The San Francisco call., 1896-02-24

After while, when the Navy Depart
meat gets few surplus modern guns
built, the Comanche may be provided
with couple of breech-loading rifles with
new carriages. The Goyernm ent has con-
verted old II and Is inchers by ramming
an 8-inch rife barrel into their smooth
throats, but that method has also become
obsolete. AS it is it is hardly fair to drill
the naval militia with an old battery that
threw round shot thirty years ago.
When the Comanche goes into commits
sion she will need an engineers force ana
this will necessitate the addition of new
company to the battalion.
The. engineers division of the reserve
will be composed of about twenty fremen
and coalheavers. The naval service fire.
men get $50 and $35 per month and coal
beavers $22, and as feeding the furnaces Of
a monitor, even during a cruise of few
days, is not pleasure excursion it is not
known what arrangements the State will
make to fill this division. Several ma
chinists will be required to practically
handle the engines when the vessel is un-
Ger steam.
In the navy these rank as chief-petty
officers, $40 per month, and first-class petty
officers at $55. They pass thorough ex-
animation in marine steam engineering.
There must be also three commissioned
engineer officers, chief with the rank of
ably the rank of ensign. Any master
marine engineer is eligible for these posi-
tions.
The engineers division is drilled with
small arms and can take place in the line
with muskets and accoutrements under
their division officers when not aboard the
ship. They will be enlisted in the naval
reserve and subject to the rules and regu-
lations the same as the men of the other
w
the engineer officer of the watch is under
the command of the officer of the deck,
even should the rank of the former be
higher than that OF the latter.
The Comanche has no boats, conse-
quently those now in the battalion's pos
session will be hoisted on the monitors
davits when she goes to sea. A steam
launch will be provided for her at the
naxy-yard if required.
Adj Adjutant-General Barrett, when inter
viewed regarding these arrangements,
stated that in all proba bility the Navy De-
partment would place several enlisted
men and petty officers or yard employees
aboard to care for the vessel and her en-
gines, as she is still the property of the
United States Government and must be
looked after by experienced shipkeepers.
However, they will be under the orders of
the commander of the battalion, who will
be directly responsible for her safety.
The Comanche is in excellent condition
throughout, from turret to fireroom, and
with a mo modern battery of rifles and ma
chine guns, manned by the battalion, she
would be no mean harbor-defense craft
She is a roomy vessel. 200 feet 2 inches in
length. As feet II inches in beam. and has
draught OF II feet 6 inches. Her speed
is six knots and her coal capacity is 16O
tons. The engines are of $50 indicated
horsepower. She was built in 1868, at a
cost of about $500 900. A few months ago
she was put in the drydock, scraped and
her hull given coat of anti-fouling paint,
consequently she only needs her coal
bunkers replenished to be ready for sea-
General Barrett states that she will be
turned over to the naval reserve when the
Governor calls for her.