New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-05

The larger boats will make formidable naval
craft. there being few cruisers in the Navy Of
a tonnage exceeding SIX thousand. II Is under
stood that orders will be issued at once to place
the newly acquired vessels in shipyards for the
necessary reiittng.
THE VESSELS PROMPTLY SECURED.
CONTRACTS MADE BY THE AUXILIARY NAVAL
BOARD FOR TEN cRUIsERs-TAKEN FROM
THE SAVANNAH. MORGAN. RED
d AND OLD DOMINION LINES.
The most important action OF the Naval Aux
iliary Board. since It's requirement Of a dozen
yachts and tugs for the mosquito fleet OF the
Navy Department. taken yesterday. Under
the Instructions forwarded from Washington the
Board went to work early yesterday morning to
add ten auxiliary cruisers 10 the vessels owned
by the Government. The list OF those picked out
from the number already under favorable
sderation. includes the finest and best OF the
coastwise steamships which enter and depart
from this port.
The vessels are the following:
KANSAS CITY, u the Savannah Line.
CARACAS and VENEZUELA. Of the Red n Line
Morgan Steamship Line.
YORKTOWN. JAMESTOWN and PRINCESS ANNE Of
the Old Dominion Line.
The terms upon which they have been secured
ber said that they were TO be purchased out
right and not simply chartered. although 1t had
been supposed that this course was to be pur-
sued in the case Of such large vessels. They
to be armored and equipped with guns, so
that they Will make an auxiliary fleet that can
aid the regular vessels Of the Navy and can
be used to patrol the seacoast.
This step has teen in contemplation for some
time" said a member Of the Board yesterday
afternoon. but called upon for speedy
action to-day. Such Of the vessels as we had
not decided upon were revisited and negotiations
were closed at once. All we have done has
been by direct authorization Besides the
dozen yachts and tugs before secured and the
ten auxiliary cruisers now added. have also
the Creole FOR a hospital ship and the Saturn
and Lebanon for GOLFERS making twenty-five
vessels in all. our work is not entirely COM
lleted yet as we still have other vessels TO
cure II they are needed"
STRONG VESSELS ALL.
The Kansas City is a steel vessel Of 800 tons
built in 1889 by the Delaware River Iron Ship
building and Engineering Works. at Chester
Penn She is 321 feet long, II feet beam and
- feet depth. The New-England and savan
nah Steamship Company has been operating her
between Boston and Savannah.
The Caracas was built by William Cramp &
Sons. Of Philadelphia. In 1889. She is Of iron.
2S3 feet long 40 feet beam and 20 feet depth,
and her tonnage is 2.5S4 Her owners were
Boulton. Bliss & Dallett and she has been
operated between New.York and Venezuelan
ports
The Venezuela belonged 10 the same owners,
and piled between the same ports. She is also
Of iron. 3o3 feet in length. 10 feet beam and -
feet depth, with a tonnage Of 2si3 She was
built by the Cramps in lNs9
The Ell Sol was built by the Cramps In 1890.
and IS of iron. 800 feet long. 46 feet beam. "A
feet deep and her tonnage Is 4,523. The South
ern Pacific Steamship Company owned her and
operated her and her sister vessels between
New-York and New-Orleans.
The FL Norte was built for the same owners
in 1892 by the Newport News Shipbuilding
Company. She is $50 feet long IS feet beam
and "a feet deep and her tonnage is 1863
The FL RIO was built in 1898 by the same firm
for the same owners. and she is Of the same
dimensions, with Il tonnage OF 1860.
The FL sud was built by the same company
in 1892 for the same owners. She is of the
same dimensions and her tonnage Is i6Jo
The yorktown was built at Chester Penn, by
the Delaware River Iron Shiphuilding and Engi-
ncering Works In lSJi She Is or steel. Z99 feet
long. 10 feet heam. and II feet deep. Her tom
Is $50 he Oll l'oiliAtOu 'tNdlilSHiP
Company owned her.
The Jamestown belonged to the same company
and was constructed by the same firm She was
huff I'm the same year. and has the same dimen
sions ard her tonnage Is the same.
The Princess Anne was built for the same
steamship company Ivy the same builders in
1897 She il also Of steel. }Oi feet long. u feet
hcan and - feet deep. and her tonnage Is 3,ot9.
SHIPPERS SURPRISED BY THE PURCHASE
The statement was made yesterday that the
Of only carving
the plans of the Navy Department as outlined
when the naval officers forming the Board were
detached for their present duties But the ac-
nuirement Of SO large fleet In one day caused
great surprise In shipping circles.
Tho understanding In the Army Building
ubore the members OF the Board were busily
at work all day was that the vessels were pur-
chased at the present time IN order that work
Md no done I'm the way OF protecting them
,ritb armor and fitting them up with rapid
Guns and torpedo tubes so that they would be |
IN readiness for use at the earliest po1slple
moment The work OF converting the yachts |
ond tugs secured ten days ago into torpedo |
hoats 10 RAPIDLY approaching completion. and the
work. on the auxiliary cruisers VIII he pushed |
M ALI points where II can be carried Forward |
with all possible rapdty.
The steamer Creole. OF the Cromwell Line |
which the Government has obtained for commits |
sion into a hospital ship. reached port yesterday
and as soon as she has been unloaded she VIII |
he sent 70 Newport News. where she Is to under |
go the changes which needed TO make her |
useful I'm case OF hostilities. She viii no. be |
armored and will carry Red Cross flag. On |
her way TO New Orleans the Creole passed the
United States fleet a Key West. The war ves-
sells threw powerful searchghts on her. Re-
turning from New Orleans the Creole again
passed the feet and n torpedo-boat encircled
- Ay- HtxA AAA