The herald., 1898-03-11
NOT ONE SHIP
Has Yet Been Purchased
for the Navy
LOTS OF OFFERS MADE
BUT UNCLE SAMUEL WILL NOT
BE BUNCOED
NAVY Department NOT IDLE
Repairs Are Rushing on Old Ships
and Batteries Preparing for the
Auxiliary Cruisers
Associated Press Special Wire

| Associated Press Special Wire
| WASHINGTON. March 10.-The United
States government has not yet acquired
a single additional ship for the navy. This
is true, not because Of lack of offers of
warships from abroad but simply for the
reason that the navy department is pro-
ceeding with all the circumspection con-
sistent with the needs of the case in look
ing after the qualities and prices of the
craft. There Is a strong disposition to re-
frain from being drawn into bad bargains
and to insist upon getting good vessels at
prices not eXtortionate. Secretary Long
was in receipt of large number Of cable
grams today, almost all relating to offers
of ships. Lieutenant Niblack. the United
States naval attache at Berlin, st. Peters,
burg and Vienna, Is particularly active in
the quest of vessles.
There was a good deal of talk during the
day about the assignment Of officers to
the command Of the auxiliary cruisers, the
st. Paul and st. Louis being especially
mentioned, but Secretary Long set these
stories at rest by the statement that he
had not made any such assignments and
had only progressed to the point of in
forming himself of the possibility of get
ting the ships officered and manned
quickly.
WORK ON OLD VESSELS
While looking after the new ships the
officials of the navy department are not
neglecting the old vessels, and arrange
ments have been made to make short re-
pairs on several ships. that in the ordirV ry
course would not be treated in that fash
ion, but would receive a thorough and
time-consuming overhauling. Thus in the
case Of the Philadelphia. which has had
five years hard work and has never yet
been gone over, as is the custom, orders
have gone to Mare Island to put her in
shape for sea within forty days.
The Yorktown. at the same time, Is 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 the at
tention required elsewhere. -f
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 new ship when she comes
out of the yard.
The big monitor Puritan has practically
completed her repairs.
The monitor Comanche, at Mare Island,
has been examined and found in tolerable
condition.
At League Island the monitor Miantono-
commission today, although they have not
yet had their orders They will probably
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
f1otilla at Key West.
REPORTS AND RUMORS
Again 1t was said at the navy department
that nothing had been heard from the
court of inquiry at Havana nor from Ad-
miral Sicard at Key West.
The presence in the city of persons con-
nected with steamship lines and steel
works led to the circulation of a number
of sensational stories during the day, but
perhaps none of these had the persist
ency Of one that found currency at the
Capitol until 1t met with summary de-
NAL by Assistant Secretary Day, to the
effect that Minister Woodford had noti-
fed the Spanish government that the
president intended to send to congress a