The Portland daily press., 1896-11-16

New York, Novemb Der 14-Unusual ac-
tivity prevails at present in the Brooklyn
navy yard, and all the indications are
that the vessels Of the North Atlantic
Squadron are being placed on war
footing. The work Of preparation is hur-
rying forward as fast as possible, and
several of the vessels are now ready for
any emergency.
Three significant facts were learned
today at the yard. One ia that for the
past three weeks men have been working
at night and even on Sundays on several
OF the vessels; another is that an unu-
sual quantity OF ammunition is being
placed In the magazines of the warships,
and the third is that orders have been
issued from Washington to have some of
the vessels ready for service within two
weeks.
The New York, the flagship of the
squadron, is one of these. She must be
ready for sea, according to orders, by
November %. This means that the entire
feet will be ready about the same time.
About 200 more men were at work to-
day in the construction and repair de-
partment of the yard than were at work
about the same date last year. The men
Mt work on the ships yesterday num-
bered 993 and there was about the same
number on the vessels today. About
the middle of NovsmAe last year the
men at work in the construction depart
meut numbered between 750 and 100.
But naval constructor Duwlss declared
today that there Was nothing significant
in these figures, and that no increase had
law does not allow any increased force at
the yard for 60 days before election, and
| since election an extra help has been put
on, with the exception of 20 oalkers, who
| are now working on the spar deck of the
old training ship Essex. Of course the
officers at the yard and on the warships
deny that the preparations have anything
to do with prospective trouble with
Spain, but they smile significantly when
they make their denials. They do not,
as matter of fact, know very much az
TO the exact Significance of the matter,
for the Washington authorities are keep
ing their own counsel, but the general
impression prevails that the vessels are
preparing for a coming crisis in the
relations between Spain and the United
States. The fleet, 1t is almost certain,
is going to southern waters, and the fact
that it is going to carry an extra supply
of ammunition is regarded an signif1-
can't.
The New York, 1t was said at the yard,
has laid in very large quantity over
her usual allowance and 100 extra rounds
have been placed in the magazine of the
Montgomery Ten vessels were lying in
the yard this morning. Seven of them
Will be ready for active service very soon.
These are the big battleship Indiana, the
second class battlsship Maine, the pro-
aected cruisers New ork and Montgom-
err, the bastleship Texas, the armored
monitor Puritan and the ram Katah din.
| The Texas, which sank at her dock a
week ago, was in the new dry dock this
morning with a swarm of men at work
| ON her hull. She can be made ready
within two weeks if necessary, but 1t is
said that structural defects have been
discovered in her hull, and it may be
deemed necessary to make importan
changes unless there is actual need of
her services. The monitor Puritan ts
now ready to be placed in comm ission.
Shells lying at the pier short distance
from the old dry dock with her immense
guns protruding from the two turrets,
everything about her spick and span.