The San Francisco call., 1896-09-21
NAMES OF BATTLE-SHIPS
California, Alabama and Penn,
sylvania Will Probably
Be Selected.
Numerous Suggestions Are Made as
to Names for the Six New
Gun5oats.

WASHINGTON, D. e., Sept. 20.-For
fully three months the question of naming
not only the new torpedo-boa but the
six composite gunboats and the three
newest battle ships, has been before Secre-
tary Herbert. In some cases the plan has
been to allow the Secretary under the adj
ministration in which the vessel is
launched 10 choose the name rather than
the one under which she has been planned
or which has made the contract for her
construction; but there are also cases in
which the name has been given when a
vessels keel has been laid. This last ap-
pears also to be familiar practice IN Eng.
land and other foreign countries, espec.
la lily In cases of large ships long time
under construction. 1t is probable, there
fore, that Secretary Herbert will avail
himself of bis privilege to name the new
battle-ships when the contracts for them
are given out, or soon afterward. Indeed,
it has been intimated that the three States
selected are California, Alabama and
Pennsylvania.
The first of these names is presumably
suggested in part by the fact that one of
the ships, as in the case of the Oregon,
will be built on the Pacific Coast. Ala
bama is the Secretary $ own State, and,
although there is already a Montgomery
in the navy, 1T is not unlikely that he will
make this selection. Pennsylvania is 4
good name for battle-ship, and the fact
that the Cramps have built so many of
our vessels would be an additional reason
for its selection.
As to the six gunboats, the applicants
for standing sponsors TO them are numer-
Gus. Such names as Allegheny, Blrming.
ham, Bridgeport, Chattanooga, Chelsea,
Germantown, Gloucester, Lexington, Ken
esaw, Marietta. New Bedford, New Lon
don, Norfolk, North Point, Niagara, Ia
coma, Vicksburg and Wheeling will sug-
gest the variety of applications and there
are others, like Albany, Cleveland,
Omaha, Pittsburg and st. Louis.
The board which is planning a reserve
fleet system for the navy is understood to
be considering three yards from which to
select station for laying up ships in or
binary on the Atlantic coast. They are
the Brooklyn, the Portsmouth and the
League Island yards. Each has points in
its favor, and it is possible that two OF
them will be used. Each of these has the
advantage OF being situated directly at a
great manufacturing and commercial city,
where there is not only plenty of labor at
| command, but ship building material OF
all SORTS, with abundant supplies. When
a ship is laid up in reserve, it is with the
intent of having her ready to be put IN
commission at short notice.
| Soon similar station will be selected
| for the Pacific Coast.
Torpedo boats will be laid up in reserve
like cruisers, monitors and battleships
but for them sheds will be constructed
and it is not unlikely that they may be
| found at several navy yards along the
coast, since these craft are essentially fol
local defense and should be ready to act
promptly, and each section of the coast
have its share of them.
Lieutenant William F. Han cock, Fifth
Artillery, is relieved from the completion
of shipment of Government property from
the University to Rock Island, Ill HC
will then proceed to join his battery,