The evening times., 1898-07-29

Rear Admiral Dewey has transmitted
to the Navy Department a mall report
criticising the performance of the cruiser
Raleigh. attached to his squadron.
This criticism is based upon an official
report submitted to him by Capt. J. B..
Coghlan. commanding the vessel. calling
attention to the condition of the nlacEIn.
cry Of the ship. Capt. cogalan states
that the Raleigh delayed the departure OF
the squadron from Mrs Bay for sl1ntia
for three days. and that the length Of
time required by Admiral Dewey FOR
making the voyage was entirely due to
the Raleigh. whose speed limited the
speed OF the squadron. The boiler tutes
were not In good condition. and during
the battle in Manila Bay Capt. CoyhIan
reported that there was more lanSor Of
injury to the vessel IS the result of the
the encmy's shells.
1t Is said by officials that the ye1tila;-
ing apparatus with which the cruiser is
fitted is responsible for her performance.
Similar trouble was experienced with the
cruiser Cincinnati sister ship of the
Raleigh. Chief Naval Constructor Hich-
born, who only recently took charge Of
the ventilating systems on board these
ships. Ii having been installed by another
bureau, has put the Cincinnatfs ventil-
ators into pretty efficient condition. and
as soon as he can get hold OF the Raleigh
he proposes to make such alterations as
will transform the vessel into superior
ship.
Capt. Coghan's force Is understood by
officials to have been at work on the
vessel since the mail report was for
warded by Rear Admiral Dewey, who
signifed that he agreed with Capt. Cogh-
lan's conclusions. and alterations have
been made SO that the vessel is now in
more efficient condition than she was dur
ing the battle.
Secretary Long gave instructions today
in accordance with which Chief Naval
Constructor Hichborn sent orders to the
Norfolk navy yard to equip the dispatch
boat Dolphin with two H-pounders. The
installation of these weapons will in
crease the fighting power OF the dispatch
boat At present she is equipped with
two finch rapid-firing guns two 6-pound-
ers. and two 1-pounders. Her service in
Cuban waters convinced her comma nding
officer. Commander II. w. Lyon, that she
ought to have a stronger battery. and as
result of a report made by him the de-
|. pantmeat- deeided-to give the vessel two
14-ppunders. This caliber of gun Is a new
one in the American navy. and its adop-
tion will doubtless witness the installa-
| ton of such weapons on board torpedo
boat destroyers and gunboats constructed
In the future.
Secretary Long has initiated measures
for the acquisition of a site for naval
| magazine at or near the port of New
York. by appointing a board to examine
such localities as might be brought to
the departments attention The board
consists Of Capt. Charles O'Neil. Chief Of
the Bureau OF Ordnance: Commander A.
r. Couder. superintendent of the Indian
Head proving grounds. and Commander
William Swift. The action taken by the
Secretary Is in accordance with a provis-
ion of the recent naval appropriation act,
which authorized and directed him to as
certain whether suitable site could be
secured in the vicinity Of New York.
The west bank of the Hudson River.
between HobOken and Nyack, Is consid-
cred by department officials as the most
desirable location. About fifty acres of
| land will be necessary. reasonably re-
| mote from populous districts having a
good water front of not less than one-
| fourth of a mile and so situated that
| easy railroad communication can be had
| with the trunk lines.
Chief Naval Constructor Hichborn has
| sent out plans of the battleships Maine.
| Missouri and Ohio. bids on contracts for
the construction of which are to be
| opened on September !. Comparatively
| few plans will be distributed as there
| are but three plants in the country ca
| pable of building vessels of the battleship
| ciass-Cramps Union Iron Works and
| Newport News. These three firms will
be pitted against each other to furnish
the fastest ship. The act Of Congress au-
| thorized the construction Of one 5f lac
battleships on or near the coast of the
Pacific Ocean. The Union Iron Works
| will therefore undoubtedly get q contract