The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-06
TO SINK DERELICTs
The North Atlantic Squadron Might Be
Profiahly Engaged In This Work.
A KICK MADE AGAINST NEWPORT NEWS
Tie Navy Department. Thinks the
SbIpbuildinw Company fs Hurry
ing Forward Work OH Battle.
chips at thc Expense Of the
Smaller Vessels.

Smaller Vessels.
Washington, Dec. 5.-A novel use for
Admiral Bunce's squadron has been
suggested, and while officials have no:
Yet and probably will not take any ac-
ton towards the adoption OF the sugges-
'tion, 1t is interesting. 1t has been pro-
posed that the vessels of the squadron
be taken down in the region between the
Bermudas and Cape ltatteras. and de-
stroy III dcrelicts that at present are
very numerous in that vicinity The hy-
geographic office of the navy department
has received information of the presence
of nine floating wrecks between the
Bermudas and Cape Hatteras. and of
another group of five derelicts about
$50 miles south of the cape. These have
all been sighted within the past three
weeks by trading vessels plying to and
from the West Indies. Some of the big
steamers bound from our Southern
ports to Europe have come across these
same abandoned hulks and have mar
rowly escaped colliding with them.
They are directly in the track of ocean
shipping and form 4 constant menace
TO vessels. Many of them have been
drifting for years. and the longer they
are In the water the more dangerous
they become, as they get waterlogged
and gradually sink lower beneath the
waves, and are sometimes almost COM
pletely hidden from sight. a vessel
going at full speed and striking one of
these derelicts would be crippled. IL not
sunk. These useless craft would afford
excellent target practice for the big guns
of the Indiana. New York, Brooklyn.
and Maine, and in breaking them up
the cruisers would confer great benefit
on ship owners.
SAILING PRACTICE CRUISERS.
Some naval officers are inclined to rid
Il. 4. 49,.
tain Cooper, superintendent OF the Ma
val academy, for the construction of two
sailing practice cruisers for the use of
the cadets. They say that this type of
craft is entirely out of date, and to
spend time in instructing the naval ca
diets in the principles of sailing vessels
IS vase of time. In speaking of this
Recommendation an officer told the fol-
lowing incident as being apropos:
AFTER the ChineseJapancSe war;" he
said, sit was suggested 10 the Emperor
of China that 1t was high time to do
away with the ancient practice of sub
jecting candidates for appointments as
military mandarins to an examination in
archery, and the emperor thereupon in
structed the Secretary of War to send
in report on this subject. AS might be
expected in China, the Secretary re-
ported In favor of retaining The archery
test. stating as reason that ii would
DE dangerous. to the safety of the coun-
try to put firearms into the hands Of so
many young men. OF course the Secre-
'tary failed 10 comprehend that 1t would
be still more dangerous TO the safety
of the country TO give the command Of
troops TO marines who were not proper
~ acquainted with modern arms"
NAVY DEPARTMENT DISPLEASED.
The Navy Department is dissatisfied
with the progress being made by the
Newpor. News Shipbuilding company in
constructing the three gunboats. con-
tracts for which Were given out more
than year ago. 1t is thought that
the Newport News people are hurrylng
up the work on the bat.leships at the
expense of the smaller vessels, although
1t has been said that this firm has more
work on hand than 1t can properly az
tend to. There are now three battle
ships and like number OF gunboa Is
under construction a the Virginia plant.
The reason assigned for their delay in
completing the eunboats is their inabili-
~ to furnish tireproof wood for the
cecks. as required by the department.
These vessels should have been turned
over to the government las, spring, at
which time The contracts expired.
An interesting race Is going on at
three big shipyaiSls in this country
The Cramps. the Union Iron Works. OF
San Francisco. and the Newport News
Sh!pbuild!ng company are striving for
the speed record for building of a battle
ship. and 1t is generally undc stood that
the vessel in ..he shortest time Will have
the call with foreign countries desiring
to build new ships. This j. the first ;est
Of The kind. where the contestants start
ed out on equal terms. each having to
perform the same amount of work
From the reports received at the depart
ment the race Is TO be a close one. The
Newport News company has got most OF
the material necessary to build the bat
tleshp at It's yards and is ready 80 Law
The keel Tn" Cramps, with their big
plant, got a good start, and report that
they have the keel all laid down for heir
vessel. The Union Iron Works com
pany i also rushing work and promises
10 be close up In the lead at The finish
Experiment iu Co.opsratium.