The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-03
UNCLE SANS AUXILIARY NAVY.
ThrtyTree Atlantic Liners Could Be Transformed Into
WarShips In Three Days.

In addition to the so regular cruiser:
of the United States navy there are
some 80 odd vessels now employed in
the merchant service which could be
rapidly converted into cruisers, and
which should be taken into account in
estimating the naval strength of the
country. These ships would be unar-
mored and would carry a comparative
ly light complement of guns. 1t would
be Impossible for them to fight even a
small warship, and they would not be
expected to do so. Their special work
would be to prey on the enemy's com
| merce and to capture unarmed mer-
chant vessels. For this they would be
admirably adapted by their high speed
and light armament
In the navy department, where an
exact list of these vessels is filed, they
are officially known as auxiliary or
| casual cruisers. Last year, when con-
gress was considering the bill appropri-
ating SS50, 600 for providing an arnfa-
ment for this auxiliary fleet, the chief
| of the bureau of ordnance reported SO
vessels as available for this kind of
service.
OF these "a are on the Atlantic coast
and on the Pacific. Together they
call for 46 6-inch, q 5-inch and 1O4 4
inch rapid-fire rifles, 81 6-pounders, 8
1-pounders and 112 machine guns, or
total armament of 351 guns of all
classes.
The largest and best known of these
are the four American line steamships
the New York, Paris, st. Louis and
st. Paul 1t is interesting to note the
transformation which one of these big
passenger steamers would have to I'M
dergo in order to fit her for the work
of an auxiliary cruiser, Just what
changes would probably be made in
converting one of these peaceful ocean
liners into a warship was. pointed out
by Mr.. G. C. Griseom, jr., of the In
ternational Navigation company, in a
talk with the correspondent the other
day Most persons will probably be
surprised to learn. how few these
changes would be and how much of the
build and fittings of an unarmored
cruiser these big passenger boats now
contain.
sion,'' said Mr.. Griscom, that some
kind of a contract or agreement exists
between the United States government
and the International Navigation COM
pany, by which the latter are to turn
over their boats to the service of the
United States whenever needed There
is no such agreemnt, because it is I'M
necessary. The United States has a per-
feet right to demand and take the prop
erty of the International Navigation
company. just as it has the right to
demand the property and services of
any other citizen, and it would I'M
dOubtedly do so, with proper indemni-
fication, should occasion arise"
What was done by the government
when the postal subsidy act for the en-
enlargement of American shipping was
passed was TO demand that, in consid-
Grafton for the privileges granted by
II at act, certain plans should be fol-
lowed in the construction of the yes
sells that We're to. benefit by it. These
requirements WERE, roughly, that the
rudder and steering apparatus of the
steamship should be under water, and
that the vital parts of the ship should,
so far as possible, be below the water
line, where they wouldsbe less liable to
injury from cannon shot.
The plan for the American line steam
ers were inspected and approved by an Of
ficer of the government when the boats
were built and they, satisfy these re-
New York you will see four white marks
at regular intervals along each of her
sides. Directly above these white marks
on the steamers promenade deck. are the
places where the sfx-inehS guns would be
located were she to be armed, You will
notice, too that the deck supports at
these points are strengthened by an addf-
tional column. On the deck at this point
is round steel cap covering manhole
intended for the passage of ammunition
from below.
These are the only marks indicating
to the uninitiated any preparation for the
placing of cannon; but there are other
provisions. The deck platform and sup