The evening times., 1898-06-09
BATTERIES FOB SCOUTS.
rhe ships WIN Have Good Gums and
High Speed.


Acting Secretary Allen gave orders to-
day for the conversion of the Harvard into
formidable auxiliary cruiser, which will
be able to both scout and fight. BY this
action Mr.. Allen proposes to place the
last Of the four steamers impressed from
the American line In condition to defend
itsek and to attack should the occasion
demand 1t. The st. Louis Is yet to be
equipped with her eight 5-inch guns. and
as soon as she can be relieved by the Yale
or Harvard she will be ordered 10 Newport
News to receive that battery.
Primarily this equipment OF the ST.
Louis, Harvard and Yale is the result OF
the report made by Capt. W. c. Wise.
commanding the Yale. in regard to his
meeting with the Alfonso XIII, Spanish
auxiliary cruiser, which had 800 soldiers
aboard and $500.
Capt. Wise's report was that the Al
fonso XIII attempted to capture his ves-
ves but the superior speed Of the Amert-
can scouts saved her.
Capt. Wise Is confident that had the
Yale had her battery of eight 5-inch guns
sunk the Alfonso XIII. The Yale Is now
receiving her battery at Newport News.
and under the Instructions given Capt.
Wise will sail on Saturday for Santiago de
Cuba, where she. Will take the place Of
the st. Louis.
1t Is proposed to provide the Harvard
with some protection, and Chief Naval
Constructor Hichborn, has ordered her
fitted with a magazine to hold her am
munltion- The Harvard will be again
ready for service the latter part Of next
week.
With the st. Paul. st. Louis. Harvard
and Yale carrying powerful batteries, the
authorities will be able to form the flying
squadron to threaten the Spanish coast.
Nothing viii be done. however, until af-
ter the Spanish fleet at Santiago de Cuba
has been effectively disposed of.
1t developed today that the failure OF
the authorities to carry out their pro-
gram of sending scouting ships to Spain.
to ascertain the movements of the Span
ish reserve squadron. is the result of au-
thentic information received from agents
of this country abroad showing that the
Spanish fleet at Cadiz Is in no condition
to sail Cable advices communicated to
the Naval War Board announce that at
least two weeks will be required before
the reserve squadron can move. In view
of this information the fighting scouts
will be retained for the present with Rear
Admiral Sampson instead of going abroad.
II a scout should be sent to Spain there
is every reason to believe that II will fol-
low the tactics prescribed by Vice Admi-
raj Makaron in his Discussion of Naval
Tactics which has been issued to the
naval service by the Navy Department.
Suppose" he says. that a scout ap-
proach port. 1t should send out its
steam cutter to ascertain whether the
enemy's squadron is there or not. Upon
entering the harbor the cutter may be
| favorably placed for torpedo attack.
Without taking advantage of this. 1t
should leave the harbor unnoticed. II 1t
| fires torpedoss, although II might do much
| harm to the enemy. II would. neverthe-
| less. indicate our presence. and it might
| follow that. although the enemy lost a
| ship. yet the cruiser would be taken in
| the chase that would ensue and the ad-
miral thus deprived Of all news concern
| ing the enemy"