of non-interference, and our govern ment will gladly share equally with oth- CT powers in the same line of action"
 Secretary Herbert Sustained.
 few days ago Secretary Herbert de- cided that it would be a violation of treaty obligations to permit one of the new gunboats to be built upon the great lakes. Hon. Don M. Dickinson appealed to the president for reversal of Secre- tary Herbert's decision. This morning the president announced his approval of the position taken by the secretary in the matter, and the contract will not.