The evening times., 1896-08-29
Guns FOR OCEAN STEAMERS
Greyh0unds Can Be Turned
Into Fighting Machines.
WOULD PATROL THE COAST
In Case of War Uncle sam Could Soon
Arm Powerful Fleet Which w ould
Prove IA Terror to Commerce-Ord-
nance Being Prepared for Such au
Emergency.

Few people realize to what extent the
coast defenses OF the United States Gould
ue Increased in case OF war by the equip
ment OF the merchant marine vessels ;,s
battleships. The Navy Department is now
engaged in the preparation OF heavy orul-
nance with which the service could be
fittsi olt in the unhappy event Of any in-
ternational difficulty.
IL Is Il fact net generally Known that
should the recent Venezuelan trouble, so
much discussed, have brought about a war
with England. or should even now our iH-
reference in behalf Ct struggling Cuba SO
anger Spain that she woul thirst for battle
with Uncle Sam, not less than thirty nr
the most powerful merchant ships could
be pressed intn service as men-of- war
For Il number OF years the department.
has had enrolled majority OF the better
vessels, to be used in case OF emergency
The wisdom of this canEos be overesU
mated in event OF strife.
y POWERFUL FLEET.
BY act OF the last Congress the merchant
vessels, wiicn constitute what would be
known asJhe auNila cruisers, were granted
additional privileges, and are subsidized
that they may he available at any moment
upon or'.er OF the Secretary OF tie Navy.
There formerly existed what was caller -
board OF inspection, consisting of naval
experts, for tiic purpose or exarnining and
reporting upon the condition Of such YES
scls and rating them iD certain classes, ca
pable of carrying so much ordnance.
This, of late, has fallen into disuse. but
it S TO lie revived, and it is expected that
"A uhnlpg1lp luEnp,finp nf merchant
marine service will be made in the near
future and the idea further encouraged.
Some OF these ships could successfully
mount four, five and siS-iHch rapid-f 81
guns. which would provide each with an
eiI.cIent iattery. The speed OF the rn;t-
iority OF these auxiliary cruisers will ex-
ceed that of the hest OF the smaller battle
ships of the navy and as commerce destroy
ers they would lie equally as effective, if
not surpassinc, the guDboat class of steel
ships.
When the idea OF using the merchant
marine as auxiliary cruisers was fiEst
| promulgated and an inspection OF certain
SHIPS made in 1885. they were divided into
| three classes This was, however. prior
TO the building of such flyers as the New
York, st. Paul. Paris AID ST. Louis.
| COULD DESTROY COMMERCE.
whilc the three classes have been main
tanned. il has been necessary tU change the
rate, and some which were formerly in
| the first have heen relegated to the Sec
OF the American line.
To enter tue first class now a vessel
| must MAKE twenty knots, which has been
| attained hy each Of the above named. By
far the most fleet and powerful Of this
| great addition to the Country's strength
| upon the sea VIII be the floating palaces OF
| the American line OF steamers 1t is doubt
! full If there is a latte slip, the new Iowa.
! not excepted, in the Navy which would
| hc able To keep pace with them, especially
| i'll a long stretch
| The Minneapolis and Columbia and others
! with their pow erful machinery could scarce
| hope to follow such vessels as the New
| Ycrs, ST Paul, Paris, st. Louis and others
\ OF the same class.
The ordnance department is at present
engaged in the preparation of something
| Ike 100 four, five and six x-inch guns TO
De placed on these auxiliary cruisers.
They viii not be mounted as long as peace
reigns, hut should war break out they
could he sGcce -sfully equipped in twenty
four or forty eight EouTS.
The ships or the American linc would lie
ARMED with twe'vc-inch guns, arranged FOL
hrnadsi..e action; or six inch caliber. The
SMALLER and less powerful vessels will lie
equipped with four ard fire-inoh rifles.
In addition to these guns, each merchant
marine vessel of the auxiliary cruisers viii
he supplied with secondary battery nj
most equal in POWER Ia thOSc Of the snialley
gunboatS and men ofwar.