The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-20
MONITORS As GUARDSH|PS.
Twelve Of the Craft Used In the CIVIL
War and Four OF the Modera
Ones VIII He Sent to Caba and

NEW YORK, Aug IA special 20 the
Tribune from Washington says: TIE navy
department. las decided 20 seEsd ali the
s.ngie-tnrreted monitors 10 Cuba and Porto
Rico for duty permanent guar9shsps in
the chief ha-bo-s Of those islands Pre-
iirninary orders assigning officers and
crews from the regular navy 10 the twelve
seaworthy vessels OF this type are being
made cut ami several Of these formidable
vessels vii star, sor their new posts in
Q week or two.
These monitors, which were built FOR ser
vice in the civil war. several Of them bear
ing scars OF conflict after thirty years
disuse were restored to excellent condition
soon after the Maine vas blown up. some
Of them being equipped With entirely new
water-tube boilers and having the ben
eft Of extensive improvements. During
the war with Spain they have been manned
by naval nilitiamea and constituted the
chief source Of strength Of the auxiliary
naval force guarding the Atlantic coast.
Orders were given several days ago 10
pace them out Of commission soon as
possible ard return them TO the League
Island navy yard until another emer geTcy
necessitAted their use. In the meantime.
however, the complicated problems in
y0lyed in maintaining Law and order. par
,ieulariy IN Cuba, led to consideration OF
the availability os these vessels as guard
ships. and the authorities quickly reached
the aecisions 10 utilize them for that pur-
pose The yessess are the Ajax. the Ca
nonicus, the Mahopaca. the Manhattan.
the Wyaudotte, the Catskill the Jason. the
Lehign. the Montauk, the Nahant, the
Nantucket and the Passaic. They draw
,,NfC tue fact ~ ~ gnf
them carries two 15-inch smooth-bore guns
In It's turFet
II is intended that they shall rot only
provide for the defense OF Cuban harbors
against exterior assaults. bot their maya
zines are TO De stored With large Quanti-
ties OF grape and canister for the purpose
OF maintaining order ashore. There Is no
concealment On the part OF the military
authorities tc use, il necessary, this grape
ard canister to command A wholesome
spect for the United States authority
among the Cuban Insurgents and other
obstrepegous elements which viii have to
be restrained when the Spaniards evacus;e
the Islands ard the naval officers, who
will be especially selected for these vessels
on account OF their discretion and good
judgment. will have full authority TO dis
pc.se any mobs which may come within
range. In each OF the ports where mont
tors are located there VIII be no Necessity
for military garrison.
II Is proposed 10 locate these singIe~tur-
reted monitors at MatanzaS, Cardenas,
Sagua la Gran3e. Glbara Nusv.tas Man
zaTillo, Guantanamo. Trinidad. Cienfuegos,
Bahia Honda. In Cuba, and at Ponce, Ia
Porto Rico.
1t Ia also the intention OF the navy de-
pa~tment 10 send the double turreted mon
itors Puritan. Terror, Amphi.rite and Mi
antonomoh 70 Havana, Santiago and San
Juan DE- Porto Rico. perhaps TWO OF them
being stationed Al Havana These vesse,s.
while among the most dIsagreeab.e In the
raSy for active cruising service In tropical
waters. are considered more comfortable
than any other type OF vessels when sta
iionary. and are altogether peculiarly fit
ted 10 meet the present necessity