New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-01
MASSACHUSETTS TOO SLOW.
THE GROWTH ON HER HULL TO BE-
SCRAPED OFF.
GETTING THE FLYING SQUADRON READY WITH
sPEED-CoICMB1A JOINS HER ASSOCIATES
ctr- VIII. BE RrPAlNTED AT ONCE.

GETTING THE FLYING SQUADRON READY WITH
spErD-corIMBIA JOINS HER ASSOCIATES
SHE WILL BE REPAlNTED AT ONCE.
Newport News. Va. March II 'Speclal).-
There is no longer any doubt that the battle
ship Massachusetts is at present Incapable OF
attaining the speed necessary for a part Of the
FLYING Squadron. Commodore Schlcy received
Geographic orders from Washington to-day to
20 ahead with the work Of having the ships
bottom cleaned as thoroughly possible by the
navy divers An officer from the Massachusetts
stated to-day that the ship Is more In need OF
docking than the Navy Department mas any
idea Of The sea growth on the battle-ship 9 huH'
he said. is dense and sufficient TO reduce her
speed from seventeen to thirteen knots. While
the flagship Brooklyn and the cruisers Coiumhia
and Minneapolis are capable Of making twenty
two and twenty three knots an hour. this great
speed could be of little advantage in squadron
evoutinns. as they would have to wait Tor the
Massachusetts
An officer Of the Massachusetts is authority
for the statement tonight that divers began
the work of scraping the batte-ship's hull to-
night on hurry orders. Commodore Schey has
ordered that the sea growth must be removed
I'm time to permit the Massachusetts to sail with
the squadron tomorrow afternoon. II necessary
IL is reported tonight that as soon az the Mas
sachusetts is ready for action. she. together
with the Brooklyn. will drop down 10 Hampton
Roads Just below the city. and give their
launches opportunity 10 play torpedo-hoats
for the purpose Of ascertaining whether or not
they can pass the ships. The officers on the
warships expect orders tomorrow to remove all
exterior woodwork as to lessen the danger OF
fire In the event Of hostilites large warshp
arrived in Hampton Roads tonight. but II is
impossible at this hour To ascertain us name
It's arrival occs stoned considerable excitement
as the Minneapolis and Texas are the only men
of-war due here. and they cannot possibly get
here for several days.
The protected cruiser Columbia arrived at Old
Point al 1918 o'clock this morning from League
Island Navy Yard Philadelphia The cruiser Is
stn white and It is stated that the work Of
transforming her to the uncanny lead color Will
be started IN the morning. The Columhia's
crew Is eighty men short. II Is probable that
her commander will advertise for ordinary sea-
men at once. AS the ships bunkers are filled
with fuel It is unlikely that she viii join the
BROOKLYN and Massachusetts here. The Brook
lyn took on 100 tons Of coal to-day. and the
Massachusetts will have to replensh her coal
bunkers before sailing on n long cruise
Both the Massachusetts and Brooklyn are be
ing provisoned with dispatch. Tho public wharf
marines who have not been ashore for the last
two DAYS were locked up on the Massachusetts
this morning for intoxication. Liquor dealers
are making practice ~ selling whisRey to sail
ors and marines who come 10 tho wharf from
the ships with the launches and boats. ana in
this way the mon aboard get all the whskey
they want ~ drink. To-day however az the
request of Commodore Schley. two p"l'enen
were stationed at the wharf with instructions
70 arrest any man detected giving WhsKey 10
sailors. Already four men are in jail on TINS
charge.
IT was learned this evening that Commodore
Sohley received supplementary orders today 70
have his ship ready to sail on minute ho. ,l
The revenue cutter Manning. which arrived yes
terGay left this morning for the Norfolk Navy
Yerd where she will he fitted with an armor
belt and supplied with G-pounders
Fort Monroe Va. March 31.-The Columbia,
for which Commodore Schley OF the Flying
SQUADRON looked in vain all day yesterday, an
chored of Fort Monroe this morning just
after daylight. She spent some extra time on
her trip from Philadelphia here trying the speed
| of her engines Everything was found IN sh'iS-
factory condition. She can make twenty-Iw ~. 0 0
knots per hour and twenty-three IT forced' Inc
remainder OF the feet will move down mere to-
night or tomorrow.
| pectad here within the next twenty-four hours
| ard the Minneapolis may get IN TINS Week.
The Montgomery is capable OF making nineteen
and a half knots an hour. and IS faster .hai'
| the frst-class hattle-ship Massachusetts, Com
| modore Schley estimates that the Coiuinpia can
| be repainted IN day. and that II his other
| boats arrive ne will be in complete form 70 move
| bv Saturday or Sunday less than one week
from the time he took command
Commedore Sohey and Captain Cooke, OF the
| Prooklvn came TO Fort Monroe this afternoon
and selected an anchorage. Commodore Schl.y
said that the Brooklyn ard the MASSACHUSETTS
| would steam down in the morning Inc minor
rapafrs having been completed on her ne gun
| boat Vicksburg which has been lying oil mere
has gone 10 the Norfolk yard FOR complexion.
The bancroft went up the ronds 10 Newport
/ News tonight for repairs. -
Tho posting Of two bulletins AT Norfolk ara
/ their transmission here. created great excite
! yn.n, overvwhere but especially among those
most vitality concerned-the naval officers one
! announced that Spain had rejected all OvertuTes
and the othe- that the flying squadron had been
order ed to sea. Up TO Q o'clock tonight COM
modore Schley had received no instructons 70
move and evidently cid not expect thon I'M
nodlately. for the Columbia which made hrl
arrival to-day has been ordered 10 change us
coat n gray Commodore Schley said to-nigh'
that II the Montgomery had left Key West for
here he was pretty sure j; was not I" ION NJ
SQUADRON as he had received 10 notice to such
effect