Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-11-05
AUXILIARY SHIPS ARE USELESS.
Would Require Two Years TO Convert
One of Them Into "a Cruiser.
Copyright, 1871

Emperor William Of Germany is un-
derstood to regard the Kaiser Will
helm der Crosse" the great new steam
ship that has just gone into commits
sion on the transatlantic route, with
great enthusiasm. This is partly due
TO the fact that the vessel has been
named for his grandfather, and partly
because it is credit to Germany that
the biggest passenger boat ahoat
should be built at German yard and
sailed by German line; but more than
all it is because, in case of the break
ing out of a maritime war in which
Germany should be involved, the big
ship would at once become an Integral
part of the German navy Like the
auxiliary ships of the British navy,
which, during the queens jubilee, were
changed from merchant and passenger
ships to armed cruisers in a surprising
ly short time, this new auxiliary of the
German war fleet could be made avail
able for the home navy in from "a to SO
hours.
There is an astonishing contrast be-
tween the situation with regard to the
auxiliary boats of the German and the
British navies and the auxiliaries of
our own fighting fleet. Bearing in
mind the rapidity with which foreign
vessels can be changed over, the writ
er, few days ago, asked Mr.. Clement
A. Griscom, of the American line, how
long it would take to convert one of
the ships of his line into a fighting
boat in case of need. Mr.. Griscom
thought a moment and then said:
about two yearsl''
This is true of practically all the YES
sells composing our auxiliary fleet, more
than score and a half in number;
and the fault lies. not with the mer-
chant and passenger lines to which the
steamers belong, but with the govern
ment itself. The fact is that while
each of the navigation companies in
question has done its part, Uncle Sam
has neglected to provide the necessary
guns, and without these the auxiliary
vessels would be of no value whatever
to the navy.
These ships, which are without ar
NOR and would have to remain thus un-
protected, would act as commerce de-
stroyers in case of war. They are all
fast boats, and could easily overhaul
and destroy most merchant and pas
senger vessels now afoat. In case of a
meeting between a hostile battle ship
and an American commerce destroyer,
the latter would very promptly show its
heels and would undoubtedly be able to
escape from nine-tenths of the real
fighting ships now in existence. With
out guns, however, it would be out of
the question to cali the auxiliaries into
service, and it behooves Uncle Sam to
hasten the construction OF plenty of
naval ordnance unless he feels certain
that there is no possibility of a rupture
with great marine power.
There are 80 vessels which, are en-
tered as auxiliary cruisers. Four of
these belong to the American line, the
New York, Paris, st. Louis and St.
Paul. If ever pressed into the naval
service, the Paris will carry ~ six-inch
rifles, 6 machine guns, and 6 six-pound-
ers; the New York will carry ~ six
inch rifles, 4 machine guns, and 6 six
Founders; the st. Louis and the ST.
Paul will carry. each, 8 six-inch rifles,
A machine guns, and six-pounders.
The latest addition to the auxiliary
feet is the Plant Line steamship, ia
Grande Duchesse" which was launched
last year. She is 4O4 feet long over ALL
and she has been built to answer the
government requirements as an auxil-
larry cruiser.
Other vessels in the auxiliary list on
the Atlantic coast include four belong
ing to the Pacific Mail company, three
to the Red ID line, and nine to the New
York and Cuba Mail line. On the Pa
cific coast there are nine. besides sew
eral on the great lakes. Although the
guns necessary to render these ships
effective are not now ready, they are
being manufactured in leisurely sort
OF way at the Washington ordnance
shops. As fast MS pieces are finished
they are to be stored at the Brooklyn,
Boston, Norfolk, San Francisco and
other navy yards, ready to be mounted
on the auxiliary vessels at the shortest
notice.
1t is not at all clear just what the de-
tails of procedure would be in case Of
emergency. Only once since the close
of the civil war has the United States
government felt the need of auxiliary
ships. That occasion arose in the Har-
rison administration while our little
quarrel with Chilli was on. The secre-
certain navigation company owning
auxiliary ships that one Of them might
be wanted, She was offered at GER
tain valuation, which was accepted
with some notifications. Fortunately
the trouble blew over and the ship was
turned back TO her owners. who re-
ceived proper compensation for the
time she was idle