The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-11
ARMNG THE AUX|L|AR|ES.
gI.RsHaNv VESSELS To BE TRANS
FORMED INTO CRUISERS.


NAstiINGTDS, March ia CONFER
enee was held at 3 o'clock In the cffice Of
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt 10 map out
plans for armlng and eqa.pping merchant
vessels as auxiliary cruisers. Mr.. Roose-
welt presided and the others present were
Capt crown.nshIeid. OF the bureau OF
bureau Of ordnance; Chief Hich-
born. OF the bureau Of construction. and
Commander Bradford. OF the bureau of
yards and docks. The meeting had been
preceded by a call from President Girls
sorn. OF the International Navigation COM
pany. who owns the four ships, ST. Paul.
81. Louis. Paris and New York. The
board meeting brought out a general d.s-
+eussson Of the work the various bureaus
would he called upon TO perform In max
ing these and other vessels ready as
auxiliary cruisers. About ninety-five per
cent. OF this work would fall 10 the lot
of the bureau OF construction. which
mounts, Light protective arrnor for the
eFEuus ard magazines and the circles on
which the guns swing. Tbs work. ii Ia
said. could be- accomplished readily with
IN two weeks time, as all materials ex-
. cept the guns are ia hand The bureau
Of ordnance could not supply all the guns
required within that short time, although
some seventy or more are now available.
The supply would be adequate. however.
for the most effective auxiliary cruisers.
and the complete armament OF the mer-
chant ships could proceed as rapidly "a
possible thereafter.
As TO the question OF armlng the auxil-
iary feet the navy departments feel that
the most effective step would be 10 enlist
into The United States naval service the
presens merchant crews OF the several
ships. These crews are thoroughly famil-
Tar with the vessels, and could handle them
with far greater effect than green crews Of
blue Jackets. The ships could be Differed
from the line OF the regular navy In the
case of enllstlng d merchant crew. the pay
and allowances would be about equivalent
70 the rates paid ordinary sailors. and the
time OF enlistment would doubtless be linn
tied to short periods.
cruisers consist. In the case OF the steam
ships ST. Louis and 81. Paul. of eight g.
inch guns. four s-pounders and four ma
chine guns. the Paris and New York.
twelve G-inch. six e-pounders and six ma
chine guns.
1t is designed TO give vessels OF the Car
acas and Seneca type. a main battery Of
eight &-inch guns, and from six 10 eight
rapid-iire machine guns. Those of the
Vigilance class are designed to have a main
battery OF six 5-ineh and four 4-inch guns
four one Founders and three machine guns.
The batteries of the auxiliary cruisers
/ on the Pacific coast. If these should be
/ called In use. are substantially similar.
/ sx-snch guns being the largest ones de-
1 signed for use In that service. The navy
/ good condition as to the supply of automo-
/ bile tegpedoes. which constitute one OF the
| most deadly engines of naval destruction.
! The Whitehead torpedo is now IN general
/ USE, although few OF the Powell class
| are stIil on hand. FIFTY Of the Whitehead
teFpedoes were secured short time AK ,.
/ and with these there is a total OF ahou;
10 on hand, This eisss not only full
outfit far vessels now in commission. but
also tha necessary reserve supply.
II Is understood that Commander
/ Brewnson. who sailed GA the 81. Paul
from New York yesterday. IS virtually in
command og the vessel