Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-15
SPECIAL BOARD EXAMINING ALL
AVAILABLE VESSELS.
WORKING UNDER RUSH ORDERS
REPORTS TO BE MADE TO SECRETA.
RY LONG BY TELEGRAPH.
No Lack of Merchant Vessels for
Strengthening the Navy in Case
of Need-Steamer Paris May
Be Held in New
York.

New York. March 1.-THE board of aux
iliary cruisers of the United States navy,
which was appointed to acquire ships of
the merchant marine for use in the event
of the breaking out of the war, met for
organization to-day in the Havemeyer
building, where the board has secured tenn
porary quarters. Permanent quarters will
be taken later, as the board will have
great amount of work to do here. The
new board supersedes the office of United
States inspector of merchant vessels. which
has been held by Lieutenant Commander ].
d. ]. Kelly, in this city, since May of last
year. Commander Kelly is member of the
new board.
A member of the board said to-day that
1t had power to pre-empt any vessel that
had been constructed under the subsidy of
congress. and was engaged in carrying the
mails. All vessels will be carefully exam
ined. and no worn out hulks will be ac-
cepted. 1--WE can easily secure fine fleet
on both coasts" said this gentleman, from
oceangoing tugs to fleet liners like the ves-
sells of the American line
The special board organized with the Sc
lection of Captain Frederick Rodgers. Of
the naval board of inspection and survey,
as president; Lieutenant Sergeant recorder
OF the board Of inspection. as secretary,
and Lieutenant Commander Kelly as ad-
wiser. 1t was announced that all meetings
of the board will be secret.
The board inspected the st. Louis and
the New York, of the American line. this
afternoon. The visit to the st. Louis was
short one. The steamship was construct
ed under the supervision of naval experts
and all of the officers composing the board
were familiar with the plan of the vessel.
The New York was next visited. She
was constructed uvben he coupapv coJled
its ships under the British flag. The New
York was at one time in the reserve of the
British admiralty and was built under the
supervision of English officers.
/ The inspecticz of all vessels on which the
government has options by reason of the
subsidy act will be proceeded with as rap
idly as possible.
Captain Rodgers has very positive in
structions to- make thorough inspections
and immediate report. He has been directed
to examine all steamships available for
auxiliary cruisers and transports, fast tugs
for use as rams, and steam yachts that
could be quickly transferred into service
able torpedo boats. He has been instructed
also to telegraph his recommendations to
the secretary of the navy, SO that action
may be taken without unnecessary delay.
1t was said by a member of the board
this morning that the departments orders
were hurry up" orders. and that the
work of the board would be completed as
expeditiously as possible. How soon that
will be he could not tell. Possibly" he
said. I'VE shall be through in three days.
Another member of the board said:
Just as soon as our mission here had
been announced. we began to receive offers
from the steamship companies. The own
'ers of all the available American steam
ships in the harbor, 1 believe 1 am safe in
saying. have placed their vessels at our
disposal. Merchant vessels. tugs and yachts
are included in this. We had a particularly
large number of yachts offered to us. and
We will. no doubt. enter into negotiations
for a number of these
Clement A. Griscom, president of the In
ternational Navigation Company. owners
of the American line was in consultation
with the board this morning with reference
to the St. Louis. What the result of that
consultation was could not be learned. 1t
was sa- by a member of the board that
nothing had been decided. The St. Louis
is still advertised to sail on Wednesday,
but it was admitted by an official of the
company this morning that he did not
know whether or not she would. Lieuten-
ant Commander Kelley declined to say that
the steamer would be held in this port.