The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-11
ALL NEEDED
PRECAUTIONS
Have Been Taken by the
Navy Department.
THE AUXILIARY CRAFT.
Matter Of Manning and EQuipping
Them Discussed.
WORK OF WRECKING IS SLOW.

Washington, March 1.-THE United
additional ship for the navy. The navy
department is proceeding with all cir
cumspection in looking after the quail
ties and prices OF warships offered for
sale. There is a strong disposition TO
refrain from being drawn into bad
bargains and to insist on getting good
vessels at prices not extortionate. Sec
retary Long has received large num-
Der of cablegrams, almost all relating TO
offers of ships Lieutenant Niblack, the
United States naval attache at Berlin.
st. Petersburg and Vienna, Is particu-
larly actiye in the. quest for vessels.
There was good deal of talk during
the day about the assignment of officers
10 the command of auxiliary cruisers,
the st. Paul and st. Louis being es-
pecially mentioned, but Secretary Long
stated that he had not made any such
assignments and had only progressed
To the point OF informing himself Of the
possibility OF getting the ships officered
and manned quickly.
While looking after new ships, the
officials of the navy department are not
neglecting the old vessels. Arrange
ments have been made to make short re-
pairs on several ships that in the ord
mary coufse would receive thorough
and time-consuming overhauling. Thus.
in the case OF the Philadelphia, orders
have gone to Mare island to put her in
shape for sea within 40 days. At Nor
folk the Newark is set down for 30 days
repairs, and as good deal OF work has
already been done on her. she will be al
most a new Chip when she comes out OF
the yard. The big monitor Puritan has
practically completed her repairs. The
,omanche at Mare island has been ex-
mined and found i'm tolerable condi-
on. AT League island the MinatonS-
,ah and the Katahdin went into COM
lission yesterday. although they have
OF yet had their orders.
A conference was held yesterday In
he office OF Assistant Secretary Rose
velt to map out plans for arming and
equipping merchant vessels as auxiliary
cruisers. Mr.. Roosevelt presided and
others present were Captain CROWN
shield of the bureau Of navigation. Cap
tain O'Neil OF the bureau OF ordnance,
Chief Hichborn OF the bureau Of con-
struction. and Commander Bradford Of
the bureau OF yards and docks. This
meeting had been preceded by call from
President Griscom OF the international!
Navigation company. which owns the
st. Louis. St. Paul, Paris and New York.
The board meeting brought out a general
discussion OF the work the various
bureaus would be called upon to perform
In making these and other vessels ready
as auxiliary cruisers. About 95 percent
of this work would fall to the lot OF the
bureau Of construction. which would
have charge OF installing magazines,
gun mounts, light protecting armor for
the guns and machinery on which the
guns swing. This work, II is said. could
be accomplished readily within two
weeks time. as all material except the
guns is in hand. The bureau OF ordnance
could not supply all the guns required
within that short time. although some
20 or more are now available. The sup
ply would be adequate, however, for
the most effective auxiliary cruisers, and
the complete armament Of the merchant
ships could proceed as rapidly as pos
''ible thereafter.