New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-16
SCOTT SHIPS CREWS MUST SERVE.
EMPLOYEES OF THE AMERICAN LINE CANNOT
LEAVE THE VESSELS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpuSE.l

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIPrSE.]
Newport News Va. June 15.-Thcse Of the
American Line employees. aboard the United
States scout ships Yale and Harvard. who have
not deserted will be forced to serve out their
full time according 10 the terms Of the mercen-
tile enlistment The six hundred foreigners
aboard the two ships. however. maintain that
the American Line and the Government 10
breaking the agreement with them, and per-
sstently refuse TO go to sea, or, II carried by
force, to discharge the duties that will be ex-
pected Of them
The British and German vice-corsuls have
refused to interfere iii the matter. and the only
course left open for the men is to desert, and X
they do that they can be apprehended by officers
Of the law According TO trustworthy state
ments the American Line and the Navy De-
partment have not violated their agreements
with the The crews are laborins under
the impression that they will have TO go Into
action and fight the enemy simply because both
vessels are receiving heavy armament.
Such is not the case; both vessels Will con.
tnue scout ships. and the precautcn now De-
ing taken is only to insure against their being
captured or destroyed by the enemy without
some means Of resistance. Captain Wise ex'
planned the necessity OF this step to the Navy
Department and 1t was decided follow his
suggestions.
The men will continue in the service OF tho
American Line. under the mercantile agree
ment. and will not have their salaries cut down
to the standard Of the Navy. On the other hand-
they will have better chance for their lives.
and may by having their ships armed. succeed
in earning prize money. This has been explained
to the foreigners but they cannot see It that
way, and are determined to get off II they can.
The delegations from the British and German
elements returned 10 the city this morning
without meeting with success in their appeals to
the British and German vice-consuls. After IN
vestigating the circumstances they came to the
conclusion that interference was not 1ustihaole.
about seventy five Of the men from the Harvard,
who succeeded in getting away from the ship
while on leave have not returned and their
places were filled this morning by Captain COT"
ton
1t is known that at least this number OF men
were taken on. l. is reported, however that the
entire crew Of the Harvard quit work and tnat
their places Immediately filled BY three
hundred men, who had been gathered In by the
officers TO meet any emergency. an
The Germans If the crew say they VIII nos
fight on any ship which fires a gun. The Har.
wards guns are all aboard, and she VIII drop QUIZ
into the river tomorrow. The Yale Is taking on
coal The Minneapolis is still here replenisnins
her bunkers. .,
The United States cruiser Newark, Captain
Barker. left the Navy Yard at o'clock this
afternoon and proceeded to Old Point, wher9
she cast anchor a short distance from the United
states hospital ship Jamestown. The destlna-
ton Of the cruiser is said 70 be Key west nrs-
and then she will join the blockading SQUADRON IRON
of the north and south coasts Of Cuba. Inc
Newark has been out OF commission at the Navy
Yard for more than year. In that time she mas
been practically rebuilt the work on her COST
ing in the neghborhood of S25OOOO
Her batteries now are much more powertu.
than those Of the cruiser San Francisco her
sister ship. II is also expected that wnen sne -
nut TO the test she can develop speed greatec
than the twenty knots with which she IS now
credited. Report has IL that the Newark VIII 20
the flagship OF the blockadng squadron ous
Coptain Barker knows nothing OF this