New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29
THE COAST PATROL MEASURE
RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH 1T PLACES ON RnAh
ADMIRAL. ERBES

~. p,.,,x, ard signing Of the bill. which APP
nrooriate, 10000 for use in occurring vessels Tor
coastytss and harbor patrol ana authorizes the
enlistment into the Navy Of naval militia. hhva
given Admiral Erben great quantity OF WORK 10
direct, md impose corresponding responsibility
no, hin, He bae general supervision ~ the eight
distr,cts into which the coast on the Atlantic and
,ne Gul, OF Mexico f. divided. and VIII receive re-
norris from tho commander OF each and. II any
emergency arises will have 20 deal with II ~ once
from his Office in this city. lie has also n taks
charge OF the purchase and equipment Of fully one
hundred vessels OF various sizes and descriptions
and the enlistment OF about five thousand men TO
man them The vessels will include several high
priced yachts costing 10000 each or more. ana
from 81 10000 10 s. 10000 will bs expended In this
way Tho list OF vessels Is In readiness for I'M
mediate action. and Lieutenant Commander Kelley
was in consultation with Adfnrhl ftoen hoout
some OF them yesterday
The following facts came 10 light yesterday In
regard 10 the delay In the signing OF the biii pro-
yid,ng for the coast patrol. by the President;
when tho news first came that the Spanish
squadron was bottled up in the harbor Mt Santiago
do Cuba" said a naval officer, III was thought
that there was no further danger to our coast or
commerce. there would be no Spanish war yes
better expended than In adding to the vessels al.
letters poured in upon the President in relation 10
tho matter. Some urged that tho present force
regulations FOR harbor defence and that boats
we're imperatlyeH needed. Merchants and men
with shipping interests wrote that the mines Inter
fered with Commerce and should be removed. Pri-
vate citizens wrote that they were alarmed because
the coast cities were not properly defended, and
that there was danger of foreign torpedo-boats
The President then made inquiry In regard
TO the manner in which the work was carried on
at this port and when he found that there were
Of New York. with It's immense commercial inter-
| ests he signed the hill at once"
report that a vessel Of the Clyde steamship Com
pany had eluded the vigilance Of his officers at
Sandy Hook when their attention was directed
GbeSne that n was deemed best not to signal her
| 10 return This the only violation since his
vessels had taken the place OF the State tugs Tho
coal up, and the Free Lance took her place When
the latter vessel was on patrol early In tho week.
| Lieutenant Hanus was on duty for scventy-two
hours Mt a stretch. without sleep The vessels on
patrol duty have fred at several vessels which
refused to obey the signals. and have compelled
obedience
| informed Admiral Erben that the tugs Potomac.
| Powhatan. Choctaw and Tacoma had been as
| signed TO his USE for coast-defcnce work He de-
tailed the Potomac. commanded by Lieutenant
Blow 10 the Mississippi River. in the With Light
house District, under Commander y: V Wadhams.
The yacht Enquirer, which cost the Government
| equipped torpedo-boat She can make twenty
one knots hour.
The tugs Major MCKINLEY. Frank NJ. Mum and
yesterday.
| TROOPS TO RIDE FREE IN STREETCARS.
| San Francisco May 8.-The Preside and Ferry
Street Railway Company. through its president
George A. Newhal has granted the privilege Of
riding free Its lines TO the soldiers now in
camp This Is great boon to the troops. for II Is
nve miles from their camp to the centre OF the city