The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-11

large number of cablegrams today; al
most all relating to offers of ships.
Lieut.. 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 Off
GERS to the command Of auxiliary cruis-
ers, 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 pro-
gressed to the point of informing him
self of the possibility of getting the
ships officered and manned quickly.
While looking after new ships the Of
f1cials of the navy department are not
neglecting old vessels, and arrange
ments have been made to make short
repairs on several ships, that in the or
binary course would not be treated in
that fashion, but would receive a
thorough and time-consuming over
hauling. Thus in the case of the Phil
adelphia, which has had five years hard
work and has never yet been done over
as is the custom, orders have gone to
Mare Island to put her in shape for sea
within forty days.
Ready for Service.
not to be touched at present, not only
because she is in fair condition, but
also because she is not so formidable
craft as to make 1t desirable to divert
to her repair attention required else
where.
AT Norfolk, the Newark Is set down
for thirty days repairs, and as a good
deal of work has already been done on
her she will be almost a new ship wher,
she comes out of the yard
The big monitor Puritan has practi-
cally completed her repairs. The mon
itor Commanche at Mare Island has
been examined and found in tolerable
condition.
At League island the monitor Mian-
tonomah and the ram Katahdin went
into commission today, although they
have not yet had their orders They
probably will remain in the Delaware
river or drop down into the bay. The
torpedo boat Dupont sailed today from
Mobile to attach herself again to the
flotilla at Key West.
Again it was said at the navy de-
partment that nothing had been heard
from the court of inquiry at Havana
nor from Admiral Sicard at Key West.
A conference was held at o'clock in
the office Of Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt to map out plans for arming and
equipping merchant vessels as aux
lllary cruisers. Mr.. Roosevelt presid-
ed and others present were Cant.
Crowninshield, Of the bureau of nayi-
cation; Capt. O'Neill, Of the bureau of
ordnance; Chief Hichborn, of the
bureau of construction, and Command
er Bradford, of the bureau of Yards
and docks.
This meeting had been preceded bv
call from President Griscom. of the
international Navigation company.
which owns the four ships st. Louis,
st. Paul, Paris and New York.
Auxiliary Cruisers.
The meeting brought out a general
discussion Of the work the various
bureaus would be called upon to per-
form in making these and other vessels
ready as auxiliary cruisers. About
20 per cent of this work would fall to
the lot Of the bureaus of construction
which would have charge of installing
magazines, gun mounts, light protec
tive armor for the guns and magazines
and the circles on which the euns
swing. This work, it is said, could he