The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-11
! NO SHIPS PURCHASED.
Government Will Act Cautiously in
!. Acquiring War Vessels.
EXAMINING MERCHANT MARINE.

Within Two Weeks the American
liners Could Be Transformed Into
: Formidable Monsters of the Deep.
whnleback Steamers MS Cruisers.
Washington, March 1.-THE United
States government has not yet acquired
q single additional ship for the navy.
This Is true not because Of lack Of
offers of warshps from abroad. but
simply for the reason that the navy de-
partment Is proceeding with all OF the
circumspection consistent with the
needs of the case in looking after the
qualities and prices 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
grams yesterday. almost all relating to
offers of ships. Lieutenant Niblack, the
United States naval attaChe at Berlin.
st. Petersburg and Vienna, Is paricu-
larry active in the quest for vessels.
There was g good dea! Of talk during
the day about the assignment OF Of
y
cruisers, the St. Paul and St. Louis
being specially mentioned. but Secre-
tary Long set these stories at rest by
the statement that he had not made
any such assignments, and had only
progressed to the point Of informing
himself of the possibility of getting the
ships oficered and manned quickly.
While looking after new ships the
officials Of the navy department are not
neglecting the old vessels. and arrange
ments have been made to make short
repairs on several ships that in the
ordinary course would not be treated
IN that fashion. but would receive .
thorough and time consuming over
hauling. Thus. in the case Of the Phil
adelphia. which has had five years
hard work and has never yet been done
over. as Is the custom. orders have
gone to Mare Island to put her in shape
for sea within 40 days. The Yorktown.
nj the same yard, 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 attsA-
tion required elsewhere.
At Norfolk the Newark is set down
for 30 days repairs, and as a good deal
OF work has already been done on her
she will be almost a new ship when
she comes out of the yard. The big
monitor Puritan has practically COM
pieted her repairs. The monitor Co.
manche. a, Mare Island. has been ex-
amned aliu found in tolerable condi-
tipn. At League Island the monitor
Miantonomoh and the ram Katahdin
went into commission yesterday, ala
though they have not yet had their
orders. The torpedo boat Dupont sail
ed yesterday from Mobile to attach hep
self again to the notila at Key West.
The presence in the city of several per-
sons 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 that found cur
rency at the Capitol until it met with
summary denial at the hands Of AS
sistant Secretary Day. This rumor was
to the effect that NJ. lister Woodford
had notified the Spanish government
that the president intended to send to
congress message announcing the
recognition Of Cuban Independence.
A conference was held at o'clock in
the office of Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt to map out plans for arming and
equpping merchant vessels us auxl-
iaTy cruisers. Mr. Roosevelt presided, |
md others presentwere Captain Crown !,
lnshield, Of the bureau Of navigation;
ptot pP t,n I,r ,,p vi
nance; Chief Hichborn of the bureau
Of construction, and Commander Brad
ford. Of tbs bureau Of yards and DOCKS
This meeting had been preceded by a
Call from President Griscom, of the In
Navigation company, which !
swns the four ships st. Louis, st. Paul, /
Paris and New York The board meet
Ing brought out a general discussion Of
ehe work the various bureaus would be
called upon to perform in making these
and other vessels ready as auxiliary
cruisers.
This work. 1t Is said, could be ac-
readily within two weeks
time, as all material except the guns
could not supply all the guns required
within that short time, although some
70 or more are now available. The
supply would be adequate. however, for
the most effective auxiliary cruisers.
and the complete armament of the
merchant ships could proceed as rap
Idly as possible thereafter.
On the question of manning the
au1 il:ary fleet the navy department
Feels that the most effective step would
be to cnils. into the United States
naval service the present merchant
crews Of the several ships. The ships
would be differed from the line of the
regular navy.
The naval appropriation bill has been
practically completed by the house
on naval affairs. save as to
the questions Of increases in the navy.
dry docks ana armor plate. Chairman
stated today that he might
report the bill to the house by tomor
row. and if not it will go In early next
week. The bill Involves in the neigh
korhood of 300o0,0o0, aside from new
vessels, dry decks and armor. The in
rreases allowed are such as meet the
gradual development Of the service.
The general item for construction and
'epalr Just passed on aggregates $500
)0o This Includes about $370000 for
improved machinery at the shops. The
amount also is exclusive of the specific |
appropriations to the various construc-
lion plants, etc. There is also holi-
:ontal appropriation proposed of $4,000
% each OF the yards, except to the
Puget Sound station. in lieu of the gem +
,ral estimate Of 100000. The estimates q
or the Naval academy at Annapolis
70 through practically unchanged, au- I
h nj nth han III !