New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-10
NAVY DEPARTMENT BUSY.
IMPORTANT CONFERENCES WITH SHIP
BUILDERS HELD.
MEssRs. CIRCUIT AND SCOTT OFFER no BUILD
VESSELS IN . HrRRY-rHE WORK OF PRE-
rARISo SHIPS FOR SEA AND SECURING
SUPPLIES PROCEEDING RAPIDLY
inv rr,rcrApu TO TIE TRIBUNE


Washington March 9.-Important conferences
involving not only the emergency preparations
FOR n conflict which are Of immediate concern
49,. o,.o >, tho General subject Of National de-
fence. followed each other continuously al 'h@
Norv Denartment to-day. OF the latter variety
,,oso n,os, remarkable for the proposals they
.vored were the visits to Secretary Long OF the
mad. or two great shipbuilding establishments
President G r. circuit OF the Newport news
Company. which is TO launch the Dattie e"p,
Kearsarge and Kentucky on March H. "'1
Henry T. Scott Of the chief PACING Coas' p',",'
tho Union Iron Works. which built among o'he'
ye.s.,s The Oregon the Olympia. the Monterey
ard the San Francisco
OFFERS TO BUILD BATTLE-sHlF9'
Nv orcutt announced his readiness to puiid
three nrst-class battle-shps OF the Alaoaii'a vi
,-.ouu,rco class simultaneously. delivering them
competely ready for action IN me uhpir.o
dcntedly short time Of eighteen months ihi'
sneed he explained. would be attaineo 'h'o"en
the familiarity his establishment hao ea'n.u
with vessels Of that type now in MS !aro ny ''
roodi,ess there OF all patterns for such vessels
and by the fact that the keels couiu NC '''u 9"
soon as the present vessels were launched on
the very blocks upon which they were ou'.''
He called attention to the relative progress naue
on tho sbjps he is now working on, the Near
earoe and the Kentucky being 60 per cent COM
n,etn while the Illinois. which was con'rac'eo
for wear later had risen to Az per cent INC
only increased expense Of such rapu "o'A Ia!
in the extra rate pad the men empioSeo Oh " e'
work but this would In some degree pe o''O'
nv reduced cost Of material and the avoidance
Of unnecessary delay in superfuous Inspection
the throwing out Of material being connned 10
that which was actually unfit for use. his Eaiu
has had the lions share OF naval WORK sihcc II
was established. and Secretary Long was much
| impressed by President Orcutts posiiVehesS III
making the proposition.
The other suggestion. which came from MI
Scott. was to duplicate the Monterey In one year
for less than So 100000, or build two more IKE
her I'm eighteen months at q similar rate or com
rensation MI Scott also expressed Wiling
ness 10 duplicate any Of the vessels ne had pulit
In half the time formerly required, and he point
ed out the great desirability OF such duplication
as compared with the practice OF indefinitely
multiplying the classes Of ships In the Navy lie
showed that great advantage would accrue IN
ORIGINAL construction, repairs and efnclency or
crews II there were few types. Repair stores
could then be kept at dozen places or sent 10
foreign stations. the men would become more
familiar with their duties and vessels could be
built more cheapy and in less time than under
fess that several Of the vessels he had con-
structed could not be improved upon In design
to-day and he offered to duplicate them as
many times as the Government wished.
WORK ON AUXILIARY CRUISERS.
A conference which related both 10 emergency
and eventual work took place during visit
from the chief officials OF the Bethlehem Com
pany. President Lnderman. Manager Davenport
1 Hinnr
| now foreign agent OF the works. These manu-
| facturers gave the Department satisfactory
surances that they were prepared to furnish at
| once from stock on hand all the material re-
| qured to prepare the ST. Paul. the ST. Louis. the
| Paris and the New-York for their six-inch rapid
| fire gun mounts. 1t was decided that they
| should begin deliveries Of this material. They
| then explained their readiness to undertake
| emergency gun contracts and gave evidences
| of their capacity for delivering completed weap-
! ons up to thirteen-nch calibre by their supplies
| of such large rifles to the Army and to foreign
countries.
They also wished to begin work on the battle
ships armor. the lack of which Is now be
| ginning to cause the Navy serious embarrass-
| ment The builders Of the Alabama the Illinois
and the Wisconsin have reached a stage where
serious delay Is caused by want Of armor.
suspended unless armor is forthcoming.
| Congress is responsible for the condition through
| its stubborn refusal for two years to permit the
Navy Department to pay $500 ton for
armor, while domestic plants were receiving over
$500 ton for similar armor from Russia
The Carnegie Company's representatives were
also on hand. urging the prompt beginning OF
armor work and Offering their facilities for the
immediate delivery OF commercial dimension
steel work for strengthening various auxiliary
cruisers.
FLOATING MACHINE SHOPS.
Engineer-in- Chief Melville has perfected his
arrangements for securing two merchant steam
ers and fitting them as floating machine shops
to follow fleets and be on hand in repairs
are needed These vessels will go to the Boston
and New-York Navy Yards and be hastily
equipped with machine tools. One such vessel
will join Admiral Sicard at the Tortugas and the
other remain in reserve TO accompany any other
squadron which may be organized.
Surgeon General Van Reypen has also selected
a new vessel now in the coast trade. which is
eminenty adapted for ambulance
| cruiser to fly the Red Cross flag This is a
speedy craft which can remain near squadron
in action. and at the termination Of the engage
ment will gather up the wounded from both
combatants The vessel selected has we'll ven
tilated decks for the installation of numerous
iron cots and has excellent accommodations
which may be utilized for operating rooms.
messing and caring for hundreds Of injured men.
DR.. Van Reypen can At out this vessel in few
DAYS and send her to join the squadron. Ar
rangements for impressing this vessel and
eduipping her have been made and wait now
only upon a word from Secretary Long.
SHIPS ORDERED READY FOR SEA.
Orders were issued to-day TO get the Newark
at Norfolk and the Philadelphia at Mare Island
ready for sea within forty days. with authority
to work night and day If necessary.