The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-10
FITTING OUT THE CRUISERS.
Can BE Sent Into Service in Very Short
Time.

y
Long paid several short visits to the
white house during the day Secretary
Day was among the callers there and
Secretary Alger went over from the
war department to see the president.
all of which led to the surmise that a
special cabinet meeting was likely to
be held But IL turned out that these
visits were not prearranged and were
connected only with matters of bust
ness pending before the respective de-
partments represented by the secre-
taries.
In the navy department the officials
were devoting their attention largely
to the fitting out of the triple screw
cruisers Minneapolis and Columbia.
Thanks TO the ability with which the
officers of the navigation bureau have
carried out the plans formed Dy sec
rotary Long for the creation Of q re-
serve list Of naval vessels. both OF these
ships are In excellent condition and
can 20 into service in an incredibly
short time compared with the period
that would have been consumed had
they been put out of commission, as
was the practice whenever IL was not
found expedient to keep them In active
service. While lying In reserve at
League they have been in fresh water
and so have not accumulated a crop or
barnacles or retarding marine vegeta-
ton AS to the destination of the two
flyers 1t is said at the navigation bu-
reau this morning, that that point had
not been settled.
These ships were designed especially
as commerce destroyers. The first one
launched the Columbia, was niclsnamed
THE Pirate" long before the navy
department could formally attach
name to the ship They are not calcu-
lated to fight warships. and owing to
light batteries. would make sorry
showing against anything that carried
guns heavier than six-inch caliber pro-
vided they were cornered and prevent
ed from flight, which would be their
strong point In such case. But for
running down feet merchantmen and
probably for looking after such vessels
as might be pressed into the navy from
the auxiliary lists they would be OF
nestimable value. 1t il likely that the
two vessels will go to Hampton Roads
as soon as they are fitted out and
manned, which is expected to be about
the 18th inst. according to the dates
upon which the officers are ordered to
report 1t is desirable to get them
down the Delaware safely without un-
due haste and at Hampton Roads,
where they will be ready for quick
work. There they will meet the Brook
| lyn.
The detail of officers to command the
cruisers were announced at the navy
department. The detail of the Column
bia is as follows: capt. ]. II. Sands
| to command the vessel. with Lieut..
]. II. Moore detached from the navy
yard at Washington as executive Off
| Ger: Lieut. 7. f. Parker detached as SUI
| pervisor New York harbnr: Lieut.. II.
1 G. Stafford Lieut.. w. j. Maxwell. En-
sign q. w. Williams, Ensign j. j..
! Pringle, paymaster J.. G. Bogg. Passed
Assistant Engineers w. II. Smith and
/ w. II. McGrawn. Acting Boatswain
and Surgeon G. q Henderson.
For the Minneapolis the detail Is as
1 follows: capt. 7. f. Jewell. detailed
4 as inspector in charge of the Tenth
lighthouse district: Lieut.. G. 4. EN-
mons. Lieut.. II. r. Wright, Lieut. ".
p White. Ensign G. ID. Stearns, En-
sign ], l., stiehl, Paymaster l.. Z.
Kerr. Passed Assistant Engineers A,
| Al. Amaritz and l.. NJ. Mutton. Acting
! Roatswain w Brooks. Surgeon n. IL
/ Drake.
Work in blocking out the regiments
! of artillery recently authorized by con
gress is under way Necessarily there
/ will be some men now enlisted in The
| artillery arm of the service assigned
TO the new regiments in order TO in
struct and acauaint the recruits with
| tho nature of their duties. while in turn
some of the latter viii go to the regi-
i ments now formed. The officials of ths
| department believe there Will be NJ
difficulty in obtaining all the met
needed
Lieutenant Colonies Edward +. vii
liston and William Sinclair. who vii
be advanced TO the grade of colonies
will have command of the Sixth ant
Seventh regiments respectively, Will,
Majors Wallace +. Randolph and Tull,
McErea, who will be advanced TO tht
rank of lieutenant eolonels. will TAXI
the places held by Wllliston and Sin
clair in the Third and Fifth artiller,
respectively General Miles has abou
decided finally to locate the headquar
tiers Of the two regiments at Forts Sle
cum and Wadsworth. n. Y, although
the determination regarding the latte
place lis open to change.
AT the Spanish legation the view pre-
vailed that the situation was muc'
calrner than il had been at any tim,
since the critical iuncture began
Senior Dm Bose is preparing FOR the ar
rival Of the new minister. Senior Polo
Rernabe, who reaches New York TO
day and comes directly 10 Washington
Mr.. pablos0ler. first secretary of tn
legation, has gone to New York To NEE
him Mr. Du Bosses services as charg
happen TO have come during the mos
trying period of The entire Spanisl
controversy and there is reason to be
lieve that his government feels graft
fed with the course he has pur
sued.