New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-26
REVENUE CUTTERS FOR SERVICE.

THEY ARE TO BE FITTED OFT AS RAPIDLY AS
POSSIBLE AT THE NORFOLK NAVY YARD.
Washington, March e5-Orders were issued from
the Navy Department to-day to the commandant OF
The Norfolk Navy Yard. directing him 10 prepare
the revenue cutters for service He was directed
expedite the work rapidly "a It could be done
efficiently. That tho Navy Department officials are
anxious the revenue vessels should be equipped for
sea duty at an early date was evidenced by re-
quest made upon tho Revenue Cutter Service OF the
Treasury Department, for information as To the
length OF time It would require for the vessels to
report at Norfolk.
As soon as they are prepared for service they
will be dspa tched 10 Key West and placed at the
disposal Of Captain Sampson in command OF the
naval squadron tina; station. The cutters VIII be
empl )ved a. scout picket boats. and Will he pre-
pared for both offensive and defensive service. II
is thought they will prove 10 he pretty formidable
ships even in aggressive IA cites.
Tho new revenue cutter McCnlloch left Baltimore
several weeks ago for duty the Pacific station
going ny way OK tho Mediterranean Sea and the
suoz Canal She Is now somewhere in the vicinity
~ Singanore and will be used as dispatch boat
on the Asiaiir Station. Unless present plans are
changed 4 cable message will be sent 10 her com
handing officer Singapore. directing him 10 pro-
coed 20 Hong Kong and place his vessel. with ON
cers and crew. under tho command ~ Commodore
Dewey in charge Of the naval forces on the Asiatc
Station.
The revenue cutters which will oe ordered into
service and their present stations aie as fellows:
The Woodbury. ct Portland. Me. the Hamilton.
PHILADELPHIA: the Hudson New-York: the Manning.
Poston. the Calumet. Chicago: the Gresham MIL
waukec. the Morrow Wilmington y. C., and the
Window. Baltimore.
Captain Shoemaker. chief Of the Revenue CUT
ter Service was husily engaged to-day In making
assignments Of officers to the cutters detailed yes
terday for defensive service along the Atlantic
board Every vessel in the service available for
action has been will be assigned 10 duty. Even
The new cutter the Gresham, on the great lakes.
and the little cutter. the Calumet at Chicago. have
been called and in day or two both the lake
ships will he on the way 10 the rendezvous at
Atlantic @dsbsard through the ST Lawrence River.
The commanders Of the revenue cutters have been
instructed by telegraph 10 be In readiness 10 move
as soon as their general orders are received.
CAPTAIN Shoemaker was Of opinion that II would
reach Hampton Roads or rather Norfolk. which
will he their official rendezvous. Al the navy yard
there the vessels will receive their equipment.
guns. ammunition. torpedoes and supplies. and will
service The new cutter the Gresham recently
built at Cleveland In brief time can be trans
formed FttS'!a formidable commerce destroyer or
forpfdo-boat. She was built expressly for such an
ard can carry ugly battery of rapid fire guns.
All the vessos are rst-rato seagoing craft. and all
are ftted with small but effective batteries Their
speed varies from fourteen to twenty knots
All officers of the Revenue Gutter Service now on
duty with the Life So wing Service being with
drawn TO-DAY and ASSIGNED 70 duty on the vessels
ordered 70 Norfolk Their orders are made inrne-
diatev tive In every case. and they will re-
port 20 the comma rdirg officers ~ the ships
as the vessels arrive AT Norfolk.