The record-union., 1898-03-14
A SseciaI Board to Lock- After Auxiliary
Cruisers.
Owners and Agents to Be Invited
to Make Proposals for Turning
Over Suitable Vessels to the
Covernment-Eo Trouble to OBJ
tain All That Are Wanted
Enough Guns Will be Comploted
to Arm Thirty or More.

WASHINGTON. March 13.-To-day.
unlike last Sunday, with the published
statements of the desire for the recall
OF General Lee and the protest of the
Spanish Government against sending
war vessels with relief supplies TO
Cuba. which caused much excitement
among official circles, was compare
lively quiet There had been no infor-
nation bearing on the doings of the
Court CT Inquiry on the Maine explo-
sion received during the day or any
other dispatches calculated to cause
conferences between the heads of the
various departments. There were
number Of the experts of the War De
partment ordnance officers at their
desks for a short time during the morn
ing 10 attend to some pressing matters,
While al the Navy Department the
Board or Auxiliary Cruisers held a
final meeting preparatory to the de-
parture of the special board to New
York
Secretary Long was at the Navy De-
partment for a short time. He stated
late in the afternoon that there was
no news OF any nature for the press
and added III response to a specific in
quiry that nothing had been received
from the Court of Inquiry.
The BOARD on Auxiliary Cruisers met
in Assistant Secretary Rooseyelt's room
during the morning. There We're pres
ent in addition to the Assistant Seq
rotary. Chief Constructor Hichborn or
the Bun eau of Construction and Re
pair. Captain Frederick Rogers. of the
Naval Board Of Inspection and Sur
veys, and Captain O'Neill Chief of the
Ordnance Bureau Lieutenant Sargent,
Recorder of the Board of Inspection,
and Lieutenant Peters of the Naval In
telligence Bureau. Lieutenant-Co Com
rnander j. Kelley and Naval Construct
or L. Towresy, the latter now on duty
al Cramps ship yard. We're expected,
but THEN orders to attend had evident
ly arrived too late to permit them to do
so. Each of the bureau chiefs present
Was eble 10 give the board some infor-
nation Incident to the work that may
be required to fl out any ships that
might be obtained. Several of the men,
bers Of the board as originally appoint
ed TO look into the matter are unable
TO leave the city at the present time,
so il was determined that a special
board. Of which Captain Rogers will oe
President, should be designated TO pro-
coed 10 New York tonight to undertake
the work in hand.
An office will be opened at % Court
land street, New York City, Tomorrow
morning. at which owners ard agents
of ships will be invited to make their
proposals for turning over TO the navy
such vessels as are available for con-
version into war purposes. The naval
officers say there will be no difficulty
experienced in obtaining all vessels
that are desired. as there are hundreds
available. Thanks to the work of the
naval intelligence office, the depart
meut keeps in close touch with The
construction of all craft that could be
utilized in the event of hostilities. and
just now it has a record of forty such
ships of all sizes and classes, which viii
be Inspected and examined if their own
ers desire TO part with them. a number
Of these vessels have been construct
ed under the Subsidy Act of Congress
and ara engaged in carrying the mats.
The vessels TO be examined viii include
all classes, from liners like the St.
Paul 70 ocean going tugs. which can be
Of great material services for a number
OF purposes. Tonnage. draft. speed.
condition of boilers and machinery and
other attributes viii figure in 1he
thorough inspection which viii be un-
dertaken by the board before any char
tering or purchasing is recommended.
Both the Ordnance Bureau and that
engaged in the work OF construction
and repair are ready to take their part
in sitting out and equippng such yes
sells IS may be acquired.
AZ Fort Washington factory there
ton no less than 100 guns of formidable
character on which work is being done
night and day with a view TO their
early completion No new guns are be-
ing started. but the entire force of the
factory are devoted to finishing those
now under way. 4 naval officer said
there viii be enough f.them when nm
ished TO constitute fair armament for
probably thirty or more auxiliary
cruisers, should such a large fleet be
found necessary TO supplement the
regular warships.
The euslboat Machlas. which has just
arrived ct Norfolk from the Asiatlc
station by way OF the Suez Canal has
been found To be in fair shape as a re-
salt OF the examination by the Navy
Inspection Board. \ thorough over
hauling will he unnecessary in the
present instance. and she viii be sent
10 Boston. where ali necessary repairs
can he made to her in about twelve
days
The ordering of the Helena and Ban
croft. now on the European station, To
the United States viii leave Admiral
Powell commanding that station with
but one vessel, viz: the San Francisco.
No explanation Of the action is vouch
safed BY the officials of the Navy De
partm ent. and Secretary Long. when
asked to-day. declined to say anything
about the step. further than that the
two ships had been ordered home.