The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-11
LOOKING OVER OFFERS
MI.ANTONOAIAH AND K4ATAHDlN
GO INTO COMMISSION.
PRESIDENT ON BELLIGERENT RIGHTS
Sensational Story That They VIII be Recon-
mended in an Early age--ArWaI Of
The New Minister, Senor Bernabe--
Our Cuban Consuls Much Taxed.

Our Cuban ConSulS Much laxed.
Washington, ID. 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
lack of offers of war ships from abroad
but simply for the reason that the Navy
Department is proceeding with all of
the circumspection consistent with the
needs of the case in looking after the
qualities and prices of the craft.
Lieutenant Niblack, the United States
Naval attache at Berlin, st. Petersburg
and Vienna, is particularly active in
the quest for vessels. There was a good
deal of talk during the day about the
assignment of Officers to the command
of auxiliary cruisers, 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
progressed to the point of informing
himself of the possibility of getting the
ships officered and manned quickly.
While looking after new ships the Off
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 i'll the or
binary course would not be treated in
that fashion, but would receive a thor
Ollgh and time-consunling overlnuling.
Thus. lin THE ease of the Philadelphia,
which has dlad five years hard work
aud has never yet been dome over as is
the custom, orders have gone to Marge
Island to put her in shape for sea- within
fUTftws days. The Yorktown at the
gallle yard is not to he touched at pres
elrt. iiUt Unly because She is in fair con-
ditiou but ;ilso because she is not so
formidable u craft as to make it dcsir-
able to divert to her repair attention
required elsewhere. At Norfolk the
Newark is set down for thirty days re-
psirs. and as q good deal of work has
already been done on her she will be
almost n new ship when she comes out
of the yard. The big monitor Puritan
has practically completed her repairs.
The monitor Comanchc at Mare Island
has been examined and found in tOler-
able good condition. At League Island
the monitor Miantononlall and the ram
Katahdin went into commission to-day.
although they have mot yet had their
oTueFSs IHSS pioUdD1y Will IeHdlu III
the Delaware river or drop into the
bay. The torpedo boat Dupont sailed
to-day from Mobile to attach herself
again to the fotilla at Key West.
Again it was said at the Navy Depart
nlent that nothing had been heard from
the Court of Inquiry at Havana nor
Admiral Sicard at Key West. The
presence iii 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
parsistemcy of one that found currency
at the capitol, until it met ID summary
tlenial at the hands of Assistant Secre-
fIry Day. to the effect that Minister
WOodford had notified the Spanish gov
ernment that the President intended to
send to Congress a message announcing
his recognition of Cuban independence
Commander Hawley left Washington
tlIis evening for the South with Chief
Engineer Webster and Surgeon Persons
to enlist machinists for the Navy.
4 conference was held at 3 O'Clock IN
the office of Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt to map out plans for arming and
egulpping merchant vessels as auxiliary
cruisers. Mr.. Roosevelt presided and
others present were Captain Crownin-
shield, of the Bureau of Navigation
Capt. O'Neal, of the Bureau of Ord
nance: Chief Hichborn. of the Bureau
of Construction. and Commander Brad
ford, of the Bureau of Yards and Docks.
This meeting had been preceded by call
from President Griscom. of the 1nterna-
tional Navigation Company. which owns
the four ships-St. Louis. st. Paul, Par
is and New York. The meeting brought
out general discussion of the work the
various bureaus would be called upon
TO, perform in making these and other
vessels ready as auxiliary cruisers.
About % per cent. of this work wOul.l
fall to the lot of the Bureau of Construc.
fion which would have charge of install
ing magazines, gun mounts, light pro-
tectiye armOr for the guns and maoa
ZINES: and the circles on which tho ouns
swing. This work. it is said. could bc
accomplished readily within two yUael,S
time, as all materials, except the guns or,
in hand. The Bureau of Ordnance conJd
not supply all the guns required with,
that short time. although some savont,
or more are now available. The sunnl,
would be adequate however for th,
most effective auxiliary cruisers and tn,
complete armament of the merchant shin
could proceed as rapid as possible there
after. On the question of manning fb,
auxiliary fleet, the Navy Department
feels that the most effective step woul,
be to enlist into the United States Nav
nj service the present merchant crew
OF the several ships. These crews ar