The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-11
NO SHIPS YET ACQUIRED
NAVY DEPARTMENT PROCEEDING
WITH ALL GIRO CUMSPECTION.

Received in Large Nuinber-Old War
Merchant Ships as Auxiliary Cruisers and
the Question of Manning Such a Fleet
$50 Torpedoes on Hand.
Washington, March 1O.--The United
States government has not yet &C
quired a single additional ship for the
navy. The navy department is pro-
ceeding with all circumspection in
looking after the qualities of warships
offered for SALE There is a strong dis
position to refrain from being drawn
into bad bargains and to insist on
getting good vessels at prices not ex-
tortionate. Secretary Long received a
large number of cablegrams to-day, al
most all relating to offers of ships.
Lieutenant Niblack, the naval attache
at Berlin, st. Petersburg and Vienna Is
particularly active in the quest for
vessels. There was good deal of talk
during the day about the assignment
VI OllSClS " tIAG COllllldAu VI duAlAiebiJ
cruisers, the st. Paul and st. Louis be-
ing especially mentioned, but Secretary
Long stated that he had not made any
such assignments and had only pro-
gressed to the point to informing him
self of the possibility of getting the
ships properly manned.
Repairing Old Warships.
While looking after new ships the
officials of the navy department are not
neglecting the old vessels. Arrange
ments have been made to make short
repairs on several ships that In the
ordinary course would receive thor
ough and time consuming overhauling
Thus, in the case of the Philadelphia,
orders have gone to Mare Island to put
her in shape for sea within forty days.
At Norfolk, the Newark is set down for
thirty days repairs and as good deal
of work has already been done on her,
she will be almost a new ship when
she comes out Of the yard. The big
monitor Puritan has practically COM
pleted her repairs. The monitor Co.
manche at Mare Island has been exam
ined and found in fair condition.
Dupont Sails for Key West.
The torpedo boat Dupont sailed to-
day from Mobile to attach herself to
the f1otilla at Key West. Again it was
said at the navy department that moth
ing had been heard from the court of
inquiry at Havana nor from Admiral
Sicard at Key West. The presence in
the city Of several persons connected
with steamship lines and steel works
led to the circulation of sensational
stories during the day. Perhaps none
of these had the persistency of one
that found currency until it met with
summary denial at the hands of AS
sistant Secretary Day to the effect that
Minister Woodford had notified the
Spanish government that the president
intended to send to congress a message
announcing the recognition of Cuban
independence. Commander Hawley left
Washington this evening for the south
with Chief Engineer Webster and Sur
geon Parsons to enlist machinists for
the navy. The board started for New
Orleans. 1t has been informed that
there are a number Of good men to be
had on the gulf coast and Commander
Hawley will open temporary recruiting
offices in the gulf cities as he goes
along.
Plans for Equipping Merchant Vessels.
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 auxil-
larry cruisers. Mr.. Roosevelt presided
and others present were Captain Crow
ninshield of the bureau Of navigation,
Captain O'Neil Of the bureau of ordi-
nance, Chief Hichborn Of the bureau OF
construction and Commander Bradford
of the bureau of yards and docks. This
meeting had been arranged by a call
by the president of the International
Navigation company. The board meet
ing brought out a general discussion of
the work the various bureaus would be
called upon to perform in making
these vessels ready as auxiliary cruis-
ers. About 80 per cent. of this work
would fall to the lot of the bureau of
construction, which would have charge
of installing magazines, gun mounts,
light protective armor for the guns
4 and machinery on which the guns
! swing This work, it is said, could be
accomplished readily within two weeks
LlIlle, oil iIdISIldi eACepL Tile uIS
Is in hand. The bureau of ordnance
could not supply all the guns required
within that short time, although some
( seventy or more are now available
The supply would be adequate, how
ever, for the most effective auxiliary
cruisers and the complete armament of
& the merchant ships could proceed as
rapidly as possible thereafter.
Manning of Auxiliary Fleet.
Il On the question of manning the aux
u iliary feet the department feels that
4 the most effective would be to enlist
in the United States naval service the
present merchant crews of the several
& ships. These crews are Thoroughly ia
u miliar with the vessels and could han
I die them with far greater benefit than
4 green hands. In the case of enlisting g
Il merchant crew, the pay and allowances
# would be about equivalent to the rates
< paid ordinary sailors and the time OF
81 enlistment doubtless would be limited
to short periods. The proposed bat.
& teries for the auxiliary cruisers consist
N in the case of the st. Louis and St
x Paul of eight six-inch guns, four six
n Founders and four machine guns; the
IN Paris and New York, twelve six-inch
4 six siX-pounders and six machine guns
t 1t Is designed to give vessels of the
b Caracas main battery of eight four.
ST inch guns and from six to eight rapid