New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-14
NAVAL RESERVE FLEET.
SECRETARY LONG PUTTING THE PLAN
IN EXECUTION.
TIT, COLUMBIA, THE MINNEAPOLIS AND orhfN'
TO GO OUT OF COMMISSION sooN-AL'
THE SHIPS. HOWEVER, WILL BE
KEPT READY FOR AN
EMERGENCY.
Inv TELEGRAPH TO THE ThIbVHH'I

n
49, ,, All ,2-secretary Long intends TO
49,, a n,ore economical programme IN cohhec"""
- the aeet In the Secretarys judSn'en. ''ie!e
ara now too many vessels In commission. nc WI
gradually reduce the number III service" ~"
TO 90 out of commission Will not be put III O''
however They are TO be kept party "''''' ~
,rn ride AT anchor IN some body of fresh wafer Se
w. ,,,1oa unon The Secretary said today that
ha ,su, nropramme did not contain any sehSd'l'n''
fea,ures hut was based upon what appelteu ~ n'''
70 he good practical business reasons. ne a'''u
that the country at peace and tna 'here ""H ~
likelihood Of big fleet being nee"eh IoF ae'',
vice in the immediate future. Should an eAlst"c!
to ,ha ,,asseIs 70 be put ont of service could be
nromntv made ready for cruising, as 1t was no. pro-
posed 10 dismantle them in any sense. o'is III"
teral reduction in the strength OF their crews WI"
TO be made They to be known as resciNe 'np6
and will be held in condition Tor can upon s''
notice.
The ordering of the Katahdn out OF commission
few davs aga was the preliminary step IN the pro-
aramme The ram Is vessel or the special CLASS
In time Of she may prove usetui, pnt she Is VI
no veiua as a cruiser. She has proved her qualities
such as they are and Secretary Long has decided
that Il would be extravaganza longer 10 keep ner
flag flying. The Secretary said this afternoon that
the next vessel to go on the reserve list would De
the Columbia. the big swift cruiser now attacAed
to the home fleet. which some time ago made the
fast trip from Southampton NewYork. The Co
and has fully demonstrated her efficiency as a
cruiser of the commerce-destrOyer type. She is
great coal consumer. and Is otherwise expensive 10
maintain. smaller, more economical ship would
better meet requirements. Hence Secretary Long
has decided to put her He will issue d
recons this effect shortly after the Gran; memo
rial exercises on the 9th of this month
Not long after the Columbia orders arc promul-
gated, instructions will be given to put the fastest
of American cruisers. the Minneapolis in reserve
This seel-clad greyhound is now the European
station. Recently she has been cruising in Turkish
waters looking out for American interests. she IS
a huge ship, and more expensive to keep in
active service than the Columbia. Naval officers
say that II has been the intention to have the
two vessels constantly in commission. because of
their expensiveness The Raleigh of the home
squadron. will go to the European squadron as the
relief of the Minneapolis As another vessel OF that
squadron, the Cincinnati. mas been ordered nome
Admiral sefridge's command will be reduced to
three ships. the San Francisco. the Raleigh and the
Although Secretary Long has reached no formal
decision as to the monitors the are
the Amphitrte and the Terror now attached to the
homo squadron. Will soon join the reserve fleet
and for her class, has proved to be efficient yes
Te Will be punt oS the T
serve list first Soon afterward the Terror will fol-
sruction only one monitor need be kept in com
mission. They think that. everything considered.
able of tho monitors should be kept active duty.
A number of questions relating to the monitor class
yet be decided by Secretary Long.
The Secretary said to-day that IL was not his pur-
pose to make any wholesale reduction in the COM
mssoned fleet To keep up the fleet at its present
strength did not seem advisable. II was equally
unadvisable. the Secretary said. to cripple any of
the squadrons. and this would not. OF course. be
done He mentioned one practical point to which he
has given attention This is that the enlisted force
of the Navy IS limited. ana that If all vessels
flying flags are maintained in active service IL
would Toe impossible to put in commission new ships
nearing readiness for cruising. The big. speedy
battle-ship Iowa Is almost ready for her personnel
But there are not enough men available to work
her guns, engines, etc. She must soon be accepted
from the contractors. and for obvious reasons
should be commissioned and sent to The sub
ject OF men enters largely into Secretary Longs
plans II Is not proposed to ask Congress 10 IN
crease the naval appropriations under this head
II Is therefore necessary to put vessels out OF COM
mission 10 get crews for newer ships. Besides the
three gunboats, the Wilmington the Nashville and
the Helena, also several torpedo-boats
An interesting question which Secretary Long is
considering Is where 10 lay up the ships to be put
out OF commission. Various places have been con-
sldered. including the League Island Navy YARD
the Naval Station at New London. "A site ON thc
Hudson River and n basin at Newport News II
Is important that fresh water be available so thot
the bad effect Of salt water on steel bottoms he
avoided League Island Is rather inland ard is now
most favored. There liz appropriation undsr
which the channe, at the navy ward can he deem.
ened' and this fact may decide the Secretary 10
make TINS station the rendezvous for the reserve
feet 0 'S'N''e