Evening star., 1898-03-25

uuty oH the Vessels .OTOeT6Q 10 NOrIOfk.
Their orders are made Immediately effective
in every case, and they will report to the
commanding officers of the ships as soon
as the vessels arrive at Norfolk
TO BE s2Ade Ready for Service,
Orders were issued from the Navy De-
partment today to the commandant of the
Nerfolk navy yard directing him to pre-
pare the revenue cutter vessels for service
as soon as possible after their arrival at
the yard. He was directed to expedite the
work on the ships as rapidly as was con-
sistent with the nature of the work to be
done. That the Navy Department officials
are anxious that the revenue vessels should
be equipped for sea duty at an early date
was evidenced by request made upon the
revenue cutter service of the Treasury De-
partment for information as to the length
of time it would require for the vessels to
report at Norfolk.
AS soon as the vessels are prepared for
service they will be dispatched to Key
West and placed at the disposal of Com
modore Sampson, in command of the naval
squadron at that station. The cutters will
be employed as scout or picket boats. and
will be prepared for both offensive and de-
fensire service. The torpedo equipments
for the vessels will be put in at the Nor
folk navy yard and it is expected by the
naval officials that they will prove to be
pretty formidable ships, even if employed
in aggressive tactics.
The New Cutter McCulI0ch.
Another vessel of the revenue service
which may be utilized in the naval service
is the new cutter McCulloch, one of the
fines. vessels of that service. She was con-
structed at Baltimore and left that port
several weeks ago for duty on the Pacifi.
station, going by way of the Mediterranean
sea and Suez canal. She is now somewhere
In the vicinity of Singapore and is due to
arrive at that port in few days. The spe-
cial service which it is proposed to put her
to is as a dispatch boat on the Asiatic sta
tfon In case that plan is adopted cable
message will be sent to her commanding
officer at Singapore directing him to pro-
ceed to Hong Kong and place his vessel
with officers and crew under tine command
of Commodore Dewey, commanding the
naval forces on the Asiatic station. The
entire fleet of that station Is now assem-
bled at Hong Kong. with view to making
demonstration against the Spanish forces
on the Philippine Islands in case of war
between Spain and the United States.
Giving the President Authority.
General Wheeler of Alabama today in
troduced in the House bill providing that
In the event of an act Of war being COM
m1tted by Spain or any other foreign ma
ton prior to the meeting of the next ses-
sion of Congress, the President of the Unit
ed States is hereby authorized to accept
tenders of volunteer troops, to purchase
arms and munitions of war, to equip sucn
troops for active service, organize such
troops into brigades. divisions and armies
for actice service, appoint necessary gen
eral. staff and other officers, except such
field and company officers as may have al
ready been selected or may hereafter be
selected by proper authority, and do any
other act necessary to the safety of the
country, Or any part thereof and to protect
its honor and pretige."
The second section appropriates the
necessary money to carry out the provi-
sions Cf the act.
West Indian Coaling Stntion.
Capt. Bradford, chief of the bureau of
equipment, Navy Department, is negotiat-
ing for the acquirem .nt of a suitable site
for coaling station in the West Indies.
One of the points under favorable consid-
Grafton is the Island of Navassa, which is
under the protection of the American gov
ernme1t. 1t is operated by Baltimore
corporation for the shipment of guano. 1t
is few miles southwest of Hayti and
about a hundred miles southeast of Cuba
Another island in the same vicinity, known
as Swan Island. is also under consdera-
tion. Sites in Hayti and San Domingo are
also said to be available for purchase as
coaling stations in case the United States
desired to place them there.
Vessels Examined and Bought.
Two large steam yachts and several
ocean-going steamers suitable for trans
formation into warships have been recent
ly inspected by the auxiliary board of the
navy and will probably be added to the
naval service in case of an emergency In
the number are John Jacob Astors yacht.
the Nourmahal. and Mr.. Bordens Yacht.
The Sovereign, which are among the larg-
est and best-equipped steam yachts in the
country. Other vessels recently examined
and which may be acquired by the govern
ment are the San Marcos and Lueces of
the Mallory Line; the Iroquois and Sem
mole of the Clyde Line: the Kansas City
or the Savannah Line: the Hercules and
Atias, belonging to the Standard Oil Conn
pany, and the tug P. II. Wise, a sister shin
10 the Dewitt c. Ives, bought by the gov
ernment last Wednesday.
iHe navy Department has arranged to
convert the Ward steamer Creole into
noatlng hospital for service with the North
Atlantic squadron. Size is 252 feet long. II
feet broad and IA feet draught, with an in
olcated horse power Of $500 and a gross
tonnage of $500.
The tug De Witt c. Ives, recently DUR
chased, will be used in carrying fresh wa
ter TO the vessels of the North Atlantic
squadron for Use in the boilers and drink
ing purposes. The boat has a CAPACITY of
15,0UO gallons of water
The purchase of the City OF Vicksburg by
ihe government for the purpose of convert
ing her into gunboat for service on the
mississippi river disposes of the last one of
the fine fast steamboats, which formerly
composed the famous st. Louis and New
Orleans Anchor Line
For Naval Repair Ship.
The auxiliary board at New York has
recommended the charter of the Morgan
Line steamship Chalmette for use as a
naval repair ship. The Chalmette is of iron
ana has displacement of 1000 tons. She
was built by the Cramps in 1879 Ths yes
sci VIII probably be sent to the Boston navy