The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-23
WILL soon Change SHIPS STILL SEEKS THE THRONE H MAY SUCCEED CARTER ESCAPED SUDDEN DEAF
BALTIMORE WILL FLY THE
ADMIRAL'S FLAG.
Philadelphia viii Go to Mare Island
Shortly-Either the Concord or the
Oregon win be Stationed Here.

Admiral Miller will soon change
ships. BY theMariposa today dis
patch was received from Chief Navol
Constructor Hichborn, at Washington,
which states that the cruiser Balti-
more will be ready for sea not later
than October /.
| In accordance with the plans of the
department she will as soon thereaf-
ter as possible, or practicable, become
the flagship of the Pacific squadron,
and when Rear Admiral Miller has
transferred his flag from the Phila-
delphia the latter vessel will proceed
to the Mare Island navy yard and go
out of commission to undergo extern
sive and much needed repairs. Owing
to the scarcity of available officers and
men it is considered by the depart
ment hardly possible to man the Bal
timore on the other side of the Paci-
fic and dispatch her to Honolulu to re-
ceive the admiral, where the Phila-
delphia now is.
The Marion sailed from Honolulu
soon after the arrival of the Benning-
ton. She took with her many seamen
whose enlistment had expired. 1t was
not possible. however, for this vessel
to bring with her, in addition to the
time-eXpired men, sufficient num-
Der of officers and long time men to
man the Baltimore, even if they could
be spared from the vessels now in the
harbor at Honolulu. The department
therefore will probably within a few
days inform Admiral Miller of the
rapidly approaching completion of the
Baltimore, and as the only alternative
| presented, the Philadelphia will be or
dered to San Francisco and her Off
GERS and men transferred to the Bal
timore at that port.
In order that the strength of the ma
val force of the United States may
not be diminished more than necessa;
ry at this time, it is probable that
either the Concord or the Oregon will
be ordered to Honolulu.
The Philadelphia after she reaches
Mare Island will be obliged to remain
out of commission for a considerable
time. 1t is necessary that she re.
ceive thorough overhauling at the
hands of the various Bureaus, and II
is stated that the repairs demanded or
her will consume not less than one
year.
The Bureau of Construction and
hepalr alOne cOnIelnplateS an eNpen-
diture of about. 100000, and the Blu.
reau of Steam Engineering will also
spend very large sum, as the vessel
will be equipped with new boilers and
undergo a thorough overhauling of al
her machinery. 1t will be by no means
possible however to commence the re
pairs on the Philadelphia immediate
ly, owing to the absence of an avail.
able appropriation for the purpose.
Chief Naval Constructor Hichborn
in his forthcoming annual report tc
the Secretary of the Navy, will ask
for an appropriation of $3.000,000 fol
repairs to vessels. but even if Congress
should pass such an appropriation de
partment officials do not think it viii
! be made available much earlier thar
a year hence. Repairs on the Phila
delphia and the vessels at Mare Is
land, excepting the Charleston, which
is now expected to be ready for ses
within three months, will probabl,
be delayed until a new appropriation
can be obtained.