Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-25

ment that she has no orders to leave there.
The impression is that she will remain in
that place, which is one of great strategic
value in case of need, at least until the
monitor Puritan is ready to take her place.
The Puritan is almost twice as big as the
Terror, being a 6COO-ton vessel, very little
less than the Maine in size. She carries
12-inch guns in her turrets against 10-incli
guns for the Terror, ard is altogether the
most formida BILE double-turreted monitor
in the world In smooth water This quail
fication does not mean that she is unable
to keep the sea, but only that from her
great breadth and light draft she is so
susceptible to the wave motion that it is
difficult to make good work with her guns
in a seaway. She is now having new fur
naces fitted to her boilers at the Norfolk
navy yard, the crowns of the furnaces hav-
ing come down some time ago, owing to the
fact that the boilers are the same that
were built for her when she was origi-
rally laid down many years ago. 1t is
said at the Navy Department that she will
be ready for service about the 4th of next
month.
Captain Sigsbee asked yesterday whether
he should endeavor to save the old ma
terial in the superstructure of the Maine,
which from the pictures appears to be
heaped UP over the boiler spaces. He has
been told to let this go. as it is valuable
only as old iron which would not pay to
bring back to the United States.
Naval Militia Representatives..
A delegation from the Naval Militia Asso-
citation of the United States was at the
Navy Department today. The visit of the
members. however, was not in response to
any request sent out by the department,
as has been represented, but was simply
preliminary to visit to the Capitol where
they are to be given a hearing by the ma
val committee on the Barber bill to fur
ther increase the naval establishment of
the United States by the construction of
twenty torpedo boats, designed principally
for the use Of the militia. The delegation
included the following: Lieutenant Samuel
NJ. Blount of Baltimore, Commander E. G.
Buckland of the Connecticut militia, Com
mander Isaac E. Emerson of the Mary
land naval militia, Captain ]. w. Miller,
commanding the New York naval militia
and president of the association; Lieutenant
Ralph Fuller Of Cleveland. Ohio, and Cap
tain H. L. Satterlee. on the staff of the
governor of New York.
CATION had a pleasant interview with As
sistant Secretary Roosevelt, who has gen.
eral supervision of the naval militia of the
country, and with whom the provisions of
the bill were briefly discussed. The meas
ure had not, however, been formally re-
ferred to the Navy Department by Con-
gress, and the officials consequently are
not prepared to give their opinion regard
ing its provisions. The boats provided for
in the bill are to be Of about $50 tons dis
placement, to have speed of not less than
20 knots, and are to cost, including arma-
ment. not exceeding s., ,5OOOOO. Six of the
boats, the bill provides, are to be built on
the Pacific coast. When completed they
are 10 De stationed at the principal ports
al which naval militia organizations exist
are to be manned by skeleton crews from
the United States naval establishment
ready for the full complement of officers
and men to be filled out from the militia
when drill times come and any other occa-
sion arises.
The association also desires to urge unon
Congress greater Hberality in the appro-
priations for the naval militia oreaniza
uons, SO that they may be furnished their
uniforms. camp equipments. ETC.
Not Summoned Here.
Commander Buckland Of the Connecticut
militia, in a brief conversation tust after
leaving Assistant Secretary Roosevelt's
room, asked that a denial be made of the
published statement that he had been sum-
moned here for conference with the officials
OF the Navy Department, and added that
his visit was simply for the purpose of an
pearing before the naval committee OF Con.
gTess for the purpose stated. For nearly
two months past the officers of the Militia
Association have repeatedly sought a hear
ing before the naval committee, but until to-
day had not been able to arrange for one
l. would therefore appear that their visit
at this time has no special connection with
the Maine disaster.
Arrival of Capt. Crowninshield.
Capt. Crowninshield turned I'D at the
Navy Department today and took the helm
in the bureau of navigation, relieving Capt
Dickins. who has distinguished himself and
earned the thanks of the Secretary for the
untiring vigilance with which he has man.
aged all of the many details of the Maine
affair that have fallen upon the navigation
bureau, and Of the newspaper men for the
patience and frankness with which he has
met their many inquiries
Capt. Crowninshield's absence has been
made the basis for the conjecture that he
has been on secret service for the NAVY De-