The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-19

Many Vessels Now in Com
mission Will Soon Be
Tied Up.
The Monterey Among Them-Men
Are Needed for the New
Battleships.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April fs.-Secre-
tary Long has decided upon a general plan
10 organi Ze naval reserve feet He deems
it necessary, for economical reasons, TO
put number of ships out of commission
and lay them up in reserve. He also
stated that it is proposed to select some
fresh-water basin in which to keep these
vessels. 1t is not his intention to materi-
ally deplete the squadrons in commission,
but he proposes putting out of service
several ships which experience shows are
particularly expensive to maintain and
which are not absolutely required.
The Secretary says that the ordering of
the Katahdin out of commission was
preliminary step in executing his plan.
The katahdin has been tested and found
satisfactory for a vessel of her type. She
is of no value as cruiser, and to
maintain her in ommission is not thought
advisa ole by the Secretary. The Katah-
din will, therefore, be the first ship of the
reserve feet.
The next vessel to be ordered out OF
commission will be the Columbia. Shortly
after the conclusion of the Grant monu-
ment exercises at New York on the 9th
the flag of the crusier will be hauled down
and she will be prepared for service with
the reserve. Next will follow the Mime
spolis. She will be directed to return to
the United States shortly after the Column.
bia goes out of com mission, and upon her
arrival here will be prepared for laying
up.
According to the programme of the Sec
rotary of the Navy these ships and ell
others which will be added to the reserve
feet will have constantly on board
small crew, sufficient to keep the vessel in
good condition with respect to engines,
boilers, battery, decks, etc. The crew will
virtually be care-takers. It is PROBABLE
that two line officers and one engineer
officer will be attached to the reserve yes
sells. The ships will be kept in condition
for call. Secretary Longs idea is that
they shall be SO taken care of as to be
available for prompt service in the event
OF an exigency.
Although the Secretary has not def
nitely decided upon this point it is likely
that the reserve vessels will periodically
be fully manned and sent on short
cruises for the purpose of testing their
engines and trying their batteries. In all
probability two monitors on the Atlantic
coast and one On the Pacific will shortly
be placed ont of commission and be added
to the reserve feet. On the Atlantic side
the Amphitrite will first be laid up. She
has beer quite thoroughly tested and Sec
retary Long is of the opinion that further
cruising on her part is not essential.
The Terror he will keep in commission
for longer period. In time, however it
Is practically settled that she will join the
reserve feet. The Puritan is likely to be
kept in commission. She will be en-
ployed in the.way OF schoolship upon
which to instruct officers ana men in
duties on board monitor. In all likeli-
hood before the sum mer is over the Mon
terey, on tie Pacific coast, will be ordered
to the Mare Island yard and put in re-
serve. The Monadnock may join her in
the winter.
Secretary Long is now considering
which is Che best station to which to order
the reserve ships on the Atlantic coast.
He is considering the facilities OF New
port News, New London, League Island
and a site on the Hudson River. At
present he tavors the League Island sta
ton. An appropriation will be available
in July with which to do considerable
dredging at that station, which will in
crease the depth OF the entrance of the
channel. The question as to the selection
of a station will probably be considered
by board OF officers to be appointed by
the Secretary. On the Pacific there is no
question that Mare Island will be chosen.
One i'm portant point to which Secretary
Long has given attention is the question
of men. He does not intend to ask Con-
gress for an increase in the enlisted force.
Therefore he says that mum Der of cruis-
ing vessels will have to be placed out of
service to make it possible to commission
the Iowa and other vessels nearing com.
pletlon.