The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-03-18
BUILDING UP THE NAVY
Uncle Sam Not Buying Any
CASTOR Warships.
CUBAN INTERVENTION RuMoR
Arming and Manning the Merchant Ma
rfnes-Work on Coast Defense Guns
Being Rapidly Pushed Forward.

Armfng and Manning the Merchant Ma.
rines-Work on Coast Defense Gun.
Being Rapidly Pushed Forward.
Washington, March lathe United
States government has not acquired q
single additional ship for the navy.
This is true, not because of a lack o1
offers of warships from abroad, but
simply for the reason that the navy de-
partment is proceeding with all the
circumspection consistent with the
needs of the case in looking to the
prices and qualities of the craft. There
is strong disposition to refrain from
being drawn into bad bargains and to
insist on getting good vessels at prices
not extortionate.
Secretary Long was in receipt of a
large number of cable messages today,
almost all relating to offers of ships.
Lieutenant Niblock, United States ma
val attache at Berlin, St. Petersburg
and Vienna, is particularly active in
quest of vessels.
There was good deal of talk during
the day about the assignment of Off
GERS to the command of auxiliary crui-
sers, the St. Paul and st. Louis being
especially mentioned. but Secretary
Long set these stories at rest by the
statement that he had not made any
such assignments, and had only pro-
gressed to the point of informing him
self of the possibility of getting the
ships officered and manned quickly.
While looking after new ships, the
NJ nJoI nf hn Il ~,
neglecting the other vessels, and ar
rangements have been made to make
short repairs on several ships that in
the ordinary course would not be
treated in that fashion, but would re-
quire an entire overhauling. Thus, in
the case of the Philadelphia. which has
had five years hard work, and has never
yet been gone over. as is the custom,
orders have gone to Mare island to put
her in shape for sea within 40 days.
The Yorktown. at the same yards, is
not to be touched at present, not only
because she is in fair condition, but
also because she is not SO formidable
craft as to make it desirable to divert
to her repair the attention required
elsewhere. At Norfolk the Newark is
set down for 80 days. repairs, and as a
good deal of work has already been
done on her, she will be almost new
ship when she comes out of the yards.
The big monitor Puritan has practi-
'cally completed her repairs. The
monitor Comanche at Mare island has
been examined and found in tolerable
condition. At League island the Mon
itor Miantonomoh and the ram Katah-
din went into commission today, al
though they have not yet received their
orders. They will probably remain in
the Delaware river or drop down into
the bay. The torpedo boat Dupont
sailed today from Mobile to attach her.
self again to the fotilla at Key West.
Again it was said at the navy depart
ment that nothing had been heard from
the court of inquiry at Havana. nor
from Admiral Sicard at Key West.
The presence in the city of persons
connected with steamship lines and
steel works led to the circulation of a
number of sensational stories during
the day, but perhaps none of these had
the persistency of one, which met sum-
mary denial at the hands of Assistant
Secretary Day, to the effect that Minis
ter Woodford had notified the Spanish
government that the president intended
sending to congress a message announc-
ing his recognition of Cuban independ-
ence.
A conference was held at o'clock in
the office of Assistant Secretary Roose-
velt, to map out plans for arming and |
squipping merchant vessels as auxiliary !
cruisers. This work, it is said, could |
De accomplished readily within two |
weeks time, as all materials. except |
,he guns. are on hand. The bureau of |
ordnance could not supply all the guns
'equired within that short time, al |
hough some 70 or more are now avail
'ble. The supply would be adequate,
lowever, for the most effective auxil-
ary cruisers and the complete arma-
nent of the merchant ships could pro-
eed as rapidly as possible thereafter.
AS to the question of manning the
auxiliary fleet, the navy department
eels that the most effective step would
,e to enlist in the United States naval
ervice the present merchant crews of
he several ships. These crews are
thoroughly familiar with the vessels,
nd could handle them with far greater
fleet than green crews of bluejackets.
,he ships would be officered from the
inc of the navy. In the case of enlist
ng merchant crew, the pay and allow
noes would be about equivalent to the
ates paid ordinary sailors, and the
ime of enlistment would doubtless be
United to short periods.