The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05
OUR AUXILIARY FLEET.
N NATF DEPARTMENT REGISTER
ING IT FOR EMERGE NCIES.

Bridgeport Finds In Thts Material for .
War Scare, bat There Are No Indications
OF Exceptional Activity - How Soon the
Fleet Could no Made Ready for Action.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Oct, A.-Tho Government
has called upon the owners Of all large steamers
and steam yachts in New York harbor for I'm.
mediate information as to the strength, speed,
capacity, and lighting strength Of the vessels,
with q view to calling upon them as auxiliary
cruisers. Shipping men In NV York have In
side that tho Government has
learned that Germany will support Spain.
WARRINGTON, Oct. 4.-The Navy Department
has sent letters to tho leading steamship agents
whose vessels have American registry ask
ing for information as to the displacement,
speed. and general adaptability of the YES
sells for war purposes in the event they
should be impressed by the Government.
All ships OF great tonnage now built in this
country are 80 constructed that they would
readily meet the requirements Of the navy as
auxiliary cruisers should their services DO re-
ouired. Their rudders arc we'll submerged
and sheltered from shell and shot. and
the propeller shafts are heavily protected from
where they leave the vessels bottom to
tie propellers. Tho decks are 80 constructed
that they could readily be used for mounting
the four. Ave, and six inch rifles now being
manufactured at the Washington gun factory
under an APPROPRIATION made Two years ago for
q large number of reserve guns.
sells that would be- valuable as de.
stroyers In war time the names OF forty-two
iS anppic; te eoayt, ok OF c on th are P Sn the and Ati
iins in 's speed G from tn The h% frfsp sssS'A American Tnsyn
sssSsSs9aG New myers YORK to a Ind ' %sst Is saiss p sSrls.
Elehty.ive rifles are now available for %installa-
could DO mounted within thirty DAYS.
Chief Constructor Hichborn. under whose
direction plans are being drawn by which tho
mates That he can send the St Loais to
! effective. battery and with the vitais well
protected by a system OF coal bunkers. He esti-
.bIps THAT hS,s The n soSYd roS Se has au HsGqt G soDy d9fs%
sSs otb shs p pnH's already s %%,ao pof ascIfsS,o and I'd
five years will be. required TO draw plans for
the full number OF vessels carried on the list of
poses. and by that time rifles will have been do.
liyercd at the navy yards for every one Of such
Capt. O'Neil, the Ordnance Chief, will in his
$1,000 o DO provided with which to msnufac.
prop0 saas a .Se rSsfrSe i PqNSe e% York th Sorf snn' ana NJ
League Island. with carriages and equipments
complete. so that thoy can be mounted on ship
board at short notice.
Since early last summer Lieutenant-Com.
mander ]. D. J. Kelley Of the Navy Department
has been stationed in this harbor on shore duty,
under orders to inspect the seagoing craft OF the
port under the American flag, and to report as
to the availability OF the vessels for auxiliary
naval work. 1t is a work that was begun several
years ago. but had been suspended for four or
five years, Commander Kelley was assigned to
this duty formerly. and when his sea duty was
up recently. II was suggested that he undertake
his old work, the object Of which is to place on
record IN Washington Il roster OF vessels that
are available for use In case OF war.
1t Is part Of Mr.. Kelley's duty to inspect each
vessel personally, to suggest the size and num-
Der Of guns the vessel could carry to advantage
and to make recommendations to the depart
ment as to what kind OF work the boat should
be set to do. The inspection by no means i'm
plies that tho Government expects TO engage in
hostilitics before long. 1t means simply that
under the thorouGhgoinR system now in vogue in
the Navy Department every precaution that
wise management would suggest is being taken
to prepare in peace for the possibility OF war.
Probably some inquiry is being made into tho
character OF vessels that belong IN Bridgeport,
for the same reason that n list 10 being made OF
those in New York.