Evening journal., 1898-03-11
Officials Of the Navy De-
partmelt Are Kept
Very Busy.
SHIPS TO BE OVERHAULED
Plans Mapped Out For Making Mer-
chant Vessels Cruisers.
CONGRESSMEN ARRIVE AT HAVANA
Brief Statement Made by senator Proctor
Coaesrn ing His Recent Trip Through
Cuba-The Fern Billed to Go
TO RIatanzas To-day.


to AIatanzas To-day.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Unit
ed States government has not yet ac-
quired a single additional ship for the
navy This is true not because Of a
lack Of offers Of warships from abroad,
but simply for the reason that the navy
department Is proceeding with all the
circumspection consistent with the needs
of the case In looking after the qualities
and prices OF the craft. There is
strong disposition TO refrain from being
drawn into bad bargains and to insist
on getting good vessels at prices not
extortionate.
Secretary Long is in receipt OF large
number of cablegrams, almost all relat-
ing TO offers of ships. Lieutenant Nib
lack the United states naval attache at
Berlin, 81. Petersburg and Vienna, Is
particularly active in the quest for ves-
sells. There was a good deal of talk
about the assignment of officers to the
command of auxiliary cruisers, the st.
Paul and St. Louis being specially men
toned but Secretary Long set these
stories at rest by the statement that he
had not made any such assignments
and had only progressed TO the point of
Informing himself of the possibility OF
getting the ships onicered and manned
quickly.
While looking after new ships the Ofil-
cials of the navy department are not
neglecting 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.
Thus. in the case Of the Philadelphia,
which has had five years hard work
and has never yet been done over, as is
the custom, orders have gone 10 Mare
island 10 put her in shape for sea with
in 40 days.
The Yorktown at the same yard is not
TO be touched at present, not only be-
cause she Is I'm fair condition. but also
because she Is not so formidable a craft
as to make II desirable to divert to her
repair attention required elsewhere. At
Norfolk the Newark Is set down for 30
days repairs. and as a good deal OF
work has already been done on her she
will be almost a new ship when she
comes out Of the yard The big monitor
Puritan has practically completed her
repairs. The monitor Comanche al
Mare island has been examined ana
found in tolerable condition. At League
island the monitor Mlantonomoh and the
ram Katahdin went into commission
yesterday although they have not yet
had their orders. They probably Will
remain I'm the Delaware river or drop
down into the bay The torpedo boat
Dupont has sailed from Mobile to at
taoh herself again to the notllla at Key
West.
Again II was said at the navy de-
partment that nothing had been heard
from the court Of inquiry at Havana
or from Admiral Sicard at Key West.
The presence in the city Of several per-
sons connected with steamship lines
and steel works led 10 the circulation
ofV number OF sensational stories, but
perhaps none of them had the per-
slstency Of one that found currency az
the capital until II met with summary
denial at the hands OF Assistant Sec
retary Day 20 the effect that Minister
Woodford had notified the Spanish gov
ernment that the president intended "a
send to congress q message announc.
ing the recognition OF Cuban lnde-
pendence.
Commander Hawley left Washington
last evening for the south with Chie'
Engineer Webster and Surgeon Person.
20 enlist machinists for the navy. Dur.
Ing the day the board changed Its plan,
and finally started directly for New
Orleans. II has been Informed tha
there are a number Of good men 70 b,
had on the gulf coast. and Commands
Hawley will open temporary recruitin,
offices in the gulf cities as he zoe
along, just as was done by him In tn
west last summer
conference was held IN the oflc
of Assistant Secretary Roosevelt 4
map out plans for arming and cauin
ping merchant vessels as auNiliar
cruisers. Mr. Roosevelt presided. an
others present were Captain Crow-in
shield OF the bureau of navigation. Can
tain O'Nen OF the bureau OF ordnanc,
Chief Hichhorn of the bureau OF con
struction and Commander Bradford d
the bureau of yards and docks. Thi
meeting had been preceded by ca
from President Griscom of the Intcrna
tional Navigation company, which own
the four ships ST. Louis ST. Paul Parl
and New York The board meetln
brought out a general discussion of an
work the various bureaus would d
NetAA~+ Nlf'AA ~ tNAANAAAl III NAAkINH NNNe
and other vessels ready as auxiliar
cruisers.
About 90 per cent OF this work w0ul
fall 70 the lot of the bureau of cor
struction, which would have charge
Installing magazines. gun mounts llel
protective armcr Tor the guns and m.
chinery on which the gums swing Tn
work. il IS said, could be accomplish
readily within two weeks time. as q
material except the guns is at ham
The bureau of ordnance could not su,
ply all the guns required within o.,
short time, although some 60 or mo-
are now available. The supply Won
be adequate. however for the most q
fective auxiliary cruisers and the coz
plete armament OF the merchant shi
could proceed as rapidly as possit
thereafter
On the question OF manning the au