New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-19
WARSHIPS AT NEWPORT NEWS
NEWARK TO HAVE A TRIAL TRIP
MANNED BY NAVAL RESERVES
IA GEANDE DUCHESSE TO
HE \ TRANSPORT.
nv .r11rcrAPN TO TIE TRIBUNE.

fBy rrIEcHAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE
Newport News Va. June 1s.-The next few
DAYS will soe an exodus of warships from this
Vicinity. Two United States vessels left to-
dav. Another goes tomorrow morning. and one
NJ leas. ard perhaps three. will get away on
Monday.
At o'clock this morning the torpedo-boat de-
strovor Yaukton formerly the speedy yacht
Penelope. which has been at the Navy YARD Tor
the last six weeks undergoing conversion into
n warshlp LETT her moorings and swiftly steamed
through Hampton Roads 20 the Capes where
she shaped her course FOR Key West. she ~
equipped for action, and, as she has high
rate Of speed she will he used &c fleet dis-
patch boat in the same capacity as the SCOT
pion formerly the Vixen. She Is the last OF '"e
Yachts TO be converted into torpedo gunboat
The Yanktor was accompanied by the large
collier Southery which carries three thousand
tons Of coal for the warshps in Southern waters
The collier Cassus. recently purchased IRON 'he
German merchant marine. has received her
stores and viii probably get away to-morro" OF
Monday The Ithaca is ready TO SAIL ana Will
20 out with the Cassius tomorrow morning
TRIAL TRIP OF THE NEWARK
The practically cruiser Newark captain
Barker Will leave her anchorage in Hampton
Roads. of Fort Monroe. tomorrow, and put TO
ment. machinery and the general working OF the
ship The Newark is the first OF the regular
warships to be manned by Naval Reserves the
militia from Illinois having beer assigned 10
This duty She went into commission some time
after war was declared and too late to receive
her share Of the experienced sailors ana the
Illinois Reserves were ordered 10 report aocaru
the training-shp Franklin, at the Navy 1aru'
there 10 remain until the cruiser was ready for
service.
The bows from the West had considerable ex-
perience in naval work on the lakes, ana were
not as green as the Reserves from sons Vi t'ie
other States when they arrived. Consequent!
when the Newark goes to sea IN the morning si'e
will carry q crew that knows how TO hand!e the
guns.
While the Newark was at the Navy 1aro inc
Reserves frequently went aboard ana TOOK III
structions from experienced gunners. MOST Oh
The time while at sea Will be devoted 10 tests
OF the new G-inch rapid-fire guns. wnich nave
not had any severe trials as yet
Sub-csiibre practice will not be engaged In al
all and the Reserves will be expected to get
their hands in with full charges in all OF the
Guns The Newark has twelve Of these 6-inch
guns in her main battery, and any number or
FOUNDERS in her secondary battery. Inc ma
chnery in the cruiser IS also new. ana lis "o'h-
ing will be watched closely.
II is expected that the cruiser will return to
Old Point on Tuesday morning at the latest,
when Captain Barker will report the result or
his cruise to the Navy Department. II all OF the
tests are satisfactory Captain Barker VIII re-
ceive orders 10 proceed at once TO join the block
aiding squadron.
de Cuba on Monday with ammunition for the
landing expedition. She will have enlisted
full crew by that time. The ammunition and
large quantity Of subsistence will arrive here
Tomorrow 1t is expected that the Harvard
Will be ready In time TO follow the Yale shortiy
after the latter's departure.
LA GRANDE DUCHEssE A TRANSPORT.
The Plant Line steamship La Grande Ouch
esse the handsomest and costliest coastwise
passenger ship built in America, has been
leased by the Government and will be used as
a transport. The Duchesse has been complete
" overhauled as 10 her boilers. and to-day she
had her first dock trial since the work was fin
ished II being in every way satisfactory At q
o'clock Monday morning she will go to sea for
the purpose OF giving her engines and boilers
a thorough test. She Will return the same even
ing and If her trial is satisfactory she Is ex-
pected to leave the shipyard on Tuesday for
Tampa, Fla The Duchesse is capable Of carry
ing 100 troops comfortably. Her speed now
is nineteen knots.
The Petersburg Iron Works has Just been
awarded another large contract by the Govern
inent for 10000 4-inch shells and loo S-inch
shells. The order for the former came from the
Navy Department and that for the latter from
the War Department.
The rudder-f~ame for the batte-shlp Illinois
has arrived at the shipyard from the Cleveland
Iron Forge Works. The weight OF this frame ic
81 800 pounds. This IS the last frame TO be re-
ceived here for battleships.
The Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock
Company is preparing 10 submit It's estimate
for the construction OF the three new battle
ships Of the Illinois class The company is con
fdent of receiving at least two or the contracts.
The officials have not decided yet whether or
not they will tender bids for the construction
OF the four monitors. They will not bid on any
Of the torpedo boats other small craft not
desiring to handle such work.