The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-28
Au11nrAnY KAn E1EEr.
auns Havent Cose mere Yet-Nsariy All
Available Vessels New Classified.

At the Brooklyn Navy Yard yesterday work
en- tho vessels that are in dry dock was con-
tinued all day and many OF the buildings were
open. No advice of tho shipment from wash
ington of the guns for auxiliary naval vessels
has been received yet.
Tho preparation Of the armament for the
auxiliary feet has been long in progress ana IL
is not being hurried now. Twenty years ago
the Board of Inspection Of American and FOR
elgn Vessels was organized in the Ordnance
Bureau Of the navy. and began its work OF III
~specting and classifying merchant vessels which
might, In q case of necessity, DO transformed
into cruisers or transports. In 1891. when the
law ubsidizing steamships carrying mails was
passed, the inspection of foreign vessels was dis
continued. but that OF American vessels has
continued internationally to the present time.
The report of the Bureau Of Ordnance for last
year gave a list of thirty.one inspected vessels.
nine OF them on the Pacific coast, and specified
the armament each could carry, the total NUM-
Der OF guns being 351. An appropriation to
supply these ornaments was voted by Congress
and 1t is n part of these guns that are 10 oe
shipped here soon from Washington.
Lieutenant Commander }. d: j. Kelley, ~ :.
N, was detailed to this port in May, 1897 70
continue the inspection and classification of
American vessels, and 1t is understood that the
classified list has been about doubled since that
time. In other words. tho inspection 4, about
~ - 1850 aila OIL tNu ihiopSSto A"S w
keep track of alterations and OF new vessels.
The inspection is most complete. and after it
Is made tho Government has in its possession
details OF the construction, capacity. speed and
general fitness OF the inspected vessel for war
service. From these are prepared plans for the
necessary alterations. including not only, the
number and location of guns to be put In place.
but every strengthening beam and stanchion,
the magazines. coal bunkers and hammock
hooks and every other change that is to DO made.
With these arc filed away complete specitca-
tons FOR making the changes and even the ship
yard at which they can be made most convent
emily Is selected 30 that when need comes every
thing Is ready. While the alterations are being
made the crew and officers are becoming accus-
toned 10 their ship. stores and ammunition are
being put aboard and the merchantmen becomes
an auxiliary warship within q space Of not over
six weeks at the outside.
There are II great many things to be considered
In the transformations to be effected. Speed
and size come first. and the law Of 1891 made
four classes OF auxiliary or casual" cruisers:
20 knots. and 5000 tons: 16 knots and 5000
tons; u knots and $500 tons, and 10 knots and
suitable tonnage to carry armament" Next
in Importance TO speed and size come certain
details OF construction. fully complied with in
all boats built under Government specifications,
which fit the vessel to stand the shock of dis
charging the guns. Next come the protection
of the machinery. locations for magazines, quar-
tiers for crew and capacity for coal. Vessels
that require too much alteration to fit them out
as cruisers would be made into transport ships
or put to some other use.