The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-15
FIRST OF A NEW NAVY.
Cuba Is Preparing TO Show Her
Power on Sea.
Plans Made for n Boat Which Is Ex-
pected to Prove Terror.

The Cuban war cabinet realizes that ID
will be necessary very soon TO have sea
force operating In conjunction with the
revolutionary land forces TO bring the Gu
ban war 10 n close and 10 finally secure tho
Independence OF Cuba. The leaders In Gu
ba and In New York know that without
some outside assistance 1t would take ten
years to compel the Spaniards TO evacuate
Havana, Santiago, Cienfuegos, Matanzas
and other fortified seaport cities Of the Is
land Nor could the Cubans hold posses
sion of these ports without ships TO oper-
ate against the Spanish navy.
When tho Cirban secretary OF war, Gen.
eral Carlo Roloff, came to this country
several weeks ago, among his secret mis-
sions was one TO give orders forthe build
ing of a small but formidable vessel for
use on the Cuban coast against the IRON
clad terrors which Spain now employs to
patrol the waters about Cuba to guard
against fllibustering. General Rolof said,
when ho was here, In regard TO Cuba's In
tentions about building a navy:
1--WE shall not be able to put afoat an
imposing fleet, because we have not the
means, although II we were allowed the
same privilege as other powers we could
put new life into moro than one shipyard
In the United States, and In years time
we would have built enough vessels TO
sweep Spain from the seas. We could raise
the money II the government Of the United
States would only allow us to spend 1t
among her shipbuilders.
"We can, however, build one vessel on
the quiet, II we cannot build fleet We
have been for long time looking for plans
and designs for a small vessel of great
power-one which We can use In various
ways, and one which cannot be overtaken
In an ocean race by anything now a1oat."
General Roloff would give no further in
formation, but he secretly gave instruc-
tions 90 the proper parties and went away.
In the very busiest part Of Broadway,
New York, and a dozen stories up in
modern skyscraping building, where only
those who know could possibly dream Of
Is existence, Is full fiedged shipyard,
where only vessels of scientific mold are
thought out and constructed.
In Charles d. Mosher's scientific boat
factory, under the roof of the Washington
building, are the plans Of Roloff's vessel,
which is TO play deadly havoc very shortly
among the warships Of Spain around Gu
ba Mr.. Mosher would only say when
seen:
II have two vessels the Cubans want
An agent has been in TO see me, but It
would not be proper for me to say what
occurred between us. "
At the Cuban headquarters at 80 New
street / learned that 1t was probable that
both of Mr. Mosher's boats would form
part of the fleet which the Cuban junta
understands II must put into commission
q 20 kat
tion from other powers. They can wait
for the larger OF the two boats, which will
cost $3.50, 900, but the vessel which General
Roloff had in mind will be put upon the
stocks ut once.
She will be known as the Maxipo Go
mez, because General Gomez Is small in
stature, can be everywhere at once and
has proved himself invinciblc and destruc-
tive to Spain. The new boat, like the Gu
ban chieftain, Is small, her speed will be
so great that she will be everywhere and
her builders say that she will be q marvel
for invincibility and destructiveness
The following dimensions and arma-
ment of the Maximo Gomez are given:
Length, 100 feet; beam, IL feet; draft,
feet; speed, 35 miles an hour battery, two
10 inch torpedo guns, one forward and one
aft; two 3pounder rapid fire guns, mount
eel upon the forward and after coming
towers; two FOUNDER rapid fire guns on
deck, mounted amidships.
She will be known as n 100 foot twin
screw torpedo boat, but will be so con-
structcd that whenever it will be necessary
she can be masked as simple, innocent
looking pleasure yacht, without sign to
reveal her dangerous character. She can
be converted from a steam pleasure craft
to u cruiser destroyer in just three hours.
She is so constructed that it is possible
when her decks are cleared for action" bo
lower standing gear, clear away her rails
and sink everything in sight, so that she
will look like long fiatiron in the water.
In other words, she can be made almost q
submarine craft
There is not vital spot about her that
any enemy could hit When under water,
no projectilc can reach her machinery,
and when she desires to show her heels ~
an adversary she will easily speed 80 miles
an hour.
She will be used chiefly as blockade
runner TO take arms and ammunition into
Cuba for the insurgents, and she will carry
fllibustcring parties of from 25 to 30 men
besides her cargo OF guns and cartridges.
She VIII carry all tho modern and most
scientific convenicnccs necessary TO the
equipment Of a modern destroyer of war
ships. She will take every opportunity 10
give battle TO the Spanish cruisers, and
will cndcavor to sink them whenever an
advantage presents itself
A revolving hood, which covers tho tor
pcdo trainers while they are at work, gives
the vessel the appearance Of n low set
whalebaok when she is submerged for at
ck.--New York Cor. Pittsburg Dispatch