New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-23

CAPTAIN BRADFORD RESIGNS AS CHIEF
OF THE EQUIPMENT BUREAU.

OF THE EQUIPMENT BUREAU.
COMMAND OF A wARsnIP TO Elc GIVEN TO HIM
CREATION OF AN AUXILIARY RESERVE
rRoposED-orHER NAVY DE-
PARTMENT WORK.
Washington. April 22-There was n notable
retirement from the navy Department In the
case Of Captain Royal p. Bradford. Chiet o.
the Bureau OF Equipment. Captain BRADFORD Is
not only an officer 81 high scientific attainineh's'
but also has great practical experience IN ha'a'
matters. Although he has rot held his present
Office long and by custom Is entitled to nearly
three years of further service here. he has b"-
come so impatient for active service that he TO-
day addressed the following letter to the Presi-
dent:
7 respectfully tender my resignation az Chief Of
the Bureau OF Equipment OF the Navy Department
it has been n great pleasure to sorV" uu'lH w.
y ,hans y for the hoor conferred upon
M by your appon'ment TO SUCH n rGyp1 ,hst
Office. This resignation Is rendered only '"@' 1
may ask for active service anoat
CAPTAIN yradford addressed n similar letter to
Secretary Long. with the addition Of request
for command OF warshp. The resignation
will he accepted. and by virtue OF his rank ms
we'll as to mark the high regard entertained for
MIN ny the C"I'"'
will be put in command OF one OF the best avail
able ships
SECRETARY LONGS PROPOSITION
Tho Secretary Of the Nav has sent to the
House COMMITTEES on Naval Affairs an urgen. re
quest for immediate action on join. resolution
he submits. creating an AUXILIARY nava, force ror
coast defence The first section Of the resolution
reads as follows
y,,o, ifiary
coast defence is hereby authorized TO be estab-
lshed 10 he enrolled IN such numbers as the frrs
dent may deem necessary. and 10 serve lot pSIIou
OF one year. unless sooner disbanded by the u'ec
ton of the President
The enIstments are TO be made by n naval Of
ncer detailed rs the chief OF the force or by
some other officer detailed. The officers and
men composing the auxiliary force are to receive
the same pay and emoluments IA those holding
similar rank or rate in the regular Navy. and
all matters relating 70 organization. discipline
and government OF the force shall conform to
the regulations and laws OF the Navy. The
chief Of the force may. with the consent OF the
Governor Of any State In similar manner, en-
lis; In the force from the naval militia Of that
State and report the names Of officers for APP
pointment therefrom.
Secretary Long In explaining the creation ~
this force says the purpose Is 10 make up the
auxiliary force from seafaring men who have
served on tugs and small vessels In local waters.
and whose services would be Of more value
in their own localities than on the high seas.
He adds that Their are many men who would
not enlist regularly in the Navy for three years
who can be counted on 10 join By snort enlist
ments In the mosquito fleet.
II was the intention OF the Committee on
Naval Analrs to take up the resolution for ac-
4. 4, l.Fe rod nrOhablN
will be acted on tomorrow.
COAL DEPOTs NEEDED.
The Navy Department Is prepared to take I'm
mediate advantage OF any action by Congress
providing for coal depots. and has already out
lined plans for the establishment; ~ such depots
and ascertained the feasibility Of stocking them
at short notice
The attitude Of the British Government on the
question Of making coal contraband Is awaited
with keen interest in naval circles. Operating
at the south OF cuba. as tho Navy must ncces-
sar!ly do If a complete hockode is to he main
taned. the problem OF supplying them with coal
Is n question Of the greatest importance. This
MAJ he done extensively and uncertainty. ow
ing to the danger Of attack by the enemy's ships
through the use OF steam golfers sen; from the
United States II is highly desirable. however.
that in an emergency the ships may have the
coal supply I'm the West Indies. II In believed.
however. owing to the guarded manner In which
Mr. Balfour replied 20 the direct question as to
the Governments making coal contraband that
Great Britain will adopt a middle course She
probably will refuse 10 allow the warships Of
the conlbatants TO take on A full supply Of coal
at any British port. But. on the other hand. she
probably Will allow any such ships arriving at
her ports shor, OF coal TO take on supply sum
cient to take them TO their next port. thus APP
plying the common rule OF neutrality
The decision OF the British Government that
the Spanish cruiser Audaz. now under repairs
at Queenstown. cannot be detained under the
neutrality laws. Is not without come benefit to
the United States. as the torpedo boa. Somers
lust purchased from Germany. is In dock at
Falmouth. England. repairing damages sus-
tanned in the passage from Germany. There
was some fear that she might he detained
Lieutenant Commander Cowles who rendered
such good service I'm running the little dispatch
boat Fern hack and forth between Havana and
Key West during the exciting days succeeding
the Maine disaster has decided that he prefers
70 take his chances In the fghinG line so. on
his own application he has been assigned to the
command OF the cruiser Topeka, which
sailed a day or two ago from England. where
she was purchased for the United States Lieu
tenant Commander Wlnslow takes command Of
the Fern in place OF Lieutenant Commando
Cowles. being detached from the ST. Louis fo-
that purpose.
command the Resolute. Paymas'cr w J.
Thompson and the following acting lieutenants
have been ordered to the St Paul: William j.
Roberts George Young. }. 4. Patton. Hiram
Dixon and Ralph Osborn.
The naval officials feel every confidence IN the
ability OF the oregon and the Marietta not only
10 protect themselves from the Spanish tor
pedo gunboat Temerario hut to destroy that
craft II she ever comes within range.
THEY WANT ROOSEVELT TO STAY.
THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY LONG TRYING
TO INDUCE HIM TO RECONSIDER HIS PLAN
Washington April 22.-Considerable pressure