New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-05
AFFAIRS IN THE NAVY YARD.
,,,r xArAHDIN OFF FOR A SERIES OF
TRIAL TRIPS
SLOW WORK ON coNrRAcrs-MoRE INvEsTlcA-
rIoNs coMING-To HAVE A DOCK TRIAL

- having steamed away for New-London yes
DAY forenoon. in all the glory Of her new coat
:, a,rgv green paint. and full of smoke and en-
,,ae,n Her trial trip is slated for tomorrow,
a., ss she has been accepted by the Govern
~. the results of the trip will have no bearing
= hsr future disposal. effect on her builders.
:, &c 10 be nothing more than test, for the
.,-nose of finding out whether under the condi-
.,o,s incident to being in commission as a war
..,sss Of the United States. she will show any
,.,,sr results in the way of speed than she did
:. an experiment. and while still in the hands
:, her constructors. The orders call for thor
.rch test Of the vessel in all respects, to ascer-
,o;r whether there is any structural weakness
:. fault or faiur, f machinery in its functions.
~. ram will he taken to sea. and tried there
r., ,relve hours on a stretch; then run for an
,.,runaer natural draught at full speed. and then
turned into Long Island Sound and run twice
war q course thirty-six knots long. two hours
=, chic run 10 be under forced draught. The Trial
poara will make experiments to ascertain the
,,,,r,re qualities and tactical diameter of the
boat
,r.a,her and there is a possibility that she will
~, return to the yard for a week. although
h.r stay in the Sound will not be any longer
than is necessary.
Considerable comment has been caused by
,he determination of the Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy to have the ram and the torpedo
hoats painted green. and the same unfavora bic
onlnions have been expressed which found at
torrance two or three years ago when the idea
was frs, preached. War vessels are presumed
10 be built for business purposes. and not for
exhibition as works of beauty or as show
nIaces for visitors. but ii has been pointed out
that unless II Is designed 10 make all attacks
m the vessels Of an enemy at night. the change
OF color will have little effect in reducing the
range of visibility. smoke from a vessel with
4 low freeboard or no freeboard at all. can be
seen as far in the daytime II the vessel be
nainted green as II car be II she be Of the
regulation white. which has made the new Navy
famous But the element of beauty is not to
he entirely overlooked. 1t is well known to
captains in the merchant marine as well as
10 those in the naval service. that sailors VIII
always take more pride in clean, trim ship
than in one which Is not pleasing to the eye.
This pride in their vessel Is prominent factor
IN every part OF the routine OF duty on board
the ship. whether Il be in the ordinary work
Of the sailors or the working Of her guns IN
battle Naval discipline cam OF course. eiimi-
nate 10 a large extent. the difficulties the cap
tain OF a merchant ship would labor under with
crew that did not like the ship but human
nature is the same. and even captains or men,
ofwar are sometimes compelled TO recognize
its influence.
Another point has been raised In connection
with this departure from the established GUS
tom The experience Of the Maine in the haroor
OF Newport when her searchlights were sue
cessfuly passed time after time by the Cush-
ing. and the torpedo-boat sent up her rockets
announcing that the battle-ship was within the
danger zone before the officers OF the new YES
sci knew tina: she coming. Is taken as snow
ing that the matter of color is OF little Importance
al night when a small. swiftly moving Dody -
on the surface of the water and hunting for
victim. Everything being considered, the gen.
eral opinion among the sailor people is that the
change Is q mistake and one which is not likely
n result In any increased advantage for the
.hips themselves or the service as whole.
SLOW WORK on CONTRACTS.
OF the work on the contracts at the yard there
!. little to be said. Construction OF the new
building No lis has been begun, and with the
exception Of the drydock, other works in progress
are being advanced slowly. The trouble over the
dummy bolts In the causeway connecting the
settled. and the Board of Investigation still has
the affair in hand, no report having been made
public.
There Is to be a dock test OF the Terror's en-
rines on Monday Of next week. and she Will
90 into commission on the following day Lieu
tenant Commander Frederic Singer. Of the In
teligence Office who is to be her executive OFF,
Ger is 10 report at the yard on Monday. lie
will be succeeded as Chief Naval Intelligence
Oficer by Commander Richard Wainwright IN
accordance with the design OF the Department
10 make the office one for an officer OF higher
rank than has been the case heretofore. ne
billet was offered to Commander X -. brauioiu'
but that officer declined II. ana Lieutehdh'-
Comma der Wainwright was selected az one
Of the ablest officers in the service. III is eA-
pec,ed that several additional oftcers VIII De
assigned TO the office. bringing its iorce ~
number large enough to attend 10 the n!a 80 %
business transacted there. LIEUTENANT IN
mander Singer has won many encomiufns IRON
bis superior officers for his management oi w. ~.
AFFAIRS Of the place since ne was "''"
the duty. , s
Another announcement has been maze resa,u-
Ing the torpedo-boat Ericsson. TINS olie o' -,
TO the effect that she will be READY 10, SO 800.
about two weeks. She will be placeu unu ~
the command of Lieutenant n. X. Ushei, VIM VIM
has superintended her construction, az she
undergo a sea trial II this Is succ' ,hnre
VIII be sent TO torpedo duty at $1,000 which
che will later be Joined by the Cushine, Tba
Is now undergoing reps irs at Washing toIl. -
large number Of failures ana acc'u e,,sod her
necied with this little vessel have caused ne
to be regarded with suspicion by naval men sa,
but the chief trouble seems to have peen .i, m1
her engines were too weak for her nun lid
the work they were expected 10 no. ai'u 20
not stand the pressure OF steam necessary !"
get the utmost limit Of speed out OF the poa''
A CHANGE OF DUTY FOR THE FERN
The Fern. which has been used as a ireieh'-
boat by the Department. and is a familiar inquire
In the waters around New-York, has peeh
designated as squadron tender, and Will De as
signed to the North Atlantic Squadron. In thC
service she will be used to transport materia.
10 the vessels OF the fleet should they run out Oh
supplies. 10 carry sick men to the hospltai anu
70 be station for the admiral Of the Meet our
Ing squadron manoeuvres. This last VIII be her
INT d.af.r d...i fhl.