The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-11

WASHINGTON, D. C.,March 1o.-The
United States government has not yet
acquired a single additional ship for the
navy. This is true not because OF a
lac,, OF offers OF war ships from abroad.
bu, simply for the reason that the navy
department is proceeding with all OF
the c!rcumspection consistent with the
needs OF the case In looking after the
qualities and prices Of the craft.
Secretary Long was in receipt OF a
large number OF cablegrams to-day. al
most all relating to offers OF ships. Lieu
tenant Niblack, the United States naval
a,,ache q, Berlin, St. Petersburg and
Vienna, is particularly active in the
quest for vessels.
There was good deal OF talk during
the dag about the assignment OF Off
GERS to the command of auxiliary cruis-
crs, the st. Paul and st. Louis being
specially mentioned. but Secretary
Long set these stories at rest by the
statement that he had not made any
such assignments. and had only pro-
gressed to the point OF informing him
self OF the possibility OF getting the
ships differed and manned quickly.
While looking after new ships the off,
c!a!s OF the navy department are not
reglecting the old vessels, and arrange
ments have been made to make short
repairs on several ships, that In the or
dinary course would not be treated In
that fashion, but would receive thor
ough and time-consuming overhaulIng.
At League Island the monitor Mlanto-
nomah and the ram Katahdin went Into
commission to-day, although they have
not yet had their orders. They prob
ably will remain in the Delaware river
or drop down Into the bay. The torpedo
boat Dupont sailed to-day from Mobile
TO attach herself again to the fiotilla at
Key West. Again it was said at the
navy department that nothing had been
heard from the court OF inquiry at
Havana, nor from Admiral Sicard at
Key West.
The presence IN the city OF several
persons connected with steamship lines
and steel works led to the circulation OF
number OF sensational stories during
the day, but perhaps none OF these had
the perslstency OF one that found cur
reacy at the capitol, until 1t met with a
summary denial at the hands OF Assist
ant Secretary Day to the effect that
Minister Woodford had notified the
Spanish government that the President
intended to send to Congress mes
cage announcing his recognition OF Gu
ban independence.
A conference was held at o'clock In
the office OF Assistant Secretary Roose-
relt, to map out plans for arming and
cqu!pplng merchant vessels as auxil-
larry cruisers.
On the question OF manning the aux
Hilary feet, the navy department feels
that the most effective step would be to
enlist into the United States naval SER
Vice the present merchant crews OF; the
several ships. These crews are thor
oughly familiar with the vessels and
could handle them with far greater et-
iect than green crews Of blue Jackets.
The ships would be differed from the
line OF the regular navy. In the case OF
cnlistlng merchant crew the pay and
allowance would be about equivalent to
The rates paid ordinary sailors and the
time of enlistment would doubtless be
limited to short periods.
The proposed batteries for the auxil-
larry cruisers consist In the case OF the
steamships ST. Louis and st. Paul OF
cisht six-lnch guns, four sIx-pounders
ahd four machine guns: the Paris and
New York twelve si1-inch; six six
FOUNDERS and six machine guns.
IL is designed TO give vessels OF the
caracas and Seneca type main bat
,e!t OF eight fourinch guns. and from
M hiS 10 eight rapid Are machine guns.
Inose OF the Vigilance class nre design
eu 70 nave main battery OF six five
lach and four four-inch guns, four one
Iounoers. and three machine guns. The
batteries OF the auxiliary cruisers on
Iae Pacific coast, II those should be
,nhed INTO use. are substantially SINH
iaE, SIX inch guns being the largest one
designed FOR use in that service.
me navy department finds itself In
comparatively good condition as TO the
supply OF automobile torpedoes. which
r1nstitute one of the most deadly en-
Slhcs OF naval destruction. The White
neda torpedo Is now in general use, nl-
'aough few OF the Howell class arc
stllI on hand. Fifty OF the Whitehead
"'peoocs were secured q short time ago
Itu als win these there Is u total OF about
1oV on hand. This gives not only full
outH' for vessels now IN commission,
"'so 'he necessary reserve supply.
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