The Saint Paul globe., 1898-03-26
TORPEDO BOAT PURCHASED
SPEEDY CRAFT SECURED BY
UNITED STATES IN EUROPE

UN11EU O1A1ES LIN EU hUTE
Million Dollars Spent in Twenty
Fomr Hours Under the Direction
of the President In the Purchase
of Yachts and Ocean Going Tugs
for the Use of the Navy Depart
ment in an Emergency.
NEW YORK, March 25.-Four swift
yachts, nine fast seagoing tugs and
one ccasting vessel, the pick of the
available small craft in the harbor of
New York and Philadelphia were ac-
quired today by the naval board on
auxiliary vessels.
Two of the yachts and one tug We're
delivered at the Brooklyn navy yard
today and Rear Admiral Bunce was in
receipt of orders to prepare to secure
the others tomorrow.
The yachts bought by the govern
ment are the Almy. purchased from
Frederick Gallatin; the Heroine, which
belonged to the estate of Henry l..
Pierce, of Boston; the Columbia, which
was owned by ]. H. Harvey Ladey.
and the Alicia, acquired from H. M.
Flagler.
The tugs purchased were the P. H.
Wise, from the Moran Towing COM
pany; the Taurus and the Storm King,
from the Boston Tow Boat company;
the Hercules, from the Standard Oil
company; the Paon and the Winthrop.
from the Staples Coal company, of
Taunton, Pa; the Edward Luckenback
and Walter A. Luckenback, from the
Luckenback Towing company. and the
Argus, from James A. Wright & Co.,
of Philadelphia.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The navy
department was today informed by
cablegram from Lieut.. Colwell, a naval
attache to the United States embassy
at London. that agents Of this govern
ment had purchased a SchiSchau tor
pedo boat, that had been constructed
for the German government
The new acquisition Is Of the general
type of German torpedo boats and is
regarded as a valuable addition to our
navy. One feature regarding her that
affords special qualification to the of1i-
cials Of the navy department, is that
she is now ready for sea.
1t is expected that in a few days she
will leave for the United States. She
will be able to make the journey across
the Atlantic without difficulty, as she
is a good sea-going vessel and her coal
capacity is ample for the trip to this
country.
Lieut.. Colwell has been directed to
urge the builders of the recently pur-
chased cruiser Albany. formerly the
Brazilian vessel Abreuall, to hasten the
construction Of the ship with all speed.
In the ordinary course of work the VeS-
sci would not be completed before next
December, but it is believed by officials
Of the navy department that II the
builders are placed under pressure she
can be made ready for sea within three
months.
Pending action on the report Of the
court of inquiry, Lieutenant Command
er Mark, the judge advocate of the
court will be on special duty in the
office of the judge advocate general.
Here he will be available to supply any
information that the president or the
secretary of the navy may desire in
connection with the proceedings of the
court.
Naval Militia.
The navy department has taken ac-
tive steps to utilize the naval militia Of
the New England states and of New
York, in manning the old single turret-
ed monitors recently called into service.
1t is not unlikely that the naval mill
tia Of New Jersey also will be called
upon to assist in manning the old moni-
tors. AS to the rumored likelihood that
the naval militia of Ohio, Illinois and
Michigan would be called into service,
navy department officials said that no
steps to that end had yet been taken,
but the intimation was broadly convey
ed that they might be called upon to
serve upon the monitors.
Aside from this reliance on the naval
militia, the navy department is per
fecting plans for detailing officers OF
the regular navy for service on some
of the monitors. The first order in this
connection was issued today, when
Commander Strong was ordered to take
command of the monitor Nahant.
By direction from President Mckin-
ley, Secretary Long has in twenty-four
hours spent something more than a
million dollars in the purchase of
twelve speedy yachts and seagoing tugs
which will be at once converted into
torpedo boat destroyers and picket
beats. In directing the purchase of
yachts and tugs, President Mckinley
was guided by the information showing
that the Spanish torpedo boat fotilla
has sailed from the Canary Islands for
Porto Rico.
1t is proposed that the vessels bought
shall at once be sent to the Brooklyn
navy yard, where they will be armored
anG their hulls and decks strengthened,
and their armament placed IN aCcOrO.
When completed they will be sent i'm
nediately to Key West, where theYwill
be placed under command of Capt.
Sampson.
Buying Ships.
The purchase by the United States
of M. c. D. Borden's yacht Sovereign
has been recommended by the naval
board appointed to select vessels for
the navy. The board, it was said, also
recommended the purchase of the tugs
Ell Toro, of the Southern Pacific Rail
way company, and the John A. Law
renee. owned by Albert Dutch Of this
city. The prices to be paid could not
be learned.
Negotiations are being made for the
purchase of the steel tugs Edward
Lickenbach and Ocean King. 1t was
said that just as soon as the bills of
sale are completed the tugs above
named will be delivered at the Brook
lyn navy yard
The steel tug P. H. Wise, owned by
the Moran Towing company, was pur-
chased by the government today at
price said to be under $4,000. She is
SO feet long, q feet beam, Is feet
draught, and runs IA knots an hour
She was taken to the navy yards,
where she will be fitted out. Michael
Moran is negotiating with the board
for the sale of three other tugs.
Fred B. Dalzell, of the Boston Tow
Boat company, is negotiating for the
sale to the government of the tugs
Taurus and Kate Jones.